New Generation of Leaders for Wine Industry

On Monday 7 May a group of local winery operators from the north east wine industry graduated from the Wine Industry Leadership Program, bringing new leadership skills and a positive outlook for the North East region after a difficult season.

The course was held over a 3 month period and is aimed at providing a new generation of leadership skills and resources that can benefit the whole region and industry.

The course participants came from regional wine industry personnel representing all five wine regions within the North East Zone; Alpine Valleys, Beechworth, Glenrowan, King Valley and Rutherglen.

The participants have now set up a network of like minded people where they can collectively discuss issues facing the industry, their own personal and business situations and help to promote the North East as a whole.

Jill Briggs, Rural Training Initiatives says “The participants from the programme demonstrated significant capacity to lead the industry into the future. They certainly understand the significance of working as a team, demonstrated by their commitment to remaining in contact and growing their network. It will be exciting to watch their integration into the existing leadership teams of the industry.”

The Leadership Program was initiated by a need identified by the wine industry, was run by Rural Training Initiatives with funding provided by the Grape Wine Research Development Corporation.

Course Facilitators

Jill Briggs Rural Training Initiatives

Cynthia Mahoney Department of Primary Industries

Course Participants

Damien Cofield – Cofield Wines, Rutherglen

David Maples – King Valley

Janelle Boynton – Boynton’s Winery, Alpine Valley

Kel Boynton – Boynton’s Winery, Alpine Valley

Michael Oxlee – Stanton & Killeen

Peter Long – Granite Range Estate, Glenrowan

Tim Long – Granite Range Estate, Glenrowan

Sara Flamsteed – Smiths Winery, Beechworth

Tyce Light – Chrismont Wines, King Valley

Rowland Milhinch – Scion Vineyard, Rutherglen

Mell Millgate - Cofield Wines, Rutherglen

Mell Millgate, Damien Cofield, Tyce Light, Rowland Milhinch,

Michael Oxlee, Tim Long and Sara Flamsteed (clockwise from the bottom of the photo)