The 2024 Australian Women in Wine National Symposium is proudly brought to you by: 

LOCATION: Franklin Wharf Funtion Centre, Hobart, Tasmania 

8:00am Registrations, tea & coffee
9:00am Welcome Jane Thomson OAM

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SESSION 1: Investing in Women in your Business: Why it makes good business sense
Presented by Australian Grape & Wine

9:15am Session opened by Lee McLean, CEO of Australian Grape and Wine
9:20am KEYNOTE Breaking the Boss Bias Catherine Fox AM
9:50am PANEL What investing in women looks like in a wine business. Hosted by Angie Bradbury.

Featuring:

• Sam Connew Director & Winemaker, Stargazer Wines
• Kiera O’Brien Owner & Winemaker, Rivulet Wines
• Cynthea Semmens Vigneron & Director, Beautiful Isle Wines

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10:30am Morning Tea

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SESSION 2: Investing in Yourself: Wellness, health, life & family balance
Presented by Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference

11:00am Session opened by Mark Krstic, Managing Director of the Australian Wine Research Institute
11:05am KEYNOTE Who Gets to Lead? Addressing Gender Bias and Power Imbalances in Leadership Spaces Sheetal Deo, Lawyer, Diversity & Inclusion Advocate
11:35am PANEL Self Care: An investment in your wine career. Hosted by Rachel Triggs.

Featuring:

• Curly Haslam-Coates Wine Educator
• Bianca Welsh Co-owner of Stillwater restaurant & mental health coach
• Sherri Ring Director of Energy Health, Founder of Mind Game

12:05pm KEYNOTE Maintaining Resilience as an Investment in Yourself. Dr. Cait McMahon OAM

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12:35pm PLATINUM PARTNER ADDRESS Dora Constantinou, Sales and Marketing Manager, Plumm

12:40pm Lunch

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SESSION 3: Investing in your Financial Security: Negotiating salaries, financial acumen
Presented by Stanton & Stanton

1:40pm Session Opened by Laura Quarrell, Principal, Stanton & Stanton
1:45pm WORKSHOP Money CAN Make You Happy. Amanda Thompson, Founder and Director of Endurance Financial
2:15pm Q&A SESSION Embracing Risk. Corrina Wright interviews Sarah Courtney Chair of the Tasmanian Womens’ Leadership Association; AWRI Board Member, former Tasmanian Minister for Health 

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2:45pm Afternoon tea

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SESSION 4: Investing in Diversity Presented by Wine Australia

3:05pm Session opened by Liz Waters, Chief Operating Officer, Wine Australia
3:10pm PRESENTATION Gender Equality in the Australian Grape & Wine Sector. Research team from Charles Sturt University. Includes opportunity for questions and comment from the room.

• Associate Professor Larissa Bamberry
• Dr Helen Taylor
• Associate Professor Sue Williamson
• Dr Donna Bridges
• Dr Elizabeth Wulff

3:55pm KEYNOTE Why Women Matter in Wine. Lulie Halstead. Founder and CEO of international consumer research & strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence

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4:25pm FAREWELL & THANK YOU Jane Thomson OAM

4:30pm Symposium Officially Concludes – Drinks at the bar downstairs begin

 

#InvestingInWomenInWine @AustralianWomenInWine

Presenters

The Australian Women in Wine 2024 National Symposium brings together a stellar line up of thought leaders from both within and outside the wine industry. They are:

Catherine Fox AM is a leading commentator on women and the workforce, an award-winning journalist, author and presenter. During a long career with the Financial Review, she edited several sections of the newspaper, and wrote the Corporate Woman column; and she has published six books, including “Stop Fixing Women” which along with her journalism was awarded the 2017 Walkley Award for Women’s Leadership in Media. Her latest book “Breaking the boss bias: how to get more women into leadership” was released in August 2024. Catherine helped establish the annual Financial Review 100 Women of Influence Awards in 2012 and was named a Woman of Influence in 2018. She has been a gender equality advisor to the Australian Defence Force, sits on the Australians Investing in Women board, and the Sydney Women’s Fund advisory council. In 2022 she was awarded an AM for significant service to journalism, gender equality and diversity.

Lulie is a globally recognised keynote speaker, an academic in the field of wine marketing and the founder behind the world’s foremost business in wine consumer insights, Wine Intelligence. With 30+ year career combining her passion for the business of wine with her expertise in consumer behaviour and market trends, she is a highly regarded in the international wine industry. As the founder of Wine Intelligence, Lulie was key to evolving the way the wine industry understands and connects with consumers. Her pioneering work has empowered wineries, marketers and industry stakeholders to make data-driven decisions, uncover market trends and tailor their strategies for success.

She has graced the stages of more than 50 international conferences as a speaker, which is testament to her deep understanding of the ever-evolving drinks and wine landscape. Her dynamic presentations have inspired wine professionals to navigate the challenges, and seize the opportunities, in the wine category.

Lulie is passionate about fostering equity and opportunity in the drinks industries, particularly for women. She is a Board Trustee of WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) and is on the programme board of Drinks United, whose mission is to support a UK drinks industry which is safe, inclusive and united, where everyone can thrive.

Sheetal Deo (She/Her) is an advocate, strategist, and connector. Sheetal is passionate about leveraging platform and privilege to bridge gaps in awareness, education, and accessibility. Sheetal has engaged in a political and social science studies for over 12 years, having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Political Science in Canada before obtaining her Juris Doctor, Master of Laws and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice in Australia. She is a keen believer in ‘calling in’, not ‘calling out’ and creating safe and comfortable spaces to ask ands learn about otherwise uncomfortable topics.

Sheetal is driven to effect positive social and systemic changes through an intersectional lens and bring this approach to diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility forums. She recognises that bridging the gap between awareness and action often requires unlearning and challenging the status quo and this needs vulnerability, kindness and compassion. Sheetal strongly believes that issues relating to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility may not be our fault, but it is our responsibility.

Sarah was a Minister in the Tasmanian Government until her retirement from Parliament in February 2022. During her tenure Sarah was responsible for a number of senior portfolios including Education, Primary Industries and Resources, and was Minister for Health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Prior to her involvement in politics, Sarah was based in Sydney and worked for almost a decade in the financial services industry across stockbroking and funds management.

In 2010 Sarah moved to Tasmania and established a boutique vineyard in the Tamar Valley, growing Pinot Noir.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Engineering (hons), a Bachelor of Commerce, and Masters in Wine Technology and Viticulture and is Graduate of the ACID. Her current roles include Chair of East 33, a listed aquaculture company, Independent Chair of the Tasmanian Forest Products Association, Director of the Australian Wine Research Institute, Chair of the Tasmanian Hospitality Association’s Women in Leadership Program and Chair of Theatre North.

Cait McMahon PhD, OAM is a thought leader, innovator and educator on work-related extreme stress and trauma, especially focussing on the media and human rights fields. She received an Order of Australia for this work in 2016 and has trained people across the globe and in-person on psychological safety and wellbeing for 30 years. She was the Founding Managing Director of the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma-Asia Pacific (2003-2021) and continues to educate people about psychological safety, resilience and wellbeing as a private consultant for Cait McMahon Consulting

Amanda Thompson is an award-winning financial planner, author, Ironwoman and the Founder and Director of Endurance Financial.   Amanda draws on her 20 years of financial advising and life experiences to educate and mentor in a relaxed and relatable way to support you to overcome the fear of finances and own your financial future.

Amanda renews personal and business confidence by providing the financial knowledge and confidence to have a great relationship with money allowing you to become your own CFO (Confident, Focussed & On top of your Finances).   Endurance Financial is particularly driven to overcome the gender biases that stand in the way of personal achievement; lessons learned after thriving in typically male dominated environments.

A highly respected and sought-after brand and business consultant with more than two decades working with leading brands in drinks & hospitality, retail &automotive, tourism & agriculture.

With a reputation as a forthright operator who calls a spade a shovel Angie has been recognised as a leading strategic voice in the wine sector for many years.

Angie was the 2019 Women of Inspiration for the Australian Women in Wine Awards, played a lead role in the development of the Diversity and Equality in Wine Charter and is a regular guest speaker, keynote presenter and agitator on issues right across the sector.

A highly experienced and respected winemaker, and consultant, Sam launched her Tasmanian wine brand Stargazer Wine in 2013. She has twice been nominated by the ASVO as ‘Winemaker of the Year’ as well as twice being a finalist for Gourmet Traveller Wine’s winemaker award. In 2022 Stargazer was a finalist in the Halliday Wine Companion Awards ‘Winery of the Year’ and followed this in 2023 with being nominated for ‘Winemaker of the Year’.

She has served on the boards of several regional associations, the ASVO and is one our very own founding board members too here at Australian Women in Wine Where she served for 3 years. She is currently a director on the Wine Tasmania Board and a mentor in the Wine Communicators of Australia Mentor Program.

She is a highly respected wine show judge and has chaired many regional and capital city wine shows, having completed both the AWRI’s Advanced Wine Assessment Course and the Len Evans Tutorial, where she continues her involvement as a board member, tutor and a member of the working group. In 2014 she was appointed Chair of Judges at the Sydney Royal Wine Show, the first female and the youngest judge in that position.

Bianca Welsh is a proud Launcestonian. Born and adopted from South Korea, she co-owns Stillwater Restaurant and Seven Rooms and has her own mental health business – From Experience – which provides education and advice to workplaces on how to be a mentally healthy workplace and is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor.

Bianca has been recognised for her work in the industry and community with accolades such as Young Restaurateur of the Year (2015), Young Tasmanian Australian of the Year Finalist (2016), Young Professional of the Year (2017), Tourism Minister’s Young Achiever (2019) and most recently made the 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian Australian List in 2022. She also was a TV host for a local travel show – Left Off the Map and Award Winning Tasmania.

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Cynthea Semmens arrived in Tasmania in 1980 as a 5 year old from San Francisco where her parents purchased a 36 acre bush block and started to plant vines on the Tamar River in Tasmania. Cynthea studied Wine Marketing at Roseworthy, Wine Science at Charles Sturt, and completed 7 vintages overseas before starting a winemaking position with the Hardy Wine Company in McLaren Vale, South Australia.

The International Biodynamics conference in Victoria changed her belief in agriculture systems and she returned to Tasmania and established her own label Beautiful Isle Wines with husband David, and sons Solomon and Aristotle. In 2018 she bought into the family business at Marions Vineyard and by 2021 gained organic and biodynamic certification and remains committed to respecting nature, reducing her footprint and truly living a wild and precious life.

Based on the scenic east coast near Freycinet National Park, Keira is winemaker and general manager at Freycinet Vineyard, one of Tasmania’s oldest family owned vineyards. She established own her small Tasmanian wine label Rivulet in 2019 and has recently taken on her most challenging role to date as vigneron, developing a small vineyard near Swansea, also on the east coast of Tasmania.

She is the winner of the 2023 Young Gun of Wine Winemakers Choice trophy and a Wine Australia Future Leaders alumni.

 

Curly Haslam-Coates is a sparkling wine tragic, a wine writer for The Wine Front, a facilitator for The Smith Family, a passionate advocate for childhood food, culture and nutrition education and enthusiastic supporter of local food and farming across Tasmania. This dizzying array of projects all fall under the umbrella of @vintagetasmania but she always has an eye open for projects that support equality and equity within the wine and food industries.

Director of Energy Health, Sherri Ring is a dynamic leader in employee engagement, wellbeing, and workplace happiness, bringing a fresh perspective to creating fun and productive work environments. With a belief that a happy workplace is not just good for people but also good for business, Sherri has been at the forefront of transforming workplaces across Australia for over 30 years.

As the CEO and creator of The Mind Games, Sherri developed a unique, action-packed event designed to raise funds for The Menzies Institute for Medical Research, focusing on expanding mental health research in the workplace. Under her leadership, The Mind Games has raised over a quarter of a million dollars, demonstrating Sherri’s exceptional skills in project management, risk mitigation, business development, and stakeholder engagement.

Sherri is also the head coach and manager of the Tasmanian Hospitality Association’s HOSPO Health program, where she leads initiatives to improve health and wellbeing across the hospitality sector in Tasmania. Additionally, she manages the THA Women in Leadership Program, empowering women to thrive in leadership roles within the industry.

Founder of The Fabulous Ladies’ Wine Society & Australian Women in Wine, Jane is an award winning wine communicator, event host, speaker, global wine tour leader and – most passionately – an advocate for gender equality & diversity in the Australian wine industry. 

Jane has been leading Australian Women in Wine since it’s creation in 2015 and in 2022 AWIW was announced as the inaugural winner of the 2022 McWilliams ‘Excellence in Action Award’. Jane has also been awarded ‘Digital Wine Communicator of the Year’ three times (2013, 2016 & 2019) by Wine Communicators of Australia, and is the only person to have received this award more than once.

In June 2023 Jane was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to women in oenology.

Jane will be your MC today 

Described by WBM Magazine as a “legend in the making” and by James Halliday as being part of a “remarkable dynasty” Corrina is the Director and Winemaker (and sixth generation member) of her family’s label, Oliver’s Taranga. And has been a foundational board member of Australian Women in Wine since its inception in 2015.

2019 ASVO Winemaker of the Year and 2021 Family Business Australia Leading Women in Family Business Award winner, Corrina is a vocal supporter of women in wine. She graduated from the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial in 2005 and continues to judge at numerous wine shows around Australia. Passionate about her McLaren Vale home, her vocation and local community she has also served on the boards of the Winemakers Federation of Australia, McLaren Vale Grape, Wine & Tourism Association, and the Australian Society of Viticulture & Oenology. A Future Leaders alumni, she is a current board member of the Australian Wine Research Institute and President of the Australian Alternative Varietals Wine Show. Corrina is furious that we are losing women from our wonderful wine community and is determined not to sit back and let it happen.

Corrina will be interviewing Sarah Courtney 

Rachel is an experienced senior executive with over 20 years’ experience in the Australian grape and wine sector. She is a qualified winemaker and lawyer having previously held senior roles within Wine Australia, including as General Counsel and Head of Market Access. Prior to joining Wine Australia, Rachel worked as a corporate lawyer specialising in wine law.

Rachel has a Bachelor of Science (Jurisprudence) majoring in genetics and biochemistry, a Masters in Oenology and a Bachelor of Law (University of Adelaide), a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, and a Diploma of European Wine Law (University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne). In 2014, she co-authored a wine law text book, Global Wine Regulation. She is a contributing author of the most recent edition of the Oxford Wine Companion.

Before completing her Law degree, Rachel worked as a winemaker – predominantly in the Adelaide Hills, but also in the Clare Valley, Hunter Valley, Oregon and Tuscany. She continues to make a small amount of wine each year in her suburban backyard.

Unsurprisingly, Rachel is actively involved in the international wine law community, serving as President of the Australasian Wine Law Association, and as a board member of each the International Federation of Wine and Spirits (FIVS) and the International Wine Law Association.

Rachel agrees with the sentiment that there is a special place in hell for women who don’t support women and she says it’s right next to those who don’t fill up the ice tray.

Rachel is one of today’s Panel Chair’s

The Tasmanian Government’s Business Events Attraction Fund (BEAF) is delivered through Business Events Tasmania.