About Us

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is Australia’s national program for grapegrowers and winemakers to demonstrate and continuously improve their sustainability in the vineyard and winery through the environmental, social and economic aspects of their businesses.

The program takes a holistic approach to managing, supporting and promoting sustainability. It fosters stronger relationships between growers, wineries and their regions. It also provides authority and confidence to customers, who receive reliable certified produce to address growing global consumer demand. No matter where a grapegrower or winemaker is on the journey, the program is relevant and user-friendly.

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is a voluntary program designed with flexibility to suit the changing goals and needs of all Australian grape and wine producers. It informs and contributes to the identification of priorities for wine industry research, development and extension activities and can be used by members for benchmarking.

The program is administered by the Australian Wine Research Institute with governance, endorsement and active support from Australian Grape & Wine and Wine Australia. The program is modelled on global best practices and aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with progress towards these monitored annually.

Australia’s national program for grapegrowers and winemakers

BOARD

CHAIR

SIOBHAN TOOHILL

Siobhan Toohill is a trusted advisor to business, government and the social sector through a wide range of governance roles. A corporate sustainability leader for over 20 years, Siobhan was Chief Sustainability Officer at Westpac and previously established the sustainability function at Stockland. Across her roles she’s led sustainability policy, strategy and execution across climate and net zero transition planning, natural capital, human rights, Indigenous engagement, social impact, and strategic philanthropy.

Jeremy Cass is the CEO of Riverina Winegrape Growers, board member of NSW Wine, the MIA Vine Improvement Society, and a member of the Winegrape Purchases Code of Conduct Advisory Group, overseeing RWG operations across advocacy, compliance, and strategic industry initiatives. With extensive experience in the Australian wine sector, Jeremy has worked across viticulture, winery operations, and regional industry development, with a strong focus on sustainable production practices and continuous improvement. He has led initiatives relating to environmental stewardship, operational efficiency, and industry collaboration, and is actively engaged in programs supporting long-term sustainability outcomes for Riverina wine businesses.

Kellie Collins is an experienced sustainability and enterprise risk leader with more than 20 years’ experience driving transformation across complex and regulated industries, including the Australian wine sector. She is currently Global Safety & Sustainability Director at Vinarchy, with responsibility for leading ESG, climate and sustainability governance. Kellie brings strong governance expertise, having worked closely with Boards and Committees to strengthen oversight, integrate climate and operational risk into strategic decision‑making, and support long‑term organisational resilience. Prior to Vinarchy, she held senior executive roles across the mining, steel manufacturing and construction materials industries with GFG Alliance and Adbri Limited, leading enterprise‑wide risk, sustainability and safety functions across large‑scale industrial operations. She is committed to practical, industry‑led governance approaches that support a resilient and sustainable Australian wine sector.

Chris Dent is Managing Director of Gorton Drive Estates, a second-generation winegrape operation near Swan Hill, Victoria, producing fruit for some of the most innovative and successful wineries in Australia under regenerative viticulture principles. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Viticulture) from Charles Sturt University and previously served as National Viticulturist and Grower Liaison Officer at Orlando Wines/Pernod Ricard, where he helped implement EntWine across the company's grower and own-vineyard base. Chris chairs the Murray Valley Winegrowers, representing around 260 growers across the Swan Hill and Murray Darling regions, and was formerly a member of the Australian Grape & Wine Sustainability Advisory Committee. His vineyard is Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and Fair Farms certified, with a regenerative program that has more than doubled soil carbon while halving nitrogen and herbicide inputs over the past decade.

Michael Parks brings more than 20 years’ experience across governance, strategy and sustainability, with a strong track record of supporting organisations to respond to evolving ESG, risk and market‑access expectations. His experience spans strategic planning, oversight of data, assurance and reporting, and engagement across complex stakeholder landscapes. He is known for a pragmatic, evidence‑based approach, independence of thought, and the ability to constructively challenge. Michael currently leads sustainability strategy and governance for Treasury Wine Estates, a global wine business. His focus has been on integrating sustainability into core decision‑making, capital allocation and risk management, and strengthening the quality and credibility of performance data and disclosures. His work centres on ensuring sustainability programs are credible, commercially relevant, and capable of standing up to regulatory, customer and assurance scrutiny. He has worked extensively with industry bodies and brings deep experience navigating complex regulatory and market environments. He is recognised for a commercially grounded, sector‑aware approach to sustainability and a strong commitment to effective, independent governance.

Kyra is the head of the Environment, Planning and ESG practice at Finlaysons Lawyers in Adelaide. Kyra has two decades of experience in advising companies across a wide range of sectors on matters relating to regulatory compliance, carbon costs, sustainability, ESG, governance, risk management, project approvals, land access and commercial contracts. In 2010, Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession placed Kyra in the top 20 national rising stars of Planning and Environmental Law and named her a recommended Planning and Environmental lawyer in South Australia.  In each of its subsequent reviews, Doyle’s Guide again named Kyra a recommended Planning and Environmental lawyer in SA.  Kyra has also been acknowledged in Best Lawyers Australia in Planning and Environment Law since 2014.  She has been awarded Best Lawyers Australia’s “Lawyer of the Year” for Planning & Environment Law in South Australia twice, in 2018 and 2023. Kyra is a sought-after speaker, an experienced lecturer and tutor and member of a number of industry advisory committees and boards. 

Ella Shaw is Commercial Manager at Shaw + Smith, where she leads the group’s sustainability and ESG strategy across Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, APCO, greenhouse gas accounting, emissions reduction and net-zero planning. She has more than twelve years’ experience across commercial strategy, brand leadership, and sustainability in Australia’s premium wine sector. Ella is GAICD-qualified, holds the DipWSET, and is completing an Executive MBA. She has previous board and committee experience with Adelaide Hills Wine, where she co-chaired the Trade Working Group, and currently sits on the SAWIA Environment and Sustainability Committee.

TECHNICAL TEAM

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

SIOBHAN WIGAN

Siobhan is a winemaker with over 20 years experience across diverse regions within Australia and overseas. Driven by a passion for sustainability, she is committed to creating positive change within the Australian wine industry through thoughtful, environmentally and socially responsible practices.