CVWGA

Martin Ferguson has a long history of public service and work in economic and social policy. In December 2007, Martin was appointed the Minister for Resources and Energy and the Minister for Tourism, and acted as the Chair of the Standing Council on Resources and Energy and the Ministerial Council for Tourism. He held the Resources, Energy and Tourism portfolios until March 2013, when he resigned from the Ministry.

Martin chairs the Tourism Accommodation Australia organisations.

Martin has an honours degree in economics from Sydney University.

Ali has been working in the Paulett family business since 1999, taking on a more senior management role in 2010 after studying Wine Marketing & Business at Adelaide University. Her role as a Managing Director covers marketing, sales and brand expansion, as well as managing Bush Devine which is Pauletts’ Cellar Door restaurant.

Ali works on the ethos that for Pauletts to succeed the Clare Valley needs to succeed. She has been on the Winemakers promotional committee for over 10 years and is passionate about building the Clare Valley to become ‘the best’ wine, food & tourism destination in Australia.

For the majority of his working life, Wayne has worked in finance roles for family companies - Michell Wool, Yalumba Wines and now Pikes Wines. Wayne began at Pikes in 2012 and became General Manager in early 2020.

He looks forward to using his wine industry and general business experience to help the Clare Valley Wine & Grape Association be an effective voice in marketing the region to the world and assisting winemakers and grape growers to be leaders in their fields.

Grant is relatively new to the wine industry, having previously spent over 20 years in corporate roles across the UK and in South Australia. In 2018 Grant chose to pursue his passion for wine, buying a small vineyard in Leasingham which he now takes care of with his family. Grant describes himself as an ‘apprentice’ grape grower committed to the long-term success of Clare Valley wine.

After a corporate travel and tourism career spanning 30 years, Penny Lion joined her family’s Clare Valley wine and grape business in mid-2021. She joined the CVWGA in November 2021 after more than 11 years at Tourism Australia, including six years as Executive General Manager Events. Prior to joining Tourism Australia, Penny worked for the ASX-listed Flight Centre, including five years heading up the company’s events business in London. She has a strong sales and marketing background with specific distribution and operational experience in tourism and events.

As daughter of Jane and Andrew Mitchell, of Mitchell Wines, Hilary grew up immersed in Clare Valley wine. Returning to Clare from 12 years in Europe in 2014, spurred on by her love of the Clare Valley and the Mitchell Wines family business, Hilary has graduated from Business Administration, Wine Business and is in the final stages of a Graduate Diploma in Oenology and Viticulture, all undertaken at the Adelaide University. Hilary has worked the last 7 vintages at Mitchells alongside head winemaker, Simon Pringle, as well as completed numerous vintages in Spain and Southern France.

She has a a strong interest in sustainability and a belief that community is essential to the future long-term success of the Clare Valley Wine and Grape Association. She looks forward to being an active member of the board, working as a representative for all members to help enhance the global representation of Clare Valley wine.