New Advisory Groups to Support Delivery of the Victorian Wine Strategy

Melanie Chester (Chair) Giant Steps; Wine Victoria Board Director

Mel Chester is the General Manager and Head Winemaker at Giant Steps, and the Chair of Judges for the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards.

Prior to Giant Steps, Mel was Chief Winemaker at Sutton Grange, a winemaker at Seppelt, Great Western, and spent time working at d'Arenberg, Charles Melton and Quinta do Crasto in Portugal's Douro Valley.

Mel has a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology from the University of Adelaide. She is a recipient of the Wolf Blass Prize for Excellence in Winemaking (2011) and the David Bradley Memorial Prize (2012).

In 2014, she became the youngest Len Evans Tutorial graduate. In 2015, she was named Young Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine and, in 2018, received the Young Gun of Wine People's Choice Award for Favourite Winemaker.

Ben Hine
Co-Founder & Business Manager of Mulline Vintners

Ben Hine is the co-founder and Business Manager of Mulline Vintners, an award-winning Geelong wine producer established in 2019. Working alongside his partner, winemaker Ben Mullen, Ben has helped build the business from the ground up, guiding its growth from a start-up venture to a nationally recognised winery producing premium, site-driven wines from across the Geelong region. Mulline has since earned industry recognition, including Halliday’s Best Value Winery Award and a place among Australia’s leading wineries.

Ben brings a professional background in law, financial services and risk management, having worked as a senior lawyer across highly regulated industries. His experience in governance, strategy and commercial management complements his long-standing passion for wine and hospitality.

A natural advocate, Ben is passionate about wine businesses thriving through collaboration, innovation and sustainable growth. He enjoys contributing to initiatives that strengthen industry connections, support emerging leaders, and ensure Victoria’s wine sector remains vibrant, resilient and internationally respected.

Lucy Etheridge
 General Manager, Yarrawalla Vineyards

Lucy Etheridge is a third-generation farmer with a degree in Public Relations and a Master's in Agribusiness. Having spent more than 20 years working in the commercial side of the wine industry across sales, events, functions and marketing, Lucy returned to help run the family farm in the Yarra Valley in 2018.

In her role as General Manager of Yarrawalla, she oversees a 500-acre mixed enterprise of vineyards, livestock and agritourism, and is passionate about biodiversity and land protection for future generations.

Through her leadership roles with Wine Victoria (Chair, Technical Committee) and Viticulture Australia, as well as her connections as a Wine Australia Future Leaders alumnus, Lucy has developed an acute understanding of region-specific issues, challenges and development needs across Australia's wine sector.

Lucy loves sharing knowledge and believes in staying curious to ensure she continues to innovate within her own business while supporting, inspiring and encouraging others to do the same.

Lucy Adam
Vineyard Operator, Kooyong Wines

Lucy Adam joined Kooyong Wines as a Vineyard Operator in 2025, having previously worked as the Assistant Winemaker for Handpicked Wines. She has also gained experience overseas working vintages in both Alsace, France and the Willamette Valley, Oregon.

Lucy holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology from the University of Adelaide, where she was the recipient of the Jacob’s Creek Vintage Winemaker Scholarship (2021) and the David Bradley Memorial Prize (2022).

Lucy is particularly interested in climate-conscious viticulture and soil health. She is passionate about fostering a sustainable wine industry, believing that actively participating and being involved is key to tackling the challenges our industry is facing.

Erin Whitear
Public Affairs Manager, Treasury Wine Estates

Erin is the Public Affairs Manager for Australia and New Zealand at Treasury Wine Estates, where she works across key regulatory and policy issues affecting the wine sector. Her role focuses on supporting a sustainable and competitive industry, including engagement on packaging regulation, container deposit schemes, planning, water, sustainability, and broader government policy matters.

Erin has extensive experience in government, policy and community advocacy. Prior to joining Treasury Wine Estates, she worked in State Government as a political adviser to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, with a focus on community engagement and stakeholder relations.

She also previously served as Adviser to the Member for McLaren Vale, where she led advocacy on issues affecting local winegrowers and regional communities, including contamination risks from PFAS, planning and zoning laws for wine businesses, and the impacts of container deposit scheme reforms on producers.

Brendan Hawker graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Oenology) in 2006 and gained experience working in McLaren Vale, Marlborough, Napa and Champagne before settling in the Yarra Valley, where he is now Senior Winemaker at Yering Station. Experience spanning production, team leadership, grower relationships and wine show judging has given him a rounded perspective on what makes the Victorian wine community thrive.

A graduate of Wine Australia's Future Leaders program in 2025, Brendan is committed to the growth and development of the next generation entering the industry. He is also a passionate advocate for workplace health and safety culture, believing that genuine care for people goes well beyond compliance.

Driven by a deep love of this industry and its people, Brendan is passionate about ensuring it remains one where talented people can feel confident and proud to build a career.

Nancy Panter
Co-Founder, SubRosa Wine

Nancy Panter GAICD is co-founder of SubRosa Wine, a family-owned premium cool climate wine business in the Grampians. A graduate of the Australian grape and wine industry's Next Crop leadership program, Nancy brings more than 30 years' experience in global marketing, communications, corporate affairs and governance. She is an experienced company director with a strong interest in strategic leadership, organisational culture and industry collaboration.

As a member of Wine Victoria's People and Community Committee, Nancy is passionate about fostering a collaborative, inclusive wine community where people are empowered to contribute, diverse perspectives are valued, and emerging leaders can thrive alongside experienced industry professionals.

Nancy is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and Co-Chair of the AICD Grampians Regional Forum.

Callie Jemmerson
Winemaker, Joval Family Wines

Callie Jemmeson is Winemaker for Joval Family Wines, responsible for the Pachamama and Cloak & Dagger brands. She has more than 15 years' experience across winemaking, brand development and the Australian wine industry, including vintages in Australia, France, Italy and California.

Callie founded Wine Unplugged in 2013, where she developed the Pachamama and Cloak & Dagger brands before joining Joval Family Wines in 2024.

She is a Young Gun of Wine finalist, a graduate of Wine Australia's 2025 Future Leaders program, and serves on the Australian Grape & Wine Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Committee.

Katherine Brown (Chair) Brown Family Wine Group; Wine Victoria Board Director

Katherine is the fourth generation of the Brown family and has worked in the family business since 2009. She completed a Business Degree (RMIT, 2004) before going on to specialise in wine through completing Master's degrees in Wine Business (University of Adelaide, 2009), Oenology (Winemaking) and Viticulture (Charles Sturt University, 2013).

She has held marketing, winemaking and public affairs roles at Brown Family Wine Group. Most recently, she has been working in corporate affairs and advocacy with Brown Family Wine Group, managing a successful campaign to hold government off signing the FTA in 2023, which ensured that Australia could continue to use the grape variety Prosecco. She is an experienced board member and has had extensive experience working with federal, state and local government bodies.

Katherine has played a role in the broader wine industry, sitting on the Victorian Government Wine Ministerial Advisory Committee and the current Victorian Wine Strategic Plan Steering Committee. Recently, Katherine was nominated in the Top 50 "Young Guns" of winemakers in Australia. Katherine is the Vice-Chair of the NextGeneration Committee of Australia's First Families of Wine, acting with the aim of maintaining the longevity and success of family-owned wine businesses.

Lucy Black is the Sales and Brand Manager of Black & Ginger Wines and co-owner of Hounds Run, a certified organic vineyard in the Grampians, along with winemaker husband Hadyn.

With a background spanning business management, brand strategy, customer engagement and cellar door operations, Lucy leads the B&G brand with a balance of creativity, strategy and heart. She is deeply passionate about the Victorian wine industry and the people who make it tick, championing regional stories, alternative varieties and the kind of welcoming, unpretentious experiences that bring new drinkers into the fold.

Lucy sits on the committees of the Grampians Winemakers Association, GAB Network and the Grampians Grape Escape Festival, and is a graduate of Wine Victoria's Next Crop leadership program.

Outside of work, you'll find her hanging out with Paddy the greyhound and Saoirse the staghound pup, glass in hand.

Based in Healesville, Sara is passionate about the role of wine tourism in strengthening regional communities and showcasing the people, places and stories behind Victorian wine. Her connection to the region extends beyond her professional role, with a strong appreciation for the Yarra Valley's natural landscape, food and wine culture, and outdoor lifestyle.

Through her work at Giant Steps, she focuses on creating thoughtful, commercially effective experiences that deepen visitor engagement.

Steve is the General Manager/Director of Oakdene Wines, based on the Bellarine Peninsula in the Geelong region.

Steve is a Business graduate (Bachelor of Business Marketing), a graduate of the Australian Wine Research Institute's Advanced Wine Assessment Course, has completed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust's (UK) Advanced Certificate, and is a Wine Australia Future Leader and Len Evans Tutorial Scholar.

Steve is a past President of the Geelong Winegrowers Association and current Committee Chair of the Geelong Wine Show.

Rory holds a Master's Degree in Wine Technology and Marketing and has more than 20 years of experience in the wine industry. He is the founder and director of two small wine businesses, including The Story Wines, a five-red-star Halliday winery recognised as a Top Australian Winery for five consecutive years.

For the past two years, Rory has been a Board member of Australian Grape & Wine and also serves as a representative on its Small Winemakers' Committee. He is a mentor with Wine Communicators of Australia and a regular wine show judge.

A former participant in Wine Victoria's Future Leaders program, Rory authored the Grampians Winemakers' Association Regional Marketing Strategy and continues to contribute to industry development through his focus on grape growing, small-producer advocacy, and regional collaboration.

Rowly Milhinch
Owner & Winemaker, Scion

One of Rutherglen's most contemporary winemakers, Rowly's vision is to grow and produce premium wines that are modern, dynamic and unbound by tradition. His winemaking style reflects the way we eat and socialise in modern Australia, with an elegance inspired by France and good food.

Sustainability underpins every decision Rowly makes as a vigneron, from biological management of the soil ecosystems in the vineyard to the use of solar power and rainwater to run the winery and cellar door.

Vanessa Papadimitriou
Marketing Director, Rathbone Wine Group

Vanessa Papadimitriou is a senior marketing executive with more than 15 years of experience leading premium and luxury brands across the Australian wine, hospitality, lifestyle and fashion sectors. Vanessa is responsible for setting the strategic marketing direction of Rathbone Wine Group’s portfolio, which includes the renowned Yering Station and Mount Langi Ghiran in Victoria, as well as Xanadu in Western Australia.

Vanessa brings deep expertise across building distinctive, experience-led brands, as well as destination marketing, customer experience, digital campaign development and stakeholder engagement. Over the past eight years, Vanessa has played a key role in powering Yering Station’s position as one of Victoria’s leading wine tourism destinations, shaping its brand and visitor proposition through storytelling, integrated marketing, digital innovation and hospitality-driven initiatives.