About the series
Steering your business strategy with sustainability is a four-part webinar series designed to help Australian wine businesses navigate the evolving ESG landscape. Each session focuses on a different dimension of ESG (Environment, Social, Governance, and partnerships) and provides practical tools, case studies and insights to guide your sustainability journey.
Session 1: E = Environment
Sustainability reporting and communications are increasingly shaping global wine trade, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction has become the greatest environmental concern for many major retailers. Meeting these expectations is critical to maintaining market access and presents opportunities to reduce business costs.
Guest speakers:
- Kate Morgan, Sustainability Engagement Officer, Margaret River Wine Association
- Shae Courtney, National Quality & Sustainability Manager, Coles Liquor
- Suzanne McLoughlin, Team Leader of Engagement and Sustainability, AWRI
In this practical, action-led session, you’ll hear from sector leaders as they share insights, tools and real-world experiences to help you:
- Align your business plan with that of major retailers – understand what sustainability topics are of most interest to wine retailers and hear how to align your business brand with sustainability
- Baseline and set goals – how to measure and track progress and what tools are available to help.
- Use the ESG Readiness Tool – assess your current maturity and plan 'where to from here'.
- Leverage sector-wide programs and resources – including Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (SWA).
- Communicate your credentials – apply sustainability reporting and communications best practices to build trust with customers, trade partners and consumers
Session 2: Partnerships for ESG success
Guest speakers:
- Dr Peter Stanbury, Director, Research and Standards, Sustainable Wine Roundtable
- Linda Johansson, Head of Sustainability, Systembolaget
- Dr Mardi Longbottom, General Manager – Engagement and Sustainability, AWRI
In this second webinar it's all about partnerships and how to support your success in sustainability:
- Partners and leadership demonstrated in sustainability.
- Support for sustainability from Wine Australia, AWRI, states & regions, local groups
- Regional program and localised training
- Suppliers and consultants who can advise and problem solve with you.
- International trends, benchmarking and retail demand.
Session 3: S = Social Responsibility
Guest speakers:
- Nick Dexter, Principal Consultant, Edge Impact
- Elise Margaritis, Principal Consultant, Edge Impact
Our third webinar in the four-part ESG series turns the spotlight to the social heart of sustainability: protecting the people behind Australian wine and the ethical business practices that safeguard reputation and market access. Global markets are increasingly expecting transparency and accountability on this topic. To support the sector in meeting these expectations, Wine Australia and Edge Impact are creating the Ethical Business Guide - a practical tool to help growers and winemakers embed strong labour practices into their operations.
Learn more about:
- What global markets expect when it comes to ethical practice
- How to identify and manage human rights risks, and protect your brand
- A first look at the Ethical Business Guide and how it can support your business
Session 4: G = Governance
Guest speakers:
- Andrew Kay, Chief Executive Officer, South Australian Business Chamber
- Henrik Wallgren, Business Services Manager, South Australian Wine Industry Association
- Siobhan Toohill, Sustainability Advisory and Governance, Pure and Applied
The final session in our four-part Steering your business strategy with sustainability series turns the spotlight to the foundation that supports credible, resilient and commercially sound ESG performance: governance.
Strong governance is more than compliance. It strengthens decision-making, supports people development, reduces risk and connects sustainability to tangible business outcomes, including profitability and long-term market confidence.
In this webinar, speakers will share practical insights drawn from real-world experience across the grape and wine sector. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how to embed effective governance practices that align with today’s operating environment and customer expectations.
Hear more about:
- Why governance is central to managing ESG effectively
- Links between good governance and commercial outcomes
- Approaches to strengthening accountability, risk oversight and people development
- Practical steps grape and wine businesses can take immediately