WGBC Structure & Governance

WGBC is governed by a Board of Directors that is reflective of best practices in modern corporate governance through a framework consisting of six elements:

  1. Provide guidance and direction
  2. Establish standards of organizational conduct (policies)
  3. Oversee and monitor organizational performance
  4. Ensure the organization’s financial health and sustainability
  5. Protect the interests of the organization
  6. Ensure knowledge of stakeholder expectations, needs, concerns and interest and build effective relationships

The Board consists of nine elected voting winery members and two non-voting ex officio members who oversee work of the President & CEO (who manages the WGBC staff), and who provide strategic guidance and effective oversight for the organization and industry. The Board ensures that appropriate systems of governance, leadership and stewardship are in place to enable WGBC’s President & CEO to manage and lead the organization effectively.

See link BOD Features.

WGBC Board of Directors

A volunteer Board of Directors made up of nine voting winery members governs the WGBC. Winery Directors are elected by WGBC winery members at annual general meetings for three-year terms. Three ex officio non-voting members also sit on the Board – an independent grapegrower, a non-industry representative (optional) and the WGBC President.

WINE GROWERS BRITISH COLUMBIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(2022 – 2023)

ADAM WOODWARD, Privato Winery & Vineyard
CHARLIE BAESSLER, Corcelettes Estate Winery
CHRIS TURYK, Unsworth Vineyards
CHRISTA-LEE MCWATTERS CHAIR, TIME Family of Wines
FELIX EGERER, Tantalus Vineyards (ex officio non-voting)
GREG BERTI, Andrew Peller
JOSH STEWART VICE-CHAIR, Arterra Wines Canada
MILES PRODAN, President & CEO, Wine Growers BC (ex officio non-voting)
PAUL SAWLER, Dirty Laundry Vineyard
SAMANTHA COLLINS, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, Mark Anthony Group

*Click images for Board member bios

Adam Woodward

Charlie Baessler

Chris Turyk

Christa-Lee McWatters
Chair

Felix Egerer
(ex officio non-voting)

Greg Berti

Josh Stewart
Vice Chair

Miles Prodan
(ex officio non-voting)

Paul Sawler

Samantha Collins

Committees & Task Groups of the Board of Directors

Are created to assist the Board in getting its work done and include gathering information on issues of concern to the Board, developing recommendations for consideration, and carrying out a project of importance to the Board.

Committees of the Board

Finance & Risk Management Committee

Per Wine Growers BC  Bylaws, the Finance & Risk Management Committee is a standing committee of the Board of Directors and the mandate is:

  • to facilitate the timely and accurate reporting of financial information to the WGBC Society Board of Directors and to its members
  • to review financial statements and the Society’s budget
  • to ensure that proper accounting procedures are being followed within the Society
  • to monitor the key risks that may arise from or impact the Society’s strategy

Membership:

JOSH STEWART, Arterra Wines
LEO GEBERT, St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery
DAPINDER GILL, Kismet Estate Winery

Board Governance Committee

Per Wine Growers BC Bylaws, the Governance Committee is a standing committee of the Board of Directors and the mandate is:

  • to nominate a slate of proposed Directors to be considered for election at each annual general meeting
  • to attend to succession planning and conduct Board evaluation
  • to ensure that the Society maintains appropriate governance standards

Membership:

GREG BERTI, Chair, Andrew Peller
ERIK FISHER, Monte Creek Ranch Winery

Board Advocacy & Membership Committee

Per Wine Growers BC Bylaws, the Advocacy & Membership Committee is a standing board committee and the mandate is:

  • to identify policy priorities, develop strategies for advocating policy changes that benefit the British Columbia grape and wine industry and WGBC Society members
  • to position the WGBC as the industry leader in advocacy to all levels of government

Membership:

CHRISTINE COLETTA, Okanagan Crush Pad
EZRA CIPES, Summerhill Pyramid Winery
GORDON FITZPATRICK, Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards
TONY HOLLER, Poplar Grove
JAK MEYER, Meyer Vineyards
MARK SHERIDAN, Hester Creek
JOHN SKINNER, Painted Rock Estate
TONY STEWART, Quails’ Gate Winery

Task Groups of the Board

Are created to assist the Board in getting its work done. Reporting to the Board, are given specific tasks to accomplish and usually a short time frame within which their work is to be completed.  When the task is complete, the group is disbanded.

BTAP INPUT & REVIEW TASK GROUP – Complete (see Advocacy and Membership Board Committee)

To provide Wine Growers BC and industry overview and input into BTAP priorities, recommendations to government and provide Wine Growers BC board ongoing updates.

Wine Growers BC Liquor Stores Retail Practices Task Group – Complete (see Advocacy and Membership Board Committee)

To identify specific BC Liquor Stores (BCLS) retail practice priority issues impacting the BC wine industry with recommendation to the WGBC Board of Directors regarding advocacy priorities and strategies.

Wine Growers BC Funding Structure Review Task Group – COMPLETE Finance & Risk Management Committee Review

To review current Wine Growers BC revenue and fee structure and policies.

BC Appellation Task Group – COMPLETE 

Bring forward industry recommendations to propose amendment(s) to the Wines of Marked Quality Regulation.

Management & Operations Committees & Task Groups

Are created to help accomplish the work that would normally be done by staff if there were sufficient numbers available to do all of the work.

Management Committees

Government Relations Committee (see Board Advocacy and Membership Board Committee)

Marketing & Communications Committee

Per Wine Growers BC Bylaws, the Marketing Committee is a standing management committee and the mandate is:

  • to provide direction to WGBC staff on marketing strategies
  • to facilitate the development of the annual Advocacy, Communications and Marketing Operational Plan

Membership:

Graham Nordin, CedarCreek (Mark Anthony)
Mallory Newman, Arterra Canada
Morna Cassidy, Andrew Peller
Robyn Hanson, DBC
Connie Hui, BC Liquor Stores
Heather Courtney, O’Rourke / Peak Cellars
Katie Truscott, Naramata Bench Winery Assc.

Export Committee

Work in conjunction with Wine Growers BC to advise and approve export programs based on the three-year WGBC Export Strategy. Critically analyze export programs, specific events and tasting opportunities that will allow BC wineries to enter and grow our brand in priority markets around the world. Programs will be designed using the collective knowledge of the committee to identify high level, strategic partnerships, and opportunities in key markets for winery participation.

WGBC Export Committee Members

CHRISTINE COLETTA, Okanagan Crush Pad
GRAHAM NORDIN, Iconic Wineries of British Columbia
LAURA KITTMER, Wine Growers British Columbia
JASON SZAMES, Andrew Peller
RANDY DUFOR, Arterra
SEVERINE PINTE, Le Vieux Pin
TONY HOLLER, Poplar Grove
JOHN SKINNER, Painted Rock

Management Task Groups

Ad hoc task groups are created from time to time to help augment work done by staff, and include invited member wineries to assist and provide input. Differing from committees, task groups are created to address short-term issues. They are given specific tasks to accomplish and usually a short time frame within which their work is to be completed. When the task is complete, the group is disbanded.


BC VQA Wine-in-Grocery Annual Marketing & Merchandising Task Group – Ongoing

As required by the WGBC grocery operating agreement, the mandate is to develop an annual plan specific to the BC VQA Wine-in-Grocery operators and channel

Board and Committee Reports