Overview of the Wine Grape Growers' Australia
Wine Grape Growers’ Australia is the peak industry body for Australia’s winegrape growers, established in 2005 following an Australian Government funded study by the Centre for International Economics (CIE) which explored the potential for a new national growers’ organisation. CIE found overwhelming support for a new national body, through an extensive series of grower meetings across Australia’s wine regions. The study identified that a national growers’ body could play a significant role in improving the performance of the winegrape sector, by:
- Contributing growers’ perspectives to national industry policies and strategies
- Providing better industry data and information for growers
- Improving relationships between growers and wineries
- Targeting viticultural research and development
- Managing national vineyard bio-security
- Advocating for the grower sector with Government.
The business plan structure developed by CIE and the recommendation to form a new national growers’ organisation was confirmed at a workshop of 60 industry representatives in Melbourne in May 2005, with a Steering Committee formed to oversee the formation of the new body.
WGGA was officially formed in late 2005. An Executive Director – Mark McKenzie – was appointed in late March 2006 and the WGGA Secretariat offices in Norwood, Adelaide opened in June 2006. An Independent Chairman – Alan Newton – the ex head of the Rural Industry and Cropping Divisions of the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry began his term in July 2006.
Subsequently a WGGA Constitution and Strategic Plan have been completed.