Board of Directors

Independent Chair

Michael Hollingdale is a senior lawyer (now in sole practice) and an accredited mediator and facilitator. He has experience as a director of private companies and has been committee member of numerous incorporated

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and unincorporated NFP associations and professional bodies for a period of over 30 years. He is a graduate of the AICD Directors Course. As a consumer, Michael enjoys and is a champion of Western Australian wines Mobile: 0438 143 309.

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Chief Executive Officer

Larry Jorgensen is Chief Executive Officer of Wines of Western Australia, starting in the role in 2013.

He has worked in the wine industry since 1996 in a variety of roles with focus on sales and marketing and management.

+61 448 884 161

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Treasurer

Cameron Rhodes is the CEO of Fermoy Estate in Margaret River and oversees all facets of the business including viticultural and winery operations, sales, marketing, accounting, finance and administration.

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Cameron is a chartered accountant and prior to Fermoy, spent 12 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers before joining the board of a listed company specialising in agricultural investments. With over 30 years experience in accounting, finance, agriculture and corporate governance, Cameron adds a unique skill base to the board of WOWA.

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Producer Representatives

Producer under 150 tonne

Livia Mairoana is the winemaker for South by South West wines, which she established with her partner in 2016. A love of organic chemistry and the traditions and culture within a bottle of wine guided Livia into winemaking from her previous career as a Chemical Engineer.

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Livia has since completed vintages in Napa Valley, the Okanagan Valley, Tuscany and Sicily. South by South West have two organically farmed vineyards in the Wallcliffe sub region of Margaret River of which one has a shed that serves also as their humble tasting shed. Whilst Livia is based in Margaret River, she also works with a team of loyal growers to respectfully make wines from across other south west regions to chase terroir and vintage driven wines.

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Producer 150-500 tonne

Cameron Rhodes is the CEO of Fermoy Estate in Margaret River and oversees all facets of the business including viticultural and winery operations, sales, marketing, accounting, finance and administration.

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Cameron is a chartered accountant and prior to Fermoy, spent 12 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers before joining the board of a listed company specialising in agricultural investments. With over 30 years experience in accounting, finance, agriculture and corporate governance, Cameron adds a unique skill base to the board of WOWA.
 

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Producer over 500 tonnes

Position open

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Regional Representatives

Swan Valley/ Perth Hills/ Peel GI

Garth Cliff was winemaker at Houghton in the Swan Valley for 10 years prior to starting Vino Volta with his partner in Jan ’19. Vino Volta largely focuses on chenin blanc and grenache from the Valley.

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Chenin blanc is in a revival phase currently, much of it thanks to Cliff, culminating in the inaugural nationwide Chenin Blanc Challenge in 2020, held in the Swan Valley. Garth has also started a wine import portfolio called Wine Terroirists. Garth is an active member of the Swan Valley Winemakers Association and a tireless proponent for the region.

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Perth Hills GI

Marcus Geisler OAM. Over the past 30 years, Marcus has built up experience, developing strategies, delivering major projects and developing strategic partnerships, primarily in the waste management and resource recovery sector.

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Marcus joined the EMRC in 2019 to focus on implementation of the WARR strategy and enabling the ‘linear to circular’ transition. Marcus has qualifications in Economics and Trade attained in the Netherlands, is an Alumni and Fellow of the AICD as well as AIM, a Companion of Engineers Australia and is involved in many not-for-profit/for-purpose organisations and government advisory boards. In February 2023 the Geisler family acquired Plume Estate Vineyard in Bickley valley, Western Australia, progressing his 20 year hobby of winemaking and include grape growing. Plume Estate is an award winning cellardoor, well known for its handpicked, boutique fine wines and breathtaking views of the Bickley valley.

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Geographe GI

Anita Robertson is a seasoned professional in the wine industry, currently serving as General Manager at Talisman Wines, a role she assumed in 2011. Prior to her tenure at Talisman, Anita enriched her expertise during a two-year tenure at Accolade Wines

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contributing to her comprehensive understanding of the intricacies within the wine business. An alumna of the University of Western Australia (UWA), Anita holds a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology, reflecting her commitment to the scientific and artistic facets of winemaking. Her dynamic leadership at Talisman Wines has been instrumental in the company’s growth, showcasing her strategic acumen and dedication to the craft. Anita Robertson stands as a prominent figure in the wine industry, blending academic knowledge with hands-on experience to shape the success and reputation of the brands she represents.

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Margaret River GI

Amanda Whiteland is the Chief Executive Officer for the Margaret River Wine Association, the peak body for Margaret River grape growers and winemakers, representing interests of the industry and promoting Margaret River’s fine wine.

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Prior to returning to the Margaret River region in 2014, Amanda worked with market leading brands, both in the Australian domestic market and internationally. Amanda has been involved in the wine industry in marketing and business development roles for over 20 years, including a Global Marketing Manager role at Moet Hennessy, in Paris for 3 years and as Regional Manager for Japan at Treasury Wine Estates, in Tokyo for 5 years. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts from Curtin University. She also studied at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka after receiving an AIEJ scholarship. Amanda completed an Ironman distance triathlon in 2010, speaks fluent Japanese (Level 2) and basic French (DILF 1).

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Margaret River GI

Tom Hill is the CEO of Juniper Estate and represents the second generation of the Hill family thaving taken the reins at the end of 2017.

Tom has the commitment and ambition to continue Roger Hill’s legacy to build an enduring wine business that produces the best possible wines from our own vineyards.

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Blackwood / Pemberton / Manjimup GI

Craig Nield has extensive expertise in the AgTech sector, spanning both Broadacre and Horticulture. With a commendable track record, he has successfully managed

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a small business within this industry for two decades at his family farm in Boyup Brook, Beulah Farm. Born and bred in the Blackwood Valley, Craig returned in 2005, and by 2007, assumed the role of Director and undertook diverse responsibilities within the family’s mixed farming enterprise. Notably, the 12-hectare vineyard, established in 1996, coexists with merino sheep, cropping, and prime lamb operations. As a partner in the wine enterprise, Beulah Wines, Craig oversees day-to-day operations, meticulously managing everything from the vineyard to production and sales. His multifaceted involvement includes leadership positions on various voluntary committees and boards. He serves as the President of the Blackwood Valley Wine Industry Association and has been Chair of the Boyup Brook High School Board. Craig’s wealth of experience in agriculture, the wine industry, and governance uniquely positions him to make valuable contributions to the Wines of WA board.’

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Blackwood / Pemberton / Manjimup GI

Melissa Bell is the co-owner of Ampersand Estates and Rainfall Distillery, located in the Pemberton region of Western Australia. A global nomad, serial entrepreneur, and passionate gin lover, Melissa spent her childhood circling the global with her military parents.

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After graduate work at the London School of Economics, Melissa embarked on an international management consulting career that saw her work across the United States, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and eventually Australia. After permanent migration to Australia, Melissa co-founded a change management firm, The Terrace Initiative, that grew across Australia and into South Africa and New Zealand. In 2019 the firm sold to Deloitte globally and Melissa led Deloitte’s Australian change management practice before retiring from partnership in 2021. She subsequently co-founded Ampersand Estates and began transforming Pemberton’s oldest winery into a premium destination for boutique wine and luxury accommodation. Ampersand Estates is home to Rainfall Distillery, an artisanal producer of premium gins and vodkas that express the unique nature and essence of the Southern Forests.

 

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Great Southern GI

Peter Cooke has worked in agriculture across a range of roles from farmer, to agribusiness consultant and policy contributor for Federal and State government. He began his career as a broad acre farmer in the Great Southern of Western Australia in the 1970-80s

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was the CEO of the Kondinin Group in the 1980-90s and for the past 26 years an agribusiness consultant and Director of Agknowledge. Peter has been a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 1997. He spent six years as a Board member of the Rural Adjustment and Finance Corporation of WA (RAFCOR), and was the Chair of the WA FarmBis program 1998-2008. Chair of the AgWA New Industries Program 1998 – 2006. He has completed terms as a Board Member of Landcorp, as Deputy Chair of the WA Land Information Authority (Landgate) and an independent Director of both the Western Rock Lobster Council and the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council. He has had roles as Independent Chair of four family farm Boards and Pardoo Beef Corporation. Peter is currently the WoWA Member representative for the Great Southern Wine Producers Association. Peter is highly skilled in facilitation of community groups, business managers and strategic planning meetings and in preparing, facilitating and reporting on focus groups, strategic planning workshops and community forums.
 

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Get in touch

For general enquiries, please contact [email protected].

For further tourism information, please contact the following regional wine associations:

 

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