Governance
Wine Communicators of Australia operates as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee according to the rules contained in its Constitution. When joining WCA, all members are required to formally acknowledge their agreement to abide by these rules.
National Board
WCA is governed by a National Board, whose members are elected by the WCA members at the Annual General Meeting held in November of each year and are drawn from each of the States in which WCA has a Chapter (New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria).
Our current Board Members are:
ANGUS BARNES - Chair (NSW)
Angus has over 25 years’ experience in the wine industry across a number of areas in Sales, Marketing and Business Development. For the last 14 years, Angus worked for Pernod Ricard Winemakers as the Global Brand Communications and Heritage Director. He has a Bachelor of Economics (Accounting) from Sydney University and a Diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). He also was a graduate of the first intake of the wine industry’s Future Leaders Program. He is currently a Vice President of the NSW Wine Industry Association.
ALEX GIBBS - Treasurer (NSW)
Alex is Chief Marketing Officer at The Wine Society and has over 15 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in a number of industries including liquor, wine, beer, hospitality, membership associations, government, banking, professional services, education and IT. He has had significant involvement working with government and the private sector on such national and regional challenges as Productivity, Leadership, Innovation and Strategic Growth. He holds a Bachelor of Business and has trained at the Australian Graduate School of Management.
TONI CARLINO - Deputy Chair (WA)
Toni runs a Wine Marketing and Public Relations consultancy, Vigneto Consulting, supporting small to medium wine businesses across Australia and produces a food and wine radio program called ‘That Food and Wine Show’ broadcast nationally and podcast on Virgin Australia. In a marketing career spanning 17 years, she has worked with such leading wine businesses as De Bortoli and Treasury Wine Estates and as Brand Development Manager for Crown Perth, where she created numerous new restaurant, bar, hotel and entertainment products. She holds a Masters of Wine Marketing and an Executive Certificate in Wine Studies from Edith Cowan University.
CAROLINE BROWN (Vic)
Caroline is Public Relations for Brown Brothers Milawa. Daughter of Ross and a fourth generation member of the famous Brown family, she completed a Bachelor of Communications (Business) at Bond University then worked as an Account Manager at an advertising agency in Melbourne before joining the Brown Brothers team.
SIMON CLARK (NSW)
Simon has over 12 years’ experience in the PR and communications industry across a number of sectors from FMCG, technology and not-for-profit. For the last 2 years, Simon has worked as the Global PR Manager at Pernod Ricard Winemakers for their Australian wine portfolio including Jacob’s Creek, St Hugo and George Wyndham. Hailing from New Zealand originally, Simon has a Bachelor of Communication Studies (Digital Media) and a Graduate Diploma in Public Relations from Auckland University of Technology. Before joining Pernod Ricard, Simon worked for leading PR agencies across New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom specialising in integrated brand communications strategies and global coordination across markets.
CAROLYN COON (Vic)
Carolyn, the Director of Corporate Communications, is responsible for all internal and external communications globally at Treasury Wine Estates. She is a senior, highly collaborative communications leader with 15+ years’ in-house and agency experience – including six years working in the beverages industry. Carolyn has expertise in corporate and brand reputation management, media relations, risk and issues management, change management, leadership and internal communications, and brand communications.
JUSTINE HENSCHKE (SA)
A sixth-generation Henschke, Justine worked in the UK, New York and Sydney and graduated from several wine qualifications including the Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory Sommelier Certification and the WSET Level 3 Award in Wine and Spirits. Justine re-joined the family business in mid 2014 and now works as the Marketing and Public Relations Manager and a Brand Ambassador.
ROB HIRST (NSW)
A Chartered Accountant and MBA (Marketing-Macquarie), Rob joined the liquor industry 30 years ago. He is currently Chairman of Fine Wine Partners and the Australian representative for the Court of Master Sommeliers and UK-based Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). He is also a long-standing Board member of Liquor Merchants Association of Australia, the Food Media Club and Sommeliers Australia. In 2006 Rob and his late wife Judy were inducted into the Restaurant and Catering Australia Hall of Fame for services to industry.
MARNI LADD (SA)
Marni is Program Director of Wine Business at the University of Adelaide. She is the current Chair of the Business and Education Committee with Great Wine Capitals Global Network and a member of the University’s Wine Futures Advisory Board. Prior to her current tenure, Marni was Program Director at the Australian Centre for Retail Studies at Monash University, following roles in marketing, change management and adult education.
As a management consultant, educator and facilitator with expertise across a broad range of disciplines, Marni designs and delivers customised executive education programs on topics including leadership and culture, finance, negotiation and communication, consumer trends, supply chain management, marketing, and strategic planning for diverse clients including Coopers, Yalumba, Caltex, Department of Defence, Myer, Red Cross, Repco, and Toyota.
A strong advocate of industry needs being met through education, she is committed to presenting content that is accessible, practical and can be readily applied by participants.
ALI LOCKWOOD (SA)
Ali is Manager – Stakeholder Engagement with Wine Australia, responsible for engagement strategies, sponsorship programs and developing relationships with government agencies and State and regional wine associations. She was previously Regional Manager – Emerging Markets, representing Australian wine across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Russia and Eastern Europe, and established Wine Australia’s Shanghai office in 2008. Ali’s 20-year career in wine began studying Wine Marketing at Roseworthy College, and working in wineries across Australia, followed by a five-year stint in a number of global and domestic roles with (now) Accolade Wines.
ALAINA MCGREGOR (NSW)
Alaina is the Brand PR Manager for Accolade Wines. She has 12 years’ experience in consumer public relations in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and has spent the past five years providing agency PR counsel to leading alcohol brands. She has vast experience driving multi-channel communications campaigns that encompass digital, media relations, social media, brand activation, influencer engagement, sponsorships, content creation and risk management.
CON SIMOS (SA)
Con is Group Manager – Industry Development & Support for the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI). He leads a number of teams that disseminate research outcomes and provide technical support to grape growers and winemakers, including developing education activities such as seminars, workshops and tasting courses. He has a winemaking background, an MBA and more than 30 years’ experience in the wine industry, in Australia and overseas.