Board of Directors

Andy Clarke

Regional Director -Victoria
President
 

Term:
Elected 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024

Qualifications: B. Ag. Science (viticulture), Nuffield Scholar 2015
Other appointments: Director of Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference

Mr Andy Clarke is the Agtech Program Manager for Wine Australia, based in Bendigo Victoria and has a keen interest in seeing wine businesses adopt innovation a viticultural advisor. He has over 20 years’ experience in vineyard production and development across Victoria and South Australia. Andy operated his own business The Dirt Dude Ag Advisors, is a former CEO of AgTech startup GAIA Innovations and has vast experience in the wine biosecurity space, including roles on the VVBC and Vinehealth board. In 2015 Andy was the Wine Australia Nuffield Scholar and in 2019 completed the Future Leaders Program.

Dr Eveline Bartowsky

General Director 
Chair: Journal Subcommittee
Term:
Elected 2019, 2021, 2023
Public Officer & Secretary 2019 - 2023

Qualifications: BSc (Hons) majoring in Microbiology; PhD
Other appointments: Associate Editor on the Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, since 2014.
Adjunct Associate Professor, the University of Adelaide

Dr Eveline Bartowsky is R&D Manager at Lallemand Australia and has over 25 years’ experience in wine microbiology.  Previously, she led the AWRI the wine bacterial research team, and was Manager of the AWRI Wine Microorganism Culture Collection.  Eveline has a PhD in Microbiology and in her current role manages research to industry trials and provides technical microbiological and fermentation solutions to the wine industry. Throughout her career Eveline has been active in translating research findings to practical applications in winemaking, presenting regularly to the Australian wine community via the AWRI Roadshow program, AWITC workshops and posters, and publishing technical articles offering practical solutions in a range of winemaking contexts. Eveline also lectures at the University of Adelaide.

Jeremy Dineen

Regional Director - Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland
Chair: Wine Show Subcommittee

Term:
Elected 2022

Qualifications:
Other appointments:

Jeremy has contributed to the Tasmanian and Australian Wine industries for many years though industry bodies and committees, including chairing the Wine Tasmania Technical committee for 5 years, founding Effervescence Tasmania, been a Board Member of Wine Tasmania, involved in the Cool Climate Wine Symposium, and contributed to several Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference program committees.
Jeremy has collaborated with local and national research originations, including Australian Wine Research Institute and Tasmanian Institute of Agricultre as well as contributing to ASVO on the Australian Wine Show Technical Advisory Group and the Advanced Wine Assessment Course scholarship advisory panel.  Jeremy has a strong commitment to mentoring and developing local individuals.

Dr Katie Dunne

General Director
Chair: Journal Advisory Committee
Term:
Elected 2021, 2023

Qualifications:  BAppSc (Viticulture), BAppSc (Viticulture) (Honours), PhD
Other appointments: 2021 Viticulture Paper of the Year Advisory Committee, 2019 Viticulture Paper of Year Advisory Committee, Chair: Journal Advisory Committee

Dr Katie Dunne is a viticulturist currently based in NSW.  Previously she was a Viticulture Development Officer with the NSW DPI based in the Riverina, where she was responsible for delivering extension projects and facilitating research focusing on the Riverina but as well as Greater NSW including the Resting Vineyard trial in the Riverina. In partnership with Riverina Winemakers she helped to deliver Wine Australia’s Next Crop Program in 2023 in the Riverina identifying the regions next generation of leaders.  Prior to joining the DPI, Katie held technical viticulture and grower services related roles with Treasury Wine Estates and Pernod Ricard Winemakers. She also helped to deliver the Greater Victoria Node program for AWRI during 2017-2018. Her interests include plant pathology focusing on Botrytis cinerea and other grapevine disease that impact fruit quality and vine health, precision viticulture and fruit quality impacts on wine, ESG and reporting frameworks, use of artificial intelligence (legal perspective) and board governance. 

She is currently completing a Bachelor of Law (Honours) (Graduate Entry) through the Queensland University of Technology and the AICD Foundations in Directorship Course. Katie has presented at workshops and conferences on topics focusing on disease management and general viticulture.  She actively facilitates the transfer of research findings to practical adoption for industry as she manages the Riverina Regional Program.

Alana Seabrook

Regional Director – South Australia
Treasurer 2024, 2025

Term:
Elected 2020, 2022, 2024
 

Qualifications: BSc Hons (Viticulture and Oenology) PhD, MBA
Other appointments: ASVO Oenology seminar committee 2018; ASVO Winemaking paper of the year advisory committee member 2017 and 2018

Dr Alana Seabrook has worked in the wine industry for the past 20 years in winemaking, wine research and application, wine microbiology, diagnostics and laboratory. After completing a winemaking degree through the university of Verona, Italy, she completed a PhD in wine microbiology at the University of Adelaide and went on to work in industry in various production-based roles. Alana worked as the technical manager for Laffort Australia from 2017 to 2022 at which point she moved into the Winechek laboratories group from January 2022. In her role at Winechek, she operates from the Barossa Valley and works alongside a national team of wine scientists who specialise in microbiology, biochemistry, oenology, molecular biology, and chemistry. They support wineries throughout Australia by providing analytical data and optimizing their processes.

Dr Vanessa Stockdale

General Director

Secretary & Public Officer 2024-2025
 

Term:
Elected 2021, 2023
 

Qualifications: BAgSci (VitSci), MVit, PhD
Other appointments: Director Australian Vignerons (2013-2019), Director Australian Grape and Wine Inc., member AWITC planning committee (2016 and 2019), member Limestone Coast Grape and Wine Council Technical subcommittee (2013-present). Previously, member of Wine Grape Council of South Australia, Limestone Coast Grape and Wine Council and WFA WINEC (2012-2015).
 

Dr Vanessa Stockdale has a demonstrated history of implementing technical improvments in the wine industry. Her responsibilities have been that of a wine practitioner centred on process improvements, product development, new innovation, and wine sensory.  Previously she has worked for Carlton United Breweries, E & J Gallo Winery and Treasury Wine Estates.  A strong cross-functional collaborator her career has included bringing teams together to build a strong and actionable understanding of how winemaking efficiencies and wine quality can be improved.  Currently she is the Technical Improvement Specialist at Accolade Wines.

Dr Samantha Scarratt

General Director
Term:
Elected 2023

In my role as a Senior Consultant at Wine Network Consulting and former Director of Grape Supply for Accolade Wines across ANZ, I have cultivated a rich and diverse career in the wine industry. My experience spans both small and large wine businesses, where I've successfully led teams of over 100 individuals, overseeing the delivery of 250,000 tonnes of grapes to winery networks. My responsibilities encompassed safety, people, budgeting, strategic planning, viticulture operations, and the sale and acquisition of company owned vineyards. I also played a pivotal role in the negotiation of Australia's most significant winegrape contract.

My career in viticulture includes various roles such as Viticulture Manager at Lion, hands-on Vineyard Manager at a boutique vineyard, as well as positions in Grower Management and Technical Viticulture. I've also been the owner-operator of a technical viticulture consulting business and served on Research Advisory Committees for the Australian and New Zealand wine industries for over a decade. I have developed strong working relationships in the wine industry

Nick Dry

General Director
Term:
Elected 2023

Nick runs his own consulting business ‘Foundation Viticulture’ and has recognised expertise in variety, clone and rootstock selection, grapevine propagation, virus management and grapevine trunk disease management.   As a consultant, Nick has been involved with a diverse range of projects including; developing planting and redevelopment strategies, working on propagation supply chain strategy as well as technical communication projects.  Nick is currently engaged by Wine Australia as the National Grapevine Collection coordinator.  In 2019 he was awarded the Gourmet Traveller Viticulturist of the year and in November 2022 he was recognised as the ASVO viticulturist of the year. 

Chrissie Smith

Regioanl Director  NSW
Term:
Elected 2024

Qualifications: 

BA of Viticulture at Charles Sturt

Diploma of Community Service Coordination and Cert 4 Training and assessing
Other appointments:

Committee member Canberra District Viticulture society, Committee member Canberra and Region Wine Show, Wine Australia Gender equality research project advisory group member

Skill set in Community Service, Business Management, Wine Sales and Marketing, Winemaking and Viticulture. Owner/winemaker at Intrepidus wines, vineyard manager at Shaw Estate as well as vineyard contracting and consulting Canberra District and surrounds. Trained under companies such as Clonakilla, Ravensworth, Collector Wines, Castle Rock Estate. Sydney Royal Scholarship to complete AWAC, completed WSET 2, regularly associate judge. Australian Womens Small Business Championship finalist 2024.

'Honoured and excited to be elected as the NSW/ACT ASVO representative. I was fortunate enough to have some skilled, collaborative and supportive mentors throughout my introduction into the wine industry and I look forward to being able to give some back to industry, especially those starting out."

Chris Waters

Executive Director
 

Qualifications: B.Ed. (Hons)
 

Chris Waters has been involved with the ASVO since 2011. Chris puts into action strategies that support and enhance the ASVO operations.  Chris oversees all aspects of the ASVO, promoting its mission and objectives, maintaining positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, achieving organisational goals, and maintaining sound financial practices.