Coles Liquor SSC
At the latest Coles Liquor SSC event held on Thursday 7 March, six of the most influential women in Australia’s liquor industry partook in a panel discussion centred around the theme of ‘Count her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.’
The panel discussion took place one day ahead of IWD and provided insight into the current state of gender equality in the drinks industry along with what should be done to improve the balance.
It also provided attendees with six inspirational stories in the form of women who have made a real difference to our industry.
The six panellists included:
- Katherine Brown – Senior Winemaker, Brown Brothers
- Chloe Gibson – Customer Director, Lion
- Elena Brooks – Founder & Head Winemaker, Sisters Run and Dandelion wine
- Siobhan King – Head of Commercial Strategy, Treasury Wines
- Sandy Mayo – Global Chief Marketing Officer, Accolade
- Carmen Fellows – Head of Vintage Cellars
The Drinks Association IWD luncheon
The 2024 Drinks Association’s International Womens Day event, hosted by the Embrace Difference Council, took place at the Royal Randwick Racecourse on 8 March.
In addition to presentations made by the Drinks Association including a series of three videos interviewing leading women in Australia’s liquor industry, the luncheon featured a keynote speech by author and inspirational speaker Fiori Giovanni.
The event also saw a raffle raise money for the Katrina Dawson Foundation, a charity dedicated to removing barriers and creating opportunities for young women.
Danielle, Louella and the Revolution at the Sydney Opera House
For International Women’s Day 2024, the Sydney Opera House’s Culinary Director for Events Danielle Alvarez hosted a unique dining experience in conjunction with Trippas White Group sommelier Louella Mathews, non-profit organisation Women and Revolution. The event also featured sixteen leading female winemakers from across the country.
The event involved a mix of wine tasting, food, and conversation, with host Louella Mathews guiding discussions with the women involved. The full list of winemakers present is as followed:
- MEREDITH, Mem Hemmings, NSW
- Bremerton Wines, Rebecca and Lucy Wilson, Langhorne Creek SA
- Sabi Wabi, Peta Kotz, Hunter Valley NSW
- See Saw, Monica Grey, Orange NSW
- Oliver’s Taranga, Corrina Wright, McLaren Vale SA
- Inkwell Wines, Irina Santiago-Brown, McLaren Vale SA
- Little Frances, Erin Poolet, Beechworth VIC
- Werkstatt, Bridget Mac, Mount Gambier SA
- Tillie J Wines, Natillie Johnson, Yarra Valley VIC
- Yayoi Wines, Steffi Snook, Geelong VIC
- Eck Wines, Emily Eck, Heathcote VIC
- Mooroduc Estate, Kate McIntyre WM, Mornington Peninsula VIC
- Quealy Wines, Kate Quealy, Mornington Peninsula VIC
- Lady Garden Wines, Kelly Pearson, Geelong VIC
- Pipan Steel Wines, Paula Pipan, Mudgegonga VIC
- Oates Ends, Catherine Oates, Margaret River WA
- South by South West, Liv Maiorana, Margaret River WA
- Wangolia Wines, Anita Goode, Mt Benson SA
Bright’s International Women’s Day Beer Lunch
Bright Brewery showed support for International Women’s Day 2024 through its Beer Lunch. The brewery used the occasion to launch its new female-led Fred’s Apricot NEIPA, a beer crafted by the women of Bright Brewery. The lunch also featured a presentation by guest speaker Dr Jeannette McGill, who has been named as one of the world’s top 100 most influential women in mining.
Part of the proceeds of every Fred’s Apricot NEIPA sold during Bright Brewery’s Beer Lunch was donated to the Pink Boots Society Australia, an organisation that seeks to help women progress in the drinks industry through education.
Endeavour Group hosts IWD panels for staff
Endeavour Group held exclusive panels for its Dan Murphy’s, BWS and ALH Hotels teams nationwide. The Panels included presentations from Hostplus who gave insight into the relationship between women and superannuation.
Shortly ahead of IWD 2024, Dan Murphy’s also launched its new Women in Drinks body headed by Colleen Haggarty. A more detailed look at Women in Drinks will be available on Drinks Trade soon.
Dan Murphy’s and Brown Brothers have also joined forces to support the next generation of women in wine through a unique initiative taking place next weekend. The initiative will see seven women chosen from Dan Murphy’s ranks spend two days at Brown Brother’s Winery where they will be tutored first-hand by esteemed winemakers Katherine Brown and Cate Looney.
