Wine Industry Report

Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Richard Colbeck announced today the appointment of four new Directors to the Board of the Grape and Wine R&D Corporation.

Senator Colbeck said the four - Jim Caddy, Peter Hayes, Professor Terry Lee and Douglas McWilliam - would be joining returning Directors Kathy Grigg and Brian Englefield for three year terms beginning 1 September 2005. The Chair of the Board is Dennis Mutton.

“The GWRDC has a vital role in helping Australia’s wine industry to grow and maintain its profitability, and received over $8 million in Commonwealth funding in 2004-2005 as part of the Australian Government’s investment in the future of our rural industries through research and development.”

The six GWRDC Board Directors are:
• Jim Caddy is a wine grape grower from Barmera, South Australia. He is a Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Viticulture; Chair of a grape grower cooperative - CCW Co-operative Ltd - and a Director of the Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of South Australia
• Peter Hayes is a former Executive Director of the GWRDC. He is Chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures, a member of the Australian Wine Research Institute Council, a member of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia Research and Development Committee and President of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine’s Viticulture Commission
• Terry Lee is a wine industry consultant and a former Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer with E&J Gallo Winery in California. He was also Professor of the University of Adelaide’s Department of Horticulture and Viticulture and a former Director of the Australian Wine Research Institute
• Douglas McWilliam is a Director of McWilliam’s Wines and a Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Viticulture. He is also a Member of the Community Reference Group to the Community Advisory Council of the Murray Darling Basin Commission and the former Chair of the Australian Wine Research Institute, and past President of the Riverina Winemakers Forum
• Kathy Grigg has been a Director on the GWRDC Board since 2002 and also holding directorships on Southern Health and CoINVEST Ltd. She is the former Chair of Wool International Ltd and Director of Finance and Administration with the Woolmark Company
• Brian Englefield is the owner/manager of a vineyard and grapevine nursery in Robinvale, Victoria, and has been a Director on the GWRDC Board since 2002. He is currently a member of the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation’s Geographical Indications Committee and is the former Chair of the Victorian and Murray Valley Winegrape Growers’ Council.

“The new Directors have a broad range experience and expertise, as well as the practical skills and industry understanding to help ensure the wine industry continues to grow and prosper,” Senator Colbeck said.

“I would also like to thank retiring Directors Richard Gibson, Tim James, Roger Hoare and Professor Kym Anderson, for their significant contributions and wish them well in their future endeavours.”