Helen Strachan appointed Chair of Australian Grape & Wine

The national association of grape and wine producers, Australian Grape & Wine has appointed Helen Strachan its new Chair. From Friday, 14 November 2025 she will take over from outgoing chair John Hart OAM, who has led the organisation since 2021.

“It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of Australian Grape & Wine over the past four years. I am delighted to be handing over to Helen, whose deep industry knowledge, governance expertise and passion for the wine sector will be invaluable as the organisation navigates the challenges and opportunities ahead,” Hart said.

Strachan brings almost two decades of experience in the wine sector, alongside a lifelong connection to agriculture, having grown up on a stone fruit and grape property in Renmark, South Australia. She most recently worked with Pernod Ricard Winemakers, where she served as an executive director and was a member of the management committee overseeing Pernod Ricard’s global wine business with a production base across Australia, New Zealand, Spain and the United States. Beyond her executive role, Strachan has served extensively in industry leadership positions. She is the current Chair of the National Wine Foundation, a longstanding Board Member of Australian Grape & Wine, and has held appointments with DrinkWise, the Wine Australia Board Selection Committee and the Diversity, Equality & Inclusion in Wine Committee.

In accepting the position, Strachan said she was honoured to take on the role: “The Australian grape and wine community is incredibly important to me — it’s not only my professional focus, but also part of my upbringing and identity. I am passionate about supporting the sector to thrive, and I look forward to working with the Board and the team at Australian Grape & Wine to advocate strongly on the issues that matter most to growers, winemakers and regions across the country. To the broader wine sector, I encourage you to engage with AGW, and know that Lee, the team and I are always available to hear your views and work together on the issues that matter.”

Australian Grape & Wine Chief Executive Lee McLean also welcomed Strachan’s appointment: “Helen has devoted a significant part of her career to advancing the interests of the Australian grape and wine sector, both through her professional role and her service on numerous boards and committees. She is highly respected across industry and government, and we are excited to work with her as Chair at this critical juncture for our sector.”