Wine Grape Growers Australia is pleased to announce its 2014-15 Executive Committee which was confirmed at its Annual General Meeting earlier this month.

With roll-over of half of the executive committee each year, WGGA confirmed the four incoming grower members in 2014-15.  Three of the representative bodies that appoint the members saw fit to renominate the existing members for another two-year term while the Wine Grape Council of South Australia nominated Dr Mardi Longbottom to replace the outgoing Simon Berry at the completion of his term.

WGGA Chair, Mr Vic Patrick said of Mardi’s appointment “This appointment continues the process of youthful invigoration of the WGGA Executive Committee and I welcome her willingness to be involved.”  Mardi brings extensive viticultural knowledge and experience to the position as well as familiarity with WGGA’s operations.  Mardi has a family interest in a South East South Australian vineyard and is a viticulturist with the Australian Wine Research Institute.  Mardi’s prior involvement with WGGA is as a general member as well as a member of WGGA’s Decision Support Network – a network of younger growers who receive an introduction to the organisation’s decision-making processes. 

Simon Berry stood down from representative duties at the national level to focus on his leadership role in the South Australian growers association and his own vineyard and viticulture consulting work.  After four years with WGGA, Simon will not be lost to the organisation however as he will continue to provide input into the organisation’s market access and MRL negotiation initiatives.

The remaining four members of the executive team will serve out the second half of their two-year terms in accordance with the Constitution.

In all, the WGGA Executive Committee membership for 2014-15 is as follows:

• Andrew Weeks, Riverland (SA)
• Mardi Longbottom, South Australia (1)
• Vic Patrick, South Australia (2)
• Robert Bellato, Riverina (NSW)
• Brian Englefield, Murray Valley (VIC)
• Justin Jarrett, Rest of New South Wales & Queensland
• Ben Rose, Rest of Victoria & Tasmania
• Colin Bell, Western Australia

In the first meeting after the AGM the new committee appointed its Chair.  Vic Patrick was reappointed to the role and agreed to continue for the next year.  Executive Director of WGGA, Mr Lawrie Stanford, said “Vic’s experience and the respect he holds in the industry are invaluable and I look forward to this ongoing partnership in leading programs and services for Australia’s winegrape growers.”

Media enquiries to Lawrie Stanford, Executive Director on 0417 859 282.

Images available for publishing on 08 8133 4400 or info@wgga.com.au

About WGGA

WGGA is the national voice for Australian winegrape growers.  It is an incorporated association that is accountable to its members through a representative Executive Committee.  There are roughly 6,200 winegrape growers in Australia and WGGA can count around 3,700 of these as having a direct involvement in the organisation. 

The value of winegrape sales across approximately 55 of Australia’s electorates is estimated to have been roughly $880 million in 2012.  At a recent peak in winegrape prices, earlier in the 2000’s, the value of winegrape sales was around $1.5 billion. 

Around 95% of the value of winegrape sales is concentrated in 17 commonwealth electorates. 

WGGA embraces a mission of advancing the development and sustainability of the Australian wine sector and pursues this mission across the four dimensions of a quadruple bottom line:

• Economic ‑ enhancing grower competitiveness, grower profitability potential and maximising contribution to the Australian and regional economies.
• Social ‑ strengthening supply chain business ethics; responsibility to communities and employees; supporting responsible wine consumption.
• Environment ‑ embracing a custodian role for water and ecological assets; supporting biodiversity.
• Governance ‑ championing transparency and equity across the wine value chain and positive revenue growth for government from a progressive tax base.

A PDF copy of this Media Release can be downloaded from the WGGA website