Speaker Biographies

Paul Mabray, Chief Executive Officer, Emetry (San Francisco)

Paul Mabray has been on the forefront of technology innovation for the wine industry for two decades including Wine.com, WineDirect, and VinTank which was acquired by the W2O Group. Vintank has been a continuation of his desire to help revolutionize the wine industry by bridging the gap between wine and the digital world. Paul has been in the wine and spirits industry for over twenty years. He has worked for Napa Ale Works, Niebaum~Coppola, WineShopper/Wine.com and also was the North American Beverage Consultant for Sumitomo Corporation of America from 2002 through 2005. He founded Inertia in 2002 as one of the first major companies established to bridge the barrier between wineries and their customers. A four-time American Wine Blog Awards finalist, he has also been a guest lecturer at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, UC Davis and many other symposiums, seminars, blogs, and periodicals for his leadership in the wine industry.


Louisa Rose, Head of Winemaking, Yalumba Wine Company | President, University of Adelaide Wine Alumni Network

During her 20-year career at Yalumba, Louisa Rose has become one of the world’s most respected winemakers. Lou is passionate about creating great Australian wine. She has forged an identity for Australian Viognier, winning multiple awards in the process, and challenges perceptions of Barossa Shiraz, all while leading her viticultural and vinicultural teams to ever greater heights. Lou wears many hats at Yalumba; award winner, wine judge, board member, natural leader. She is an inspiring figure in Australia’s wine industry and a proud ambassador for Yalumba’s own brand of progressive winemaking. She is the custodian of both Yalumba traditions and innovation at the winery. It’s a big task but one she has been preparing for since her first vintage at Yalumba in 1992. Her gifts as a taster and winemaker have been on display ever since.


Jamie Gilchrist, Co-Founder, Vintrace

Vintrace Co-founder Jamie is from one of Australia's premium wine districts, making wine and friends who are now prominent Australian winemakers before starting a career in Software Development. Since founding vintrace in 2007, Jamie has merged his passion for wine and technology, creating innovative Cloud solutions for global winemakers to help drive efficiency in wine production.


Michael Macolino, Associate Director, AgTech, BDO

Michael has a strong track record as an entrepreneur and business adviser, launching his first company at 21 and spending the next 13 years leveraging technology to build 5 companies across a range of industries.

In recent years Michael has moved from operating his own businesses, to be an adviser to innovative companies and a mentor to startup founders in the AgTech and environmental sustainability sectors. Michael leads the development of the AgTech practice at BDO, working with AgTech companies and Agribusiness to commercialise new technology and drive adoption outcomes throughout the Agri-food industry.

Michael is the Expert In Residence at the University of Adelaide ThincLab Waite AgTech incubator, and an Assessment Board member for the South Australian Research, Commercialisation and Startup Fund.


Facilitated by Jane Thomson, Founder and Managing Director,
The Fabulous Ladies' Wine Society
Digital Wine Communicator of the Year 2019, 2016, 2013 | Chair, Australian Women in Wine Awards

In 2019, 2016 & 2013 Jane was named ‘Digital Wine Communicator of the Year’ byWine Communicators of Australia, and is the only person to have received this awardmore than once. She is also the Drinks Editor for Taste Magazine (since 2013.)

In 2018 Jane released 'The Fabulous Ladies' Guide to Wine,' Australia's first book for, and about, women who love wine and those that produce it.