WISA announces appointment of executive chair

WISA announces appointment of executive chair
Attendees of the WISA 2025 Annual General Meeting

Wine Industry Suppliers Association (WISA), has appointed Liz Schoen of Liz Schoen Consulting as executive chair of the management committee, it was announced at the 2025 annual general Meeting yesterday.

Held at Tindo Solar in Mawson Lakes in Adelaide’s north, the meeting covered changes to the committee structure, plans to bridge the gap between suppliers in Australia and New Zealand, and preparation for WISA’s involvement in the triannual event to be held this year, WineTech.

 

Liz Schoen of Liz Schoen Consulting, newly appointed executive chair of WISA

 

Schoen has served on the management committee since December 2021 and has been deputy chair since December 2022.

Tim Stead, outgoing chair of WISA and CEO of Amorim Cork, congratulated Schoen on her new position and expressed his gratitude for her support.

“In her capacity as deputy chair, [Schoen] has been an incredible support to me, and I felt very fortunate to have her by my side in the role of chair,” said Stead.

The role of executive chair is a new position for the committee, combining the responsibilities of an executive officer and chair.

“In terms of the title, the function of the role is to basically maintain constant communication with members, to unite members of our suppliers with wineries, and to create opportunities—events and so forth—that bring everybody together,” said Stead.

“That’s really where we can have our biggest impact in terms of advocacy on behalf of our membership.”

Supporting Schoen in the role of vice chair is Eric Wilkes of Affinity Labs, whose appointment as vice chair was also announced at the meeting.

 

Eric Wilkes of Affinity Labs, newly appointed vice chair of the WISA management committee

 

The re-elected and continuing members of the WISA management committee are:

  • Amy Bishop – DW Fox Tucker Lawyers
  • Tim Stead – Amorim Australasia (re-elected)
  • Steven Scott – Pernod Ricard
  • Eric Wilkes – Affinity Labs
  • Liz Schoen – Liz Schoen Consulting
  • Ron Van Buuren – Hydra Consulting
  • Romina Meloni – Lallemand
  • Adrian Fiocchini – Seguin Moreau

Retiring from the committee is Daniel Polson of Adama. Stead noted that Polson’s departure leaves a vacancy in the viticulture space.

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