Future success in our sector is built on practices that support a diverse range of industry professionals, recognising that growth and the prosperity of our regions comes from committed advocates.

Australian Grape and Wine leads Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in Wine (DEIW) efforts by driving uptake on the DEIW Charter for the Australian wine sector. The Charter outlines the DEI principles for driving positive cultural change in all workplaces.

Wine Australia supports research and projects aimed at achieving DEI across the Australian grape and wine sector and maintaining a commitment to diversity in all people development programs supported by us.

If you would like more information about our current projects and would like to be involved, please contact Jo Hargreaves via research@wineaustralia.com.

Current projects

Scoping study: Gender equality in the Australian grape and wine sector

July 2024 – February 2025

This study aims to review current efforts, understand the state of gender equality, and identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for progress in the grape and wine sector.

This collaborative effort – with Australian Grape & Wine’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in Wine (DEIW) Committee and funded by Wine Australia – will be undertaken by Charles Sturt University and the University of New South Wales. 

The research team will engage wine and grape sector stakeholders to identify recommendations and develop a practical toolkit for all businesses and sector organisations, translating best practices and innovative ideas for gender equality into actionable steps. 

As the number of women working in the sector grow, Wine Australia and key stakeholders aim to develop a sound understanding of how best to foster this talent. This research project will address: 

Where we are – an analysis of what we know about where the sector sits currently, both in terms of available data-informed reports as well as from focus groups comprising a range of key stakeholders across the value chain.

What we need – identifying the strengths and weaknesses within the sector to better understand the opportunities for strategic intervention that will continue to build diversity, equity, and inclusion across the industry.

Where we’re going – the collection of stories, testimonials, and case studies that highlight role models and success stories of gender equality in the grape and wine sector to celebrate progress and chart the way forward for the sector’s future leaders.

How we get there – a toolkit containing practical next steps for the sector, translating ideas and best practice for gender equality into action, and setting the sector up for continued success.

Wine Australia Chief Executive Officer Dr Martin Cole said the study will help the sector tap the depth of diversity across the breadth of the sector’s value chain. 

“Achieving long-term sector profitability, resilience and sustainability means we must have the best people at the table. A vibrant future demands we look to broaden the expertise, experience and perspectives of those at decision-making tables across the value chain,” Dr Cole said.

Charles Sturt University Associate Professor Larissa Bamberry said the research team had extensive experience exploring gender equity in the military, public sector and male-dominated trades, delivering high-impact reports and strategic solutions for gender equity.

“Our experience working with women in non-traditional roles across various industries informs our effective solutions for gender equity within the wine sector,” Associate Professor Bamberry said.

The project team will work with an experienced sector-led advisory group throughout the study. 

Growing Workplace Diversity

August 2024 – June 2026

This project aims to foster diversity in the food and fibre industries and allows for the further diversification of Australia’s agricultural workforce. Facilitating an inclusive sector for professional careers will assist in the ongoing attraction and retention of diverse human resources across a broad range of rural industries.

Several intended project deliverables were co-designed and developed through consultation with key RDC workforce stakeholders to ensure the project reaches full potential so that the wider agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors can be supported more broadly in their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The project design will act to deliver the below outcomes:

• improve understanding of the current participation of under-represented communities in Australia’s food and fibre workforce
• enhance levels of awareness amongst food and fibre industries around engagement with under-represented communities
• raise awareness among under-represented communities about employment opportunities available to them in Australia’s rural industries
• assist agricultural businesses in the attraction and retention of a diverse workforce
• ensure agricultural businesses and teams can benefit from a diverse workforce by highlighting and platforming success stories.

For this project we are broadly defining under-represented communities as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), First Nations, neurodiverse, and individuals identifying with a disability (visible and non-visible). It is acknowledged none of these communities are homogenous. Workforce and employment opportunities in this project context excludes focussing on short-term harvest/vintage labour hire and migrant employment schemes.

Completed projects

A decade of progress for women in the Australian grape and wine sector

A new report Women in the Australian wine sector: How have the numbers changed in CEO, winemaking, viticulture, and marketing roles since 2013? conducted by Dr Jeremy Galbreath of Strateos Group, funded by Wine Australia, has revealed an increase in the representation of the studied roles in the Australian grape and wine community.

Dr Galbreath’s original study assessed gender composition of the wine sector over the period 2007–2013. The new study covering 2021–2023 has shown that nationally, the number of: 

• women in a CEO role is now 33.7 per cent, an increase of 21 per cent over the previous findings of 12.7 per cent
• women in a winemaking role is 16.7 per cent, an increase of 7.9 per cent over the previous findings of 8.8 per cent
• women in a viticulture role is now 21.5 per cent, an increase of 11.5 per cent over the previous findings of 10 per cent, and 
• women in wine marketing is now 58.4 per cent, an increase of 4.9 per cent over the previous findings of 53.5 per cent.

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Supported programs

Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program

The Diversity in Agriculture Leadership program is an initiative of the National Farmers’ Federation to support women in agriculture. It provides successful applicants with a six-month one-on-one mentorship and the opportunity to be part of an alumni of female agriculture leaders.

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