ASVO Board Directors

The Executive Board sets the strategic direction for ASVO, approves the annual budget, and acts on matters of policy to advance Society objectives as specified by the Bylaws. The Executive Board is the managing body of the Society.

The Executive Board includes five general Directors and four regional Directors.

Brooke Howell

General Director - President
Chair AWITC Subcommittee

Term: Elected 2017, re-elected 2019, 2021
President 2019 - 2021
Vice President 2019

Qualifications: BSc (Viticulture) (Hons), MBA

Other appointments: Non-executive Director and Secretary AWITC Inc, Chair Barossa Viticulture Technical Group, Program Coordinator Barossa Future Leaders Program, Member of industry reference group for Barossa Terroir, Judge South Australia Pruning Championships

Brooke is the Barossa/Eden Valley Vineyards Manager and Viticulturist for Yalumba Family Winemaker’s company owned vineyards, where she has worked since December 2010. Brooke studied Viticulture at the University of Adelaide and completed her Honours prior to commencing at Yalumba. Based in the Barossa Valley, Brooke oversees trial work and technical management of 800Ha of vineyards in both warm and cool climate South Australia at both a premium and commercial level. Brooke has presented trial work at grower seminars and AWITC workshops both at a company and regional level to encourage growers to adopt viticultural best practice.

Andy Clarke

Regional Director -Victoria
Vice President
Chair: Awards Program committee

Term:
Elected 2018 re-elected 2020

Qualifications: B. Ag. Science (viticulture), Nuffield Scholar 2015
Other appointments: Board member of Vinehealth Australia, member of the Yarra Valley Winegrowers Technical Subcommittee and member of the Victorian Government WineMAC and Victorian Viticultural Biosecurity Committee..

Mr Andy Clarke is a viticultural advisor, based out of Bendigo Victoria, with 20 years’ experience in vineyard production and development across Victoria and South Australia. He has previously run an AgTech startup 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.

Nadja Wallington

Regional Director - New South Wales & ACT - Treasurer
Chair: Finance Remuneration & Sponsorship Subcommittee
Term:
Elected 2020

Qualifications: Bachelor of Science (viticulture and Oenology), Future Leaders graduate (2019), AWAC graduate (2019)


Other Appointments: Orange Regional Vignerons Association Secretary (2020), Chair of Orange Wine Show Committee (2019-current)

Nadja completed her Bachelor of Winemaking and Viticulture through Charles Sturt University in 2010 then spent three years overseas working as a winemaker in California, South Africa, and Bordeaux. In 2014 she returned to Australia to work at Philip Shaw Wines in Orange where she was winemaking for 7 years. Nadja is now involved full time with her own brand ChaLou wines.
In 2019 Nadja was selected by Wine Australia to be a part of the Future Leaders program and was also the recipient of the Sydney Royal Wine Assessment Scholarship. Nadja’s experience is in small wine business, winemaking, and wine judging. She is passionate about environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and wine excellence. She hopes to contribute to the future of the wine industry by helping to build engagement within our sector and driving upskilling of our workforce.

 

Dr Eveline Bartowsky

General Director - Secretary & Public Officer
Chair: Journal Subcommittee
Term:
Elected 2019
Public Officer & Secretary 2019, 2020

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.

Dr Katie Dunne

General Director
Chair: Communications & social media committee
Term:
Elected 2021

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

Dr Katie Dunne is a Viticulture Development Officer with the NSW DPI based in the Riverina.  She is responsible for delivering extension projects and facilitating research focusing on the Riverina but as well as Greater NSW.  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.  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.

Richard Fennessy

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

Term:
Elected 2018 re-elected 2020

Qualifications: Bachelor of Science (viticulture and oenology)
Other appointments: Wine Australia Regional Program Partner (WA), Member Wines of WA Technical Committee, Committee Member Western Australian Vine Improvement Association, Member National Wine Research & Extension Network
 

Richard is a grape and wine Research Officer with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development based in Bunbury WA. Prior to joining the department in November 2008, Richard has worked in wineries in Margaret River, Mildura, Griffith, Marlborough (New Zealand), Napa Valley (America), Burgundy (France) and Ontario (Canada). Richard’s current role involves applied research with a current focus on alternative varieties and clonal performance. Richard is widely recognised as an effective communicator, regularly producing technical publications, industry workshops and newsletters of state and national significance.

Mike Hayes

General Director
Chair: Wine Show Subcommittee

Term:
Elected 2019


 

Qualifications: Master of Professional Studies - (Emerging Varieties), Adjunct Professor USQ – Agriculture, Computational Sciences and Environmental Studies. Churchill Fellow 2012.
Resides: Stanthorpe, Granite Belt Queensland.
Occupation: Director of Viticulture and Chief Winemaker Sirromet Wines Mt. Cotton Brisbane.
Other Appointments: Faculty Board of Sciences – USQ. QWIA (Queensland Wine Industry Association) -President. Wine Industry, Bio Security Committee Member 2019, Lecturer - QCWT.
2017 ASVO Winemaker of the Year

Mike has been involved in the Australian Wine Industry since 1979, Mike has experience in areas of the industry from education, viticulture, research and winemaking. 3rd Generation from Ballandean Mikes philosophy on wine is quite simple, experiment, research and grow or succumb to the inevitable. Over 25 years’ experience in Emerging varieties he travelled to Europe in 2013 covering 50 regions and 650 varieties for climate change choices. A passionate and proud Queenslander, he was awarded the ASVO Winemaker of the Year in 2017. Mike was also awarded the Samuel Basset Award in 2014 and the USQ Professional Alumnus of the Year, 2017. Mike believes ASVO is an outstanding organisation that will continue to grow in membership whilst delivering and assisting the industry in future development.

Alana Seabrook

Regional Director – South Australia
Chair: Oenology Seminar Program committee
Term:
Elected 2020
 

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

Dr Alana Seabrook is the Australian Technical manager for Laffort Oenologie where she has worked since 2017.  Alana has completed vintages around the world and spent over 18 years working in a range of roles in the wine industry from retail to research, molecular diagnostics and wine production.  In her current role she supports a national sales team and works with wineries around Australia to optimise their processes as well the application of novel and existing research into production. Alana graduated in Winemaking from the University of Verona, completed a PhD in Oenology and all subjects towards an MBA at the University of Adelaide.

Dr Vanessa Stockdale

General Director
Chair: Membership Subcommittee
 

Term:
Elected 2021
 

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.

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 overseas all aspects of the ASVO, promoting our mission and objectives, maintaining positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, achieving organisational goals, and maintaining sound financial practices.