Australian Women in Wine (AWIW) has announced the appointment of Rachel Triggs as its newest Advisory Board member.
A highly respected figure in the Australian wine community, Triggs brings extensive knowledge and leadership skills to the AWIW Advisory Board, with a view to strengthening its efforts in advancing equality and inclusivity in Australian wine.
Speaking about her appointment, Triggs said: “Australian Women in Wine is a gem of the Australian grape and wine community and I’m thrilled to be joining its Advisory Board.
“The AWIW works tirelessly to advocate for gender equality across the sector and I’m blown away by what it has achieved since its inception, including the highly successful awards program, the world’s first survey of women in wine, and most recently the national symposium in Sydney that saw 150 women in wine gather from across the region.
“Like many female winemakers, I gave up my winemaking career after falling pregnant with my first child – I simply didn’t think I had a choice. Fast forward 15 years, and I’ve found myself at the other end of the spectrum where the representation of women in leadership in the Australian grape and wine sector is dismal.
“The affirmative action being taken by AWIW to raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities of gender equality in the sector is invaluable.”
Most recently the Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Market Access at Wine Australia, a role which she left in December last year, Triggs has contributed to the Australian wine industry in various capacities through pivotal roles such as winemaking and strategic leadership.
Commenting on the appointment Jane Thomson, Founder and Chair of AWIW, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Rachel Triggs to our Advisory Board, which we like to call the Action Board. Her wealth of experience, her unique skill set as both a winemaker and lawyer, and her incredible passion for diversity are all huge assets for AWIW. We look forward to working together to drive positive change in the Australian wine industry.”
The 2024 Advisory Board, which promotes gender equality and support women in the wine sector, also includes Corrina Wright, Jeni Port, Alexia Roberts, Shirley Fraser, Dr. Catherine Kidman, Rebekah Richardson and Jane Thomson OAM.