Executive Board

Brooke Howell

Non-executive Director
President 2019
Vice President 2018 - 2019
Term: Elected 2017, re-elected 2019

Qualifications: Bachelor of Science (viticulture), Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Viticulture
Other appointments: 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 Viticulturist/Technical Manager for Yalumba Family Winemaker’s company owned vineyards, where she has worked since December 2010. Brooke studied Viticulture at the University of Adelaide and also 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 in order to encourage growers to adopt viticultural best practice.

Dr Anthony Robinson

Qualifications: BSc (Hons) PhD, MAICD
Other appointments: Non-executive Director and Secretary AWITC Inc., Non-executive Director NPEC Pty Ltd., Member AWITC Planning Committee, previously Chair AJGWR Advisory Committee, Member WIAWA Technical Committee, Member WFA WINEC, Member Perth Royal Wine Show Committee, Member Margaret River Wine Show Committee.
 

Kristy Bartrop

Qualifications: BAppSc (Food Science), MMgt, M(Ethics & Legal Studies)
Other appointments: Non-Executive director AWITC inc.

Dr Eveline Bartowsky

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 Applied Microbiologist at Lallemand Australia since 2016 and has over 25 years’ experience in wine microbiology.  Previously, Eveline was Senior Research Microbiologist at the AWRI leading the wine bacterial research team with research interests focused on managing wine bacteria to optimise the MLF process and to fully utilise all the bacteria’s sensory influencing capabilities during the winemaking process, and was Manager of the AWRI Wine Microorganism Culture Collection.  Eveline lectures at the University of Adelaide, and at the Institute of Masters of Wine.  In her current role she provides technical microbiological and fermentation support 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.

Andy Clarke

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 the CEO of GAIA Innovations, based out of Bendigo Victoria. Prior to this Andy was the Chief Viticulturist for Yering Station in the Yarra Valley, part of the Rathbone Wine Group, and was the 2015 Nuffield Scholar, sponsored by Wine Australia. Experience within a significant number of wine regions across Australia in both a vineyard management and hands on and fruit sourcing capacity. Previous roles in the industry have included, Grower Services manager for Normans Wines in McLaren Vale and the Riverland, Vineyard manager in Mclaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Barossa for Nepenthe Wines, Technical agronomist for De Bortoli Wines in the Yarra Valley along with several winery vintages in WA and Victoria. I am passionate about the future of the wine industry and the capabilities of its people. The Society’s ability to provide sound scientific evidence with practical outcomes is critical to the long term sustainability of our industry. This enables the up skilling and retention of our present and future workforce, and this is a platform I wish to contribute to.

Richard Fennessy

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.

Associate Professor Paul Grbin

Qualifications: Bachelor of Science, Graduate Diploma in Wine, PhD
Other appointments: Non-Executive director AWITC inc., Founder University of Adelaide Alumni Council
 

Paul is Associate Professor of Oenology and has been involved in the Australian wine industry for more than 25 years, in retail, production, teaching and research roles. He is a qualified winemaker and completed a PhD while working at the Australian Wine Research Institute. Paul’s teaching comprises aspects of wine microbiology, packaging and quality management, and fermentation technology. His research interests largely focus on wine microbiology, including the physiology of wine yeast and lactic acid bacteria as well as the importance of sustainable practices for the control of grapevine diseases, and the efficient and effective biological treatment of winery wastewater. Paul also established the University of Adelaide’s Wine Alumni Network.

Mike Hayes

Non-executive Director
Term: elected 2019
Chair: Membership Sub-committee

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.

Dr Mardi Longbottom

Non-executive Director
Chair: Awards Sub-committee
ASVO President 2014-2016
Vice President 2013 and 2017
Term: elected 2013, re-elected 2015,2017,2019
 

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 Mardi Longbottom is a Senior Viticulturist at the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) where she has worked since 2011. For the past ten years, Mardi has focussed on research and extension of wine industry sustainability projects including the management of corporate water assets, climate risk analyses and benchmarking greenhouse gas emissions from vineyards. In her current role Mardi manages the Australian wine industry’s sustainability program, ‘Entwine Australia’ and provides technical support to Australia’s wine grape growers through the AWRI roadshow program and helpdesk.

Chris Waters

Executive Director
 

Qualifications: B.Ed. (Hons)
 

Chris has been part of the ASVO team since 2011. A genuine, personable, professional with a passion for the Society and  a steadfast commitment to build on the society's strong foundations.