The search is on for Future Leaders 2023

Applications opened today, Monday 30 January, for the Australian grape and wine sector’s flagship leadership development program Future Leaders.

Future Leaders inspires a new generation of leaders wanting to achieve impactful change at a personal, business and sector level. 

The program connects participants with highly engaging facilitators and distinguished speakers that create long-lasting behaviour change. It supports participants to sharpen decision-making abilities, build networks and enthusiasm to take the grape and wine community forward into tomorrow.

Wine Australia Senior R&D Program Manager and Future Leaders coordinator Jo Hargreaves said challenges over the past few years have shown how fundamental innovation is in leadership. 

“The Future Leaders program has continued to evolve over the years, and the program has honed its focus on resilience and ingenuity in response,” Ms Hargreaves said.

“Importantly, those selected to take part in the program are called on to find their voice, consider some of the sector’s greatest challenges and opportunities, and be part of conversations designed to find the solutions we need.

“Participants come from all across the wine sector’s value chain – from those in the vineyard and winery, through to logistics and marketing, and to research – providing a diversity of experience and a valuable network that alumni draw on many years after completing Future Leaders.”

Zoë Downer, wine marketer and alumni of the 2022 program said, “Future Leaders is a tremendous initiative that I am proud to have experienced. The program is world class and having the opportunity to undertake intensive leadership development such as this is a rare opportunity in and of itself, but to move through the process alongside a handful of others is a rare gift indeed.”

Fellow Future Leaders 2022 Alumni Howard Park Wines Richard Burch, said, “Quite simply, the Future Leaders experience over delivers in so many ways. I highly recommend the program to any aspiring leader in the wine sector.”

Lauren Hansen from Penley Estate, also 2022 program alumni, said, “I was pushed outside of my comfort zone, challenged and supported to grow. The blinkers are off, and I’m thoroughly excited about what the future looks like. I couldn't recommend this program more highly to anyone thinking about applying – you won't regret it.”

Future Leaders is coordinated and funded by Wine Australia, supported by Australian Grape & Wine and delivered with Pragmatic Thinking. The program has identified and developed leaders of the Australian grape and wine community for close to two decades, with more than 100 graduates of the respected program that has continued to grow and evolve

Applications for Future Leaders 2023 will close on 17 March. People across the Australian grape and wine community are encouraged to apply at winefutureleaders.com.