Finlaysons Wine Roadshow 30

Having previously held the role of General Counsel, Rachel is responsible for Wine Australia’s strategy development and execution, market insights, external engagement, internal communications, and legal function.

Rachel also has responsibility for Wine Australia’s market access and regulatory functions, including oversight of the Label Integrity Program, maintenance of the Register of Geographical Indications and Other Terms and administration of the export controls. She is also a delegate to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the World Wine Trade Group, a Member of the Presidential Council of FIVS and the President of the Australasian Chapter of the International Wine Law Association.

Prior to joining Wine Australia, Rachel worked in Finlaysons’ Wine Group and, prior to that, as a winemaker, having completed eleven vintages in the Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Hunter Valley, Oregon and Tuscany. In 2013, while at Finlaysons, Rachel co-authored 2 key chapters of a text book ‘Global Wine Regulation’.

Rachel has a Bachelor of Science (Jurisprudence) majoring in genetics and biochemistry, a Masters in Oenology, a Bachelor of Laws (University of Adelaide), a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and a Diploma of European Wine Law (University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne).

Will leads Finlaysons’ Wine Group. His practice has, for about 30 years now, been focused virtually solely on the wine sector. He has extensive experience acting for large and small participants in the wine industry, in relation to mergers and acquisitions, business structures, joint ventures, capital raising, succession planning and their general commercial activities such as entering into supply, processing and distribution contracts and competition and consumer law.

Will has a Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws (Companies and Securities) from the University of Adelaide and a Graduate Diploma of Finance and Investment of the Securities Institute of Australia (dux SA Division).

Much of his work over the last two decades has been in family wine business succession. He is on a number of boards and is Chair of Partners of Finlaysons.

Nikki advises on succession planning, asset protection, wills, enduring powers of attorney for lifetime financial decisions, and advance care directives for lifetime health and care decisions in the event of lack of legal capacity. She acts in probate and estate administration matters, particularly in the context of increasingly common and litigious blended family situations, and estates comprising sole, joint, company, trust and super assets. She works within the Tax and Revenue team to provide bespoke and tax effective solutions to meet the needs of the client. Being a member of Finlaysons’ Wine Group, she has undertaken much succession planning work in the wine sector.

“I recently chaired a session for the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology Wine Business Series in which Nikki’s presentation on succession planning hit the brief ‘out-of-the-park’.  Her presentation had some really tangible actions to take away and drive behaviour for our listeners and is, I strongly suspect, now the gold standard list for all those in the wine industry thinking through succession planning.”
Ashley Keegan, Chief Executive Officer – FABAL Operations,
The FABAL Group Pty Ltd.

Tony has had extensive experience in the research, policy and agri-political space. After joining the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) in 1999, he became a major driver of strategy for the sector. This included developing and implementing a comprehensive market access strategy and overseeing biosecurity, research and development and industry policy and strategy.

A strong international focus has resulted in Tony developing key networks with competitors and other industries to further the interests of the Australian wine sector.

He was appointed Chief Executive of WFA in November 2016. Following a successful merger of WFA and Australian Vignerons, in 2019 he was appointed the inaugural Chief Executive of Australian Grape and Wine Incorporated, the peak body representing the interests of Australia’s winemakers and grape growers.

Tony is the Chairman of The Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Scheme. He is a member and former board member of the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology and is on the organising committee of the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference. He is also a member of the Ministerial Advisory Council to Australia’s Trade Minister and is the grape and wine sector’s representative on Plant Health Australia.