Wine Australia’s leadership program to develop industry professionals is ready to accept its intake for this year.
Future Leaders aims to inspire wine industry experts by building networks and supporting professionals to achieve meaningful behavioural change.
Wine Australia Senior R&D Program Manager and Future Leaders coordinator, Jo Hargreaves, said the program has evolved over the last few years because of pandemic challenges.
“The program has honed its focus on resilience and ingenuity in response,” Hargreaves said.
“Those selected to take part in the program are called on to find their voice, consider some of the sector’s greatest challenges and opportunities, and be part of conversations designed to find the solutions we need.”
Participants come from a variety of backgrounds from vineyards to logistics, marketing and research.
Last November, the most recent batch of graduates completed the intensive five-month leadership development program.
Future Leaders 2022 alumna Zoe Downer said the course is a tremendous initiative.
“The program is world class and having the opportunity to undertake intensive leadership development such as this is a rare opportunity in and of itself, but to move through the process alongside a handful of others is a rare gift indeed,” she said.
Downer’s praise was echoed by fellow 2022 graduate, Lauren Hansen, from the Penley Estate winery.
“I was pushed outside of my comfort zone, challenged and supported to grow. The blinkers are off, and I’m thoroughly excited about what the future looks like,” Hansen said.
“I couldn’t recommend this program more highly to anyone thinking about applying – you won’t regret it.”
Future Leaders launched in 2006 and is coordinated and funded by Wine Australia with the support of Australian Grape & Wine.
Applications for Future Leaders 2023 will close on March 17 with people across the sector able to apply at winefutureleaders.com.