Blowing my own trumpet

Because someone has too…

Wine Communicators of Australia announces the recipients of the 2009/10 Young Guns and Gurus Program

Five outstanding young wine communicators have been selected in the Wine Communicators of Australia (WCA) Young Guns and Gurus Program.

The program pairs young wine professionals with respected wine industry leaders in the fields of journalism, public relations and sales/marketing and give them the chance to refine their skills and explore further opportunities by tapping into the experiences and insights from the best in their field.

WCA Young Guns and Gurus Program Director, Trish Barry noted: “We were thrilled with the overwhelming response to this year’s program, with a number of high calibre applications received from across the country. It was inspiring to read the goals and ambitions of the next generation, many who have entered the industry with an obvious passion for wine. The industry can be assured there’s a depth of talent and a number of people who will make a strong contribution to improving wine communication in coming years. ”

This year’s recipients come from a cross section of backgrounds, some wanting to change career direction and hone a specific skill set, others wanting to learn from those more experienced in their field. All of them demonstrate clear leadership skills, are articulate and embrace a vision for their future career ambitions.

The successful 2009/10 WCA Young Guns and Gurus recipients are:

Journalism – Amy Looker (Editor, National Liquor News ) and Andrew Graham
Public Relations – Jeanine Bribosia (Account Manager, Liquid Ideas)
Sales/ Marketing – Jonathan Mogg (General Manager – Sales and Marketing, Best’s Wines Pty Ltd) and Toby Yap (Regional Sales Manager – Domestic & International, Langmeil Winery).

Ms Barry noted; “Each of the successful recipients will gain invaluable insights from their Guru and will be exposed to a range of opportunities during the six month program. The WCA is committed to providing this opportunity to network with like-minded future leaders, share a wealth of knowledge and help provide the recipients with greater career clarity, direction and satisfaction.”

The program was launched on Wednesday 27 October at an exclusive dinner in the spectacular Astral Private Dining Room, generously sponsored by Star City. The Young Guns and Gurus met each other and mingled with wine industry legends.

The 2009/10 Gurus are all WCA Members and have generously donated their time in support of this project. They are:
Journalism – Judy Sarris (My guru), Peter Bourne
Public Relations – Angie Bradbury
Sales and Marketing – Phil Sexton, Robert Edwards

In its third year, the Program is wholly funded by Wine Communicators of Australia to meet its mission to support wine excellence, professionalism and innovation through the sharing of information and the exchange of ideas.

ENDS.