The Board of the Australian Wine Research Institute
The AWRI’s Constitution provides that there will be not less than five nor more than 11 Directors. Three of those directors are nominated and/or elected by organisations that pay the Wine Grapes Levy and one of those directors is nominated and/or elected by organisations that pay the Grape Research Levy. Levy payer elected directors should, in addition to their other duties and responsibilities, provide an industry perspective to the direction and priorities of AWRI’s RDE&C activities. Up to six appointed directors possessing complementary skills can also be appointed. The only Executive Director is the Managing Director.
Appointed Directors
There are no current vacancies for Appointed Directors.
Elected Directors – AWRI 2025 Board election – voting now open
Voting is now open for two vacant positions on the AWRI Board of Directors in the Grape Research Levy payer (grapegrower) and the large 50,001+ tonnes) Wine Grapes Levy payer (wine producer) categories. One position in each category will be filled.
Levy payers in each category nominated the following candidates:
Grape Research Levy payers
Matthew Deller (CEO, Wirra Wirra Vineyards, Ashton Hills and Hanhdorf Hill, SA)
David Lloyd (Winemaker, Tas)
Jamie Saint (Chief Winemaker, Australian Vintage Ltd, SA)
Damien Sheehan (General Manager/Viticulturist, Mount Langi Ghiran, Vic)
Peter Szabo (General Manager, CCW Co-operative Ltd, SA)
Large Wine Grapes Levy payers
Wayne Ellis (Consultant, Ellis Castle Consulting, Vic)
Rob Glastonbury (Operational Manager, De Bortoli Wines, Vic)
Iain Jones (Global Quality & Technical Services Manager, Treasury Wine Estates, SA)
Jean Macintyre (Project Lead – Liquid Innovation, Vinarchy, SA)
Steve Warne (Chief Winemaker, Kingston Estate Wines, SA)
Levy payers in each category are strongly encouraged to vote for their preferred candidate. Grape Research Levy payers (grapegrowers) are eligible to vote in the Grape Research Levy payer category and large Wine Grape Levy payers (wine producers) are eligible to vote in the large Wine Grapes Levy payer category.
This is an excellent opportunity to have a say in electing a candidate that can contribute to the Australian grape and wine research and development agenda.
Need help deciding if you are eligible to vote in this election?
The Grape Research Levy (GRL) is the levy payable on fresh grapes, dried grapes and/or grape juice produced in Australia and delivered to a processing establishment in Australia. A GRL payer is an organisation (sole producer/partnership/company) that is liable to pay the GRL even if the actual levy is remitted by a winery on your behalf.
The Wine Grapes Levy (WGL) is the levy payable on grapes used in the winemaking process. A large WGL payer is an organisation that crushes more than 50,000 tonnes of grapes per annum.
The election will be conducted electronically with assistance from Elections Australia Pty Ltd.
VOTING PERIOD NOW OPEN
The ballot is now open and voting has commenced. The ballot will close at 5:00 pm CST on Friday, 14 November 2025.
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
- Go to: http://www.myvote.com.au/awri and follow the instructions.
- Enter the name of the levy payer (the organisation liable to pay the levy) and the person submitting the vote on behalf of the levy payer
- Cast your vote.
A levy payer organisation may only vote once in each election in which they are eligible to vote. The following representatives are eligible to vote on behalf of the levy payer organisation:
- Sole owner
- Partner of a partnership
- Director (or Director equivalent) of a Company or group of Companies.
Candidate profiles are available here:
Grape Research Levy payer candidate profiles
Large Wine Grapes Levy payer candidate profiles
The result of each election will be announced in the week commencing 17 November 2025 via the AWRI’s eBulletin and will also be published here on the AWRI website. Successful candidates will take office on 1 January 2025.
For further information please contact the Returning Officer, Shiralee Dodd at returningofficer@awri.com.au.