Sell-out Women in Wine National Symposium encourages focus on practical industry action

Earlier this month, more than 200 professionals from across Australia’s grape and wine community gathered in Melbourne for the 2026 Australian Women in Wine National Symposium, which confronted workforce, leadership and gender-equity challenges as well as shared practical ideas for building a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable industry. Held under the theme ‘Rising Together - Shaping What Comes Next’, the sell-out event brought together industry leaders, business owners, winemakers, growers, researchers and emerging professionals “to examine the people and leadership challenges facing the sector”. A consistent message emerged throughout the day: “while many of the pressures facing Australian wine are complex, there are practical actions businesses and individuals can take now”. Organisers shared exclusively to Daily Wine News that a key force behind the symposium’s success was the partnership between Australian Women in Wine and marketing consultants Purple Giraffe.