Speakers profile Peter Bailey Senior Information Analyst, Wine Australia As Senior Information Analyst with Wine Australia Peter Bailey is responsible for managing a team that keeps the Australian wine sector informed. The goal of his team is to support the Australian wine sector s competitiveness through the collection, presentation and dissemination of global wine sector intelligence. Paul van der Lee Manager Economics & Policy, the Winemakers Federation of Australia Paul previously worked with the Federation from 1994 to 1996 and rejoined in his current role in September 2008, with responsibility for economic research and policy analysis. In the interim years his wine career included: Chief Executive of a medium size Victorian winery; Board member (6 years) of the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation; Export Manager for the South Australian Wine Industry Association; Wine business and marketing consultant.
Prior to his wine industry roles, Paul held senior positions with Government, in the portfolios of trade (4 years), water (3 years), tourism (5 years) and regional development (3 years) and he holds degree qualifications in economics, in politics and in marketing. Ava Huang Wine Marketing Consultant Ava Huang has an unrivalled passion for wine backed with solid academic credentials. She completed her Master of Wine Business and Master of Commerce (Marketing) from the University of Adelaide. Since 2008, Ava consults as an independent wine marketing professional in Australia to assist Australian wineries with their export and domestic marketing initiatives. Ava is also a wine educator for National Wine Education and Training Centre (NWETC). She works closely with the South Australian Wine Industry Association to deliver a Chinese wine education course at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide. Susan Mickan Senior Winemaker Orlando Wines; Appointed as Consulting Winemaker to Helan Mountain Winery, China Susan Mickan is a Senior Winemaker of Orlando Wines with a passion and enthusiasm for the industry. Susan spends approximately 40% of her time in China, while retaining her Senior Winemaking responsibilities within Orlando Wines, focussing primarily on vintage and blending activities. Over the past 10 years Susan has worked for Orlando Wines she has developed a wealth of expertise in red, white and sparkling winemaking.
Bob Shepard Managing Director Shepard International; State Manager Australian Institute of Export; General Manager Onkaparinga Exporters Club Bob Shepard has spent all his working life dealing with exports and overseas trade. His early career was in the Department of Primary Industry during which time he completed his Economics Degree at the ANU. He joined the former Department of Trade (later Austrade) in the 1970s and from 1981 to 1994 held various positions ranging from Deputy Trade Commissioner in Baghdad to Senior Trade Commissioner and Consul-General in Dubai. Between those two post he served in Vancouver and Belgrade with his last post being Adelaide from 1994-1996. In December 1996 he formed Shepard International Pty Ltd, specialising in providing strategic export marketing advice to Australian companies. Clients have included Federal, State and Local Government as well as a range of individual companies. Bob is currently General Manager of the Onkaparinga Exporters Club. He is a past Chairman of the Amcham Trade Policy Committee and is the longest serving Executive Committee member of the Australia China Business Council. He was also Executive Director of the Australian British Chamber of Commerce (SA) for 5 years. In October 2010 Bob was contracted by the Australian Institute of Export as State Manager SA.
John Khouzam Company Chairman and Trade Development Manager, Wisdom Creek Wines John Khouzam has been in the wine, hospitality and tourism industry for thirty five years, and has been driving the Wisdom Creek Wines operation from day one. John s extensive knowledge and experience has seen him operating many major hotels and restaurants. He was the founder of Adelaide s iconic Night Train Theatre Restaurant. This wonderful venue gained the reputation of the longest Theatre Restaurant in operation exciting Adelaide for 17 years!! The restaurant won multiple awards in South Australia for many consecutive years together with a National Award of Excellence. These qualifications and entrepreneurial skills, that have been gained over 35 years within the restaurant, hospitality and tourism industry, saw John form his own Consultancy Company JK Wine Tourism and Hospitality services, which provides the following services: Business Principles Training and Development Organisational Change Management Personal Business Coaching Time Management Human Resource Management Business Building Workshops Sales Marketing Workshops John currently serves on the board of the Australian Chinese Business Council and served as President of the Restaurant Catering Association South Australia. He also writes a column for a local magazine covering wine issues and wine education. Wisdom Creek exports 80% of its wines to 11 countries with China currently representing 60% of that total export market with a growth rate of 40-45% per annum over the last four years. John has taken the time to persevere with the Chinese market making several trips to China with an interpreter where he eventually found the right importers who were serious about the wine industry. John is also keen to offer help and advice to other Australian wine producers who may wish to explore the opportunity to export to China. A recipient of many awards, a stand out was the prestigious award of Certified Professional Restaurateur. This acknowledgement of excellence saw John commissioned by the South Australian Government to write a comprehensive publication Starting a restaurant/café/take-away business a step by step guide. Whilst all the above and more keeps John extremely busy, he still makes time for his family, his rural property and his beloved AFL football team, the Crows!! (which, by the way, he has served as the Vice President for the past 6 years!)
John s motto is excellence through passion and attributes his success in China to perseverance, self-belief and having an interpreter on staff. Coupled with fantastic, quality wine which has won medals in every show entered Wisdom Creek plans on a long and prosperous relationship with China. Mark Watson Partner, Corporate Finance KPMG Adelaide Mark holds a Masters of Business Administration, Adelaide Graduate School of Business, University of Adelaide (MBA) and a Bachelor of Economics, University of Adelaide (B Ec). He is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, of the Insolvency Practitioners Association of Australia and of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mark has over 20 years experience in corporate advisory, financial management and providing strategic advice and tailored solutions for a variety of companies, from small businesses through to multinational organisations. Mark was previously a partner at an Adelaide based accounting firm, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of Wirra Wirra Vineyards and held senior management positions at FH Faulding and Co Limited before joining KPMG as a partner in September 2009 Mark s relevant experience includes: Wirra Wirra Vineyards, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary: Prepared financial models to analyse and assess profitability, funding requirements, capital employed, brand productivity and on-going cash flow management. Analysed sensitivities associated with key business drivers with specific reference to movements in grape price. Analysed capital management issues including advice on optimum gearing ratios and capital structuring generally. FH Faulding and Co Limited, Senior Management Positions: Conducted detailed strategic reviews and analysis of the pharmaceutical business both in the US and Europe. Developed, analysed and prepared shareholder value adding initiatives including identifying key value drivers in the group s businesses.
Analysed activities of competitors and major markets and linking these to divisional and corporate business strategies. Other relevant experience: Reviewed current strategic initiatives, preparation of a high level valuation and identification of value driver sensitivities for a UK multi-national involved in the chemical industry