Suppliers toast to another successful year

Solid growth agenda drives WISA relevance and value.

On Wednesday, 18 December at the National Wine Centre, peak supplier body, Wine Industry Suppliers Australia Inc (WISA), hosted their AGM reporting on the 2018/19 Financial year along with hosting intimate networking drinks to celebrate another successful year.

WISA Chair, Paula Edwards, from member business Winegrapes Australia was pleased to report on another positive year for the Association. “A key indicator of the relevance and value of any association is clearly measured by the buy-in of those it seeks to represent. As a first point, I am pleased to advise that under strong leadership from the board and management of the association our membership numbers grew by 22% during the reporting period.” Said Edwards

In addition to membership growth, new activities and successful government program grant applications also had a positive impact on the Association with WISA posting a healthy surplus for the financial year. WISA Treasurer, Jordan Abbott from member company Bentleys SA presented the financials with an optimistic outlook for the future of the Association. “Overall, the 2019 financial year was one of planning for WISA's future success, with a lot of effort being put into the planning and budgeting for new future events that will add value for members and sustainability of the Association.” Said Abbott.

WISA was pleased to receive a full complement of nominations for board positions with the following appointments made for the coming 2020 year:

Paula Edwards, Winegrapes Australia – Chair
Jason Amos, Lallemand Australia – Vice-Chair
Jordan Abbott, Bentleys SA – Treasurer & Secretary
Daniel Eggleton, Vinous Consulting – Board Member
Amy Bishop, DW Fox Tucker Lawyers – Board Member
David Parkin, Orora Group – Board Member
Robin Shaw, Wine Tourism Australia – Board Member
Robyn Haworth, Winetitles Media – Board Member
Nathalie Taquet, eBottli – Board Member
Mike Whitehouse, Aspedia Australia – Board Member

WISA CEO, Matthew Moate, looks forward to working with the incoming and highly skilled board to continue the associations highly successful growth agenda. He also made a specific point that, as a signatory of the Australian Grape and Wine Diversity and Equality in Wine Charter, that it was pleasing to see an equal gender mix on the WISA board. “We’re an inclusive organisation and it is a testament to our culture that we can actively deliver on our commitment as a charter signatory.” Said Moate