Our Board
The Board is established and governed under the Wine Australia Act 2013 and its actions are guided by its Board Charter. It has a Chair and between five and seven directors. On 28 September 2024, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP, announced the appointment of five non-executive directors to the Wine Australia Board to serve a three-year term from 1 October 2024.
Minister Collins appointed the new Board members following an extensive selection process undertaken by an independent selection committee, which was appointed by industry body Australian Grape & Wine.
They join incumbent Chair, Dr Michele Allan AO in supporting Wine Australia to empower the success of the Australian grape and wine sector.
Dr Michele Allan
Michele is an experienced non-executive director and has a strong understanding of agribusiness, public policy and regulation within food and agriculture industries, R&D portfolio structure and management, enterprise risk management and science and innovation.
Michele currently chairs Apple and Pear Australia Limited, Defence CRC Trusted Autonomous Systems, the Food and Agribusiness Growth Centre and is Chancellor of Charles Sturt University. She is also a director of CSIRO, Smart Sat CRC, Dairy Food Safety Victoria, MJ Chicken and CRC Food Agility.
She has previously held chair positions with Meat & Livestock Australia and the Wheat Industry Advisory Taskforce and was a director of Wine Australia and the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation. Other prior board roles include Tasmanian Irrigation, Innovation and Science Australia, Forest and Wood Products Australia, William Angliss Institute, Callaghan Innovation (NZ) and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand.
Michele held executive roles with Amcor Limited, Kraft Foods, Bonlac Foods Limited, ICI, Tasmanian Bioinformatics Centre of Excellence Tasmania, Johnson and Johnson and Nestle.
Michele has a Bachelor of Applied Science from University of Technology Sydney, Master of Management of Technology from Melbourne University, Master Commercial Law Deakin University and Doctorate from RMIT. She is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.
Dr Angeline Achariya
Dr Angeline Achariya has spent two decades leading consumer-led innovation across supply chains from paddock to consumer, in Asia, the Americas and Australia. On the Executive Leadership Team at Simplot Company, she backed the investment that closed the resilience-to-growth gap after a major supply shock. At Yum! Brands she led the paddock-to-store conversion of KFC Australia’s oil supply chain. At Mars in Japan she rebuilt supply chain and product value across a global network. Her fluency across Japan, China, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia gives the board insight into the export markets central to wine’s growth.
Angeline serves on the boards of Industry Innovation and Science Australia and Australia’s Economic Accelerator, and chairs the Australia China Business Council’s Victorian Agribusiness and Food Forum, linking Victorian exporters into Asian markets. She co-founded the Monash Food Innovation Centre, a world-first hub for consumer-led innovation capability, and holds a PhD in Food Systems and Technology from the University of Melbourne. She was named a Trailblazer on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2025.
As a Non-Executive Director on the Wine Australia Board, Angeline brings the judgement of someone who has built and defended supply chains under real pressure to the resilience and growth of Australian wine. She reads the business from glass to grape as well as grape to glass, weighing customer need alongside vineyard supply. That judgement shapes her view of the cost, climate and market access questions facing the sector now.
Mr Andrew Kay
Andrew Kay is the CEO of the South Australian Business Chamber, the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has worked with large multi-national corporations, small family businesses and everything in-between, across the financial services, FMCG and wine sectors both here and overseas.
Andrew entered the wine industry in 2000 joining the Orlando Wyndham Group, part of Pernod Ricard. He spent time in their Australian operation before moving to the UK and running the UK/Europe office for three years. Shortly after returning to Australia, Andrew joined Wirra Wirra Vineyards in McLaren Vale where he was at the helm for 15 years, including for the acquisition of Ashton Hills Vineyards in the Adelaide Hills in 2016 completing the trifecta of large, medium and small winery experience.
Andrew has a Bachelor of Business degree, an MBA in International Business, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and in 2014 undertook the Key Executive Program at Harvard Business School. He is also a graduate of the Future Leaders Program developed by the Australian wine industry.
Andrew has had significant experience as a board member in the private sector and with State and Federal Government agencies. His wine governance experience includes the Grape Wine and Research Development Corporation (GWRDC); Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) and McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association (MVGWTA).
As well as his position on the Board of Wine Australia, Andrew sits on the Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of SA where he is also Chair of the Botanic Gardens Foundation; is the Chair of the International Trade Committee for the Australian Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of SA Leaders for Gender Equity.
Mr Darryn Hakof
Darryn began his wine industry career at Orlando Wyndham Group in Adelaide, and has spent his career building premium wine and spirits brands in global markets. He brings deep expertise in global brand and market development, market access and global industry engagement, portfolio and innovation strategy, and large-scale business transformation.
Based in London for a decade before returning to Australia, Darryn held senior global roles across Pernod Ricard's wine and spirits businesses, working directly in and across the markets that define international wine's commercial landscape. As Vice President Global Brand Development at The Absolut Company, he led global brand development for Absolut Vodka, Malibu and KahlĂșa, working with distributor partners to build the brands in markets spanning Europe, the Americas, Asia and beyond. As International Brand Development Director at Premium Wine Brands, he led the creation of Pernod Ricard's global wine brand company, combining the Jacob's Creek, Campo Viejo, Brancott Estate and Stoneleigh brands into a genuinely international portfolio.
Returning to Australia, Darryn also served as Global Business Development Director and Global Marketing Director at Pernod Ricard Winemakers, where he was accountable for portfolio and brand development across 80+ markets.
Darryn holds an MBA with Distinction from the University of Adelaide, a Bachelor of Economics and Graduate Diploma of Accounting from Flinders University and has completed executive leadership programs at INSEAD. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Darryn has served on Executive Committees across global businesses and is a long-standing advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Ms Elizabeth Riley
Liz is an independent viticulturist and non-executive board director based in the Hunter Valley. She has over 30 years’ experience working in the Australian Wine Industry with expertise in viticulture, biosecurity, sustainability and training.
Liz has been actively involved with industry bodies and committees over her time in industry including as Vice President (R&D) of the NSW Wine Industry Association and she current sits on the National Wine Biosecurity Committee. She is a NED for the SAAFE CRC Pty Ltd, Freshcare Ltd and Plant Health Australia, having previously served on the board of the Australian Wine Research Institute.
Liz has been recognised for her contributions to industry by the NSW DPI as the 2020 recipient of the Graham Gregory Award and by Wine Communicators of Australia as a Legend of the Vine in 2023.
She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wine) from Roseworthy Agricultural College, is a Nuffield Scholar, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and was made a Fellow of the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology in 2024.
Ms Peta Slack-Smith
Peta is a strategic advisor guiding business, industry, and government leaders through times of change, threats to reputation and social license, new operating environments, and changes in consumer and stakeholder expectations.
She brings unique perspective and fresh insight, having worked in a range of business types including not for profits, ASX-100, member and advocacy organisations, state and federal government departments, statutory authorities, start-ups, chief of staff to a federal minister. She has worked in five rural industries and their global supply chains, across diverse roles from technical, extension, policy, political, stakeholder, strategic, and communications.
With expertise in issues management, she draws on nearly 30 years of multi-disciplinary experience and expertise developing solutions to challenging problems, whether they be regulatory, commercial, political, or technical in nature.
Peta has managed some of the most sensitive issues and crises within the ag, food & fibre sector ranging from Royal Commissions, Senate Inquiries, and high-profile international activist campaigns.
Peta has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wool and Pastoral) from UNSW, Graduate Certificate (Cotton Production) from UNE, a graduate of the Mt Eliza Business School, and Harvard Business School and the recipient of awards including a Churchill Fellowship (EMS in Agriculture) and the Fairfax Fellowship in Ethical Leadership. She is currently a director with Dairy Food Safety Victoria, and past Director of Cotton Research and Development Corporation, serving on the finance, risk, and audit committees of both boards.
Ms Roslyn Baker
Roslyn is a passionate advocate for agriculture, having lived and worked in regional communities for most of her life. Roslyn’s most recent senior executive experience was as Chief Executive Officer for Sugar Research Australia.
Roslyn is an experienced non-executive director with contemporary knowledge of the strategic risks and opportunities across the agricultural innovation, energy, renewables, and water industries. She currently serves as a non-executive director on the Boards of EcoMarkets Australia, and Plant Health Australia where she is also a member of the Finance, Compliance and Audit Committee.
Roslyn has also enjoyed a successful executive career, holding chief/ senior executive roles in large government-owned energy and water utilities, the renewable energy sector, local government and agriculture. She has functional experience leading large operations teams, compliance and finance functions, commodity trading and risk management, communications and stakeholder/ government relations and customer experience and technology innovation.
Roslyn is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and is currently completing a graduate qualification in Applied Governance and Risk Management through the Governance Institute of Australia. She also holds formal qualifications in Commerce and has a Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Diploma Financial Markets, and is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA).
Mr Stephen Strachan
Stephen has been involved in Australian wine for more than three decades - including as Chief Executive of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, Director of Tarac Australia and for the past 14 years as a Director and shareholder of Langley & Co Advisors. At Langley & Co he is a member of a small team advising wineries and vineyard owners on the full or partial divestment of their businesses and other wine business-related advice, as well as working with buyers on acquisitions.
Stephen holds a Bachelor in Economics, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, is a current Director of Tarac Australia and a former Chairman of Wine Victoria. His extensive board experience also includes lengthy stints with the Wolf Blass Foundation and National Wine Foundation.
Mr Geoff Knuckey
To ensure the highest levels of governance and probity Wine Australia engages an external chair for the Audit and Risk Committee. Mr Geoff Knuckey was appointed in January 2020.
Geoff has extensive experience as an Audit Committee member or Chair and is currently serving on audit committees for numerous government entities. He has extensive experience as a Director and serves on boards and audit committees of multiple private sector entities. Mr Knuckey has been a full-time company director and audit committee member since 2009 following a 32 year career with Ernst & Young specialising in Audit and Assurance Services in both the public and private sectors across a range of industries.
He has a Bachelor in Economics (ANU), is FCA qualified, a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Registered Company Auditor.
Mr John Lloyd
John Lloyd is the former CEO of Horticulture Innovation Australia/HAL, leading both organisations over a nine-year period of significant growth, change and transition. He is the current Chair of Meat & Livestock Australia, Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council and is a member of the governing council of Charles Sturt University. Having previously served on the boards of Wine Australia, Agribusiness Australia and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, John has extensive experience with research, innovation and portfolio management within the primary industries sector, as well as a deep understanding of funding mechanisms and governance requirements.
John’s career has spanned most parts of the Australian agribusiness sector with senior leadership positions including Managing Director Case IH/New Holland ANZ; General Manager Commercial Incitec Pivot; and General Manager Merchandise Wesfarmers Dalgety. More recently John has led a significant restructure of the research corporation for the $10 billion horticulture sector, creating new funding models that have catered for its longer-term strategic issues as well as accessing broader and non- traditional sources of investment. These issues include Asian export markets, biosecurity, health and nutrition, pollination, major pests, intensive farming systems and urban greening.
John has a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of NSW as well as an MBA from Macquarie University, and lives on a small holding in Borenore NSW.
Meet our Board
Board of Directors