Fifteen emerging leaders have today graduated from the Australian grape and wine sector’s flagship professional development program, Future Leaders, having been inspired and equipped to shape meaningful change for the benefit of the industry.
Funded by Wine Australia, supported by Australian Grape & Wine and delivered by Pragmatic Thinking, the Future Leaders program is offered every two years to mid-career professionals. It focuses on fostering individual talent and strengthening leadership capability to meet the sector’s evolving needs and challenges.
Since its inception in 2006, Future Leaders has built an impressive network of more than 150 alumni who continue to influence and make valuable contributions to the Australian grape and wine industry.
Dr Martin Cole, CEO of Wine Australia, congratulated the graduates and highlighted the importance of the program to the sector.
“The calibre of this year’s cohort speaks volumes about the depth of talent and drive across our sector. Navigating the complexities of the current environment — from climate pressures to market changes — requires bold thinking and genuine, collaborative leadership. These graduates are well placed to make a lasting impact on the future of Australian wine,” Dr Cole said.
Lee McLean, CEO of Australian Grape & Wine, said: “Investing in our emerging leaders is central to securing a sustainable, resilient future for Australian wine. This cohort brings fresh perspectives, collaboration, and the mindset needed to lead through change.”
Alison Hill, from Pragmatic Thinking, said the future requires leaders to navigate the unknown, to challenge thinking and to invest in their own development in a way that serves things beyond themselves.
“Every single one of these leaders have embraced the challenges in this program with their whole heart and their connection as a group is unparalleled. This industry is in great hands with these Future Leaders driving change,” she said.
As part of the program, participants have authored thought leadership articles that address key challenges such as workforce development, sales and marketing, customers, and sustainability. These articles are designed to reflect the issues shaping the sector’s future and prompt important conversations, and will be contained in a Thought Leadership book that will be unveiled at today’s graduation.
“While the Future Leaders program might be coming to a formal conclusion, in other ways it feels like just the beginning,” said graduate Lachlan Aird, Direct to Consumer and eCommerce Manager with Shaw & Smith.
“Not only will the new skills we’ve acquired throughout the course help us navigate future leadership challenges, but our cohort will also keep the conversations, connections and sense of community going well beyond 2025.”
Marianne Duluk, Manager – Food and Wine Exports with SA Department of State Development, described Future Leaders as “a catalyst of real transformation”.
“The tools and strategic models matter, but the connections and friendships forged matter even more — and have been a driving force in the cohort in how we think about change and leading our industry forward,” she said.
Future Leaders is a finalist in the Best Education & Transmission Category in the annual International V d’Or Vinexposium Business Awards, which recognise the most impactful and responsible initiatives in the global wine and spirits industry. Winners of the awards will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on 8 February.
Representing roles across the wine sector’s value-chain, the graduates from Future Leaders 2025 are:
- Lachlan Aird, Shaw + Smith (Adelaide Hills)
- Nick Baverstock, Treasury Wine Estates (Coonawarra)
- Emma Brown, Brown Family Wine Group
- Matt Duggan, Domaine Chandon Australia (Yarra Valley)
- Nick Dugmore, STOKE Wines (Kangaroo Island)
- Marianne Duluk, SA Department of State Development
- Brendan Hawker, Yering Station (Yarra Valley)
- Callie Jemmeson, PachaMama/Joval Family Wines
- Madeleine Marson, Vinea Marson (Heathcote)
- Chris Mein, Longview Vineyard (Adelaide Hills)
- Daniel Mortimer, Mortimers Wines (Orange)
- Nicola Reid, The Real Review
- Andi Roberts-Davison, Melbourne Polytechnic
- Ashleigh Seymour, BHF Technologies
- Tash Stoodley, Savvy
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| Graduates with Jo Hargreaves (Wine Australia) and Alison and Darren Hill (Pragmatic Thinking) |
Applications for the next Future Leaders program will open in late January 2027.
For media enquiries please contact
Sonya Logan
Communications Manager – Research & Innovation
Wine Australia
Phone: 0477 213 901
Email: communications@wineaustralia.com
About Wine Australia
Wine Australia empowers the success of the Australian wine sector through Research, Innovation and Adoption to enhance global competitiveness and meet the challenges of tomorrow, today; Market Development to increase the demand and premium paid for Australian wine; and Regulatory Services to safeguard Australian wine’s integrity and uphold the sector’s reputation.
Wine Australia is funded by the sector, for the sector, through grapegrower, winemaker and exporter levies and user-pays charges, with matching funds from the Australian Government for research and innovation. Established under the Wine Australia Act 2013, it is a Commonwealth Government statutory authority.
About Australian Grape & Wine
Australian Grape & Wine Inc is the national association of grape and wine producers. We address issues across the supply-chain that impact on the profitability and sustainability of the sector. We lead and advocate public policy that enhances the ability to responsibly produce, promote and enjoy Australian wine in moderation.
Australian Grape & Wine is recognised as a representative organisation for winegrape and wine producers under the Wine Australia Act 2013, and is incorporated under the SA Associations Incorporation Act 1985. We work in partnership with the Australian Government to develop and implement policy that is in the best interests of winegrape growers and winemakers across Australia.