Sustainable Winegrowing Australia has announced the appointment of its inaugural advisory Board.
Commencing on May 1 the Board is: Siobhan Toohill (independent chair), Jeremy Cass, Kellie Collins, Chris Dent, Ella Shaw, Michael Parks and Kyra Reznikov.
Siobhan Wigan has been appointed executive officer and will commence in early July.
The Board collates diverse experience and leadership skills from viticulture, winemaking, research, legal and regional advocacy.
They will guide the strategic direction of the program as it supports growers and winemakers in adopting and improving sustainable practices.
Independent chair Siobhan Toohill says the Board’s focus will be on enhancing the program’s impact and value to members and the wider industry.
“Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is pivotal in supporting continuous improvement across environmental, social and economic practices of the industry,” she says.
“I look forward to working with the Board, executive officer and industry stakeholders to build on the program’s strong foundations to continue to drive the outcomes that matter most for a more sustainable Australian grape and wine sector.”
An experienced wine industry professional, Ms Wigan brings strong technical skills across a range of sustainability frameworks, wine production and business management along with a passion for sustainability and innovation.
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia provides tools, certification and benchmarking to help businesses measure, improve and communicate their sustainability performance.
The program has 1,980 members with 76 percent independently certified.
Membership covers 70 percent of Australia’s vineyard area and 96 percent of Australia’s winegrape crush in 2025.
More than 3,000 wine labels now carry the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia trust mark.
“Having a dedicated Board and executive officer leading Sustainable Winegrowing Australia means the program can grow its impact and remain a credible, industry-owned asset,” says Lee McLean, CEO of Australian Grape & Wine.
“That matters for every grower and winemaker working to stay competitive.”
Wine Australia CEO Dr Martin Cole highlighted the importance of strong governance in supporting the program’s continued evolution.
“This Board’s leadership will help deliver on the industry’s shared ambition for a stronger Sustainable Winegrowing Australia that supports its priorities under the One Grape & Wine Sector Plan – supporting long-term viability, meeting market expectations and creating value across the grape and wine community,” he says.
Building on the importance of program governance and industry impact, Dr Mark Krstic, managing director of AWRI says, “As Sustainable Winegrowing Australia continues to evolve, having strong governance in place means the program can keep pace with best practice and deliver an internationally robust and credible, fit-for-purpose program that is also cost effective for industry participants.
“AWRI looks forward to continuing to support that work as the program enters this next phase”.
The Board and executive officer will develop a strategic plan that incorporates industry feedback on program’s value and certification pathway experience, while strengthening sustainability credentials to reinforce Australia’s reputation as a global leader in sustainable wine production.
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