The 15 talented and driven professionals from Australia’s grape and wine community, who will make up the 2019 vintage of the Future Leaders have been revealed.
Future Leaders is a professional and personal development program, coordinated by Wine Australia and supported by Australian Grape and Wine, which invests in the next generation of Australia’s wine sector leaders. The program aims to help the participants prepare for the challenges facing the sector and also help them become catalysts for innovation change.
The Future Leaders of 2019 are:
- Andy Clarke – The Dirt Dude Ag Advisor (Bendigo)
- Armando Corsi – University of South Australia, Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science (Adelaide)
- Carrah Lymer – Emerge Creative Agency (Griffith)
- Catherine Kidman – Treasury Wine Estates (Coonawarra)
- Chris Thomas – Dowie Doole (McLaren Vale)
- Dylan McMahon – Seville Estate (Yarra Valley)
- Hayley Purbrick – Tahbilk (Nagambie)
- Jessica Chrcek – Moothi Estate (Mudgee)
- Kavita Faiella – Shaw and Smith (Adelaide Hills)
- Keira O’Brien – Winemaking Tasmania (Hobart)
- Marco Gjergja – Kooyong Wines Port Phillip Estate (Mornington Peninsula)
- Mark Fogarty – Fogarty Wine Group (Western Australia)
- Matthew Bahen – DeBortoli Wines (Yarra Valley and Hunter Valley)
- Nadja Wallington – Philip Shaw Wines (Orange)
- Tom Donegan – Voyager Estate (Margaret River).
Wine Australia Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Future Leaders 2019 selection panel Andreas Clark said this year’s participants were selected from a highly competitive field across Australia’s grape and wine sector.
“The application process itself demonstrates the breadth and depth of innovation and talent across our grape and wine community; people who are already doing incredible work. This year’s 15 Future Leaders are indicative of the excellence that exists within our sector,” said Clark.
“The Future Leaders program will bring together these 15 emerging leaders and guide them through opportunities to develop their leadership skills and to work collaboratively towards solutions for our sector’s long-term prosperity.
On learning of his selection in this year’s program, Andy Clarke said: “I am thrilled to be a participant in the Future Leaders 2019 program. This group’s diversity, with expertise, experience and perspectives from all sectors and regions of the industry, will provide a great environment to challenge our leadership ideals. What an amazing opportunity to build networks, share ideas, develop skills and grow as a person.”
This year, the Future Leaders will be guided on a personal leadership journey and be asked to consider the opportunities and challenges facing the Australian grape and wine community.
Over six months they will explore leadership skills, hear from world class speakers and receive their input on topics such as innovation, thought leadership, culture and sector impact.
Previous Future Leaders alumni will also act as mentors throughout the program; to provide their wisdom, build greater networks and support an exciting future for the Australian grape and wine community.