Board of Directors
BOARD of DIRECTORS
Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia's Board is comprised of highly experienced individuals who share a passion for Australia's food and wine offering and for the role experiences can play in people's lives. The Board includes both winery directors and tourism directors, bringing together diverse perspectives from across the wine and visitor economy.
Director & Chair - Matthew Cameron-Smith
After three years as a Director on the UWEA board, Matthew was appointed as Chair and Director, succeeding Nick Baker. With over 30 years in the tourism industry, he continues to lead as the CEO of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, a position he assumed in July 2020. During his distinguished career, Matthew spent seven years at The Travel Corporation as Managing Director, significantly contributing to the development of strategic vision, values, and corporate objectives, across multiple brands including AAT Kings, Trafalgar, and Costsaver Australia. His extensive background also encompasses influential roles with Tourism Australia and a seven-year tenure at Rydges Hotel and Resorts, where he played vital roles in business development and global leisure sales.
Director & Executive Officer - Sarah Myers
Sarah is a strategic marketing professional with over 20 years of experience across the food, wine, and visitor economy sectors. Known for her strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and collaborative leadership style, Sarah has worked with wineries, consumer goods, destinations and regional communities to drive innovation, build strong brands, and deliver measurable growth. Sarah has served as CEO of Ballarat Regional Tourism and Marketing Manager of Grampians Tourism, as well as running her own consultancy firm. Her work has included launching award-winning destination marketing campaigns, developing regional tourism strategies, and curating experience-led initiatives across south-eastern Australia. Sarah brings deep expertise in stakeholder engagement, product development, and industry capacity-building - and is passionate about growing the liveability and economic strength of regional Australia.
Director - Andrew McDowell
Andrew is currently the Head of Brand Homes at Vinarchy, and with over three decades of leadership, Andrew's career reflects a deep commitment to elevating customer experience and driving business success. Most recently as Head of Brand Homes ANZ at Accolade Wines and now at Vinarchy, he has led some of Australia & New Zealand’s most recognised wine destinations, delivering immersive brand experiences that blend world-class wine with tourism excellence. Earlier, Andrew made his mark as the transformative General Manager and Company Secretary of the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, plus over a decade of shaping the future of hospitality as a Lecturer in Wine and Hospitality at the International College of Hotel Management, Le Cordon Bleu and TAFE in Adelaide, mentoring the next generation of industry leaders. His experience also includes owning and managing landmark hotels across Adelaide and Byron Bay, to running his own consultancy.
Director - Emily Swift
Emily is the Owner and Head of Marketing at Printhie Wines in Orange, NSW, a family-owned winery known for its premium wines, immersive experiences, and hatted restaurant, Printhie Dining. With a background in global advertising and over 15 years in corporate brand management, she brings a strong mix of strategic communications, brand development, and tourism expertise. Since joining the family business in 2019, Emily has led the creation of Printhie’s beyond-the-cellar-door experiences — from fly fishing and kitchen gardens to chef’s table dining — all designed to deepen visitor connection and drive regional growth. She is passionate about small and emerging wine regions and brings a collaborative, experience-led mindset to her role on the Board.
Director - Dana Ronan
Dana is a seasoned strategic advisor and board member with a diverse work history spanning tourism/hospitality, manufacturing, and healthcare. She is skilled in leadership, marketing, marketing & business strategy, digital transformation, customer/patient experience and value-based healthcare. Dana is a strong business development professional with a Bachelor of Business (Economics & Marketing), further qualifications in direct and data driven marketing, customer experience, Indigenous cultural awareness, partnerships and social value creation. Dana is a design thinking facilitator, lives in regional Victoria and loves sparkling wine and a good Chardonnay.
Director - Craig Bradbery
Director - Georgia Beavis
Georgia Beavis brings extensive experience in wine tourism, hospitality and commercial operations, with more than 11 years at Brown Family Wine Group. In her current role, Georgia leads the visitor experience, hospitality and commercial performance of the Group’s Victorian and Tasmanian destinations, including Brown Brothers and Devil’s Corner. Her expertise spans cellar door operations, premium dining, tourism experiences, events, marketing, experience design and venue development, with a strong focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences that are both memorable and commercially sustainable. Combining operational leadership with consumer insights, innovation and commercial acumen, Georgia is passionate about strengthening wine brands, building regional destinations and elevating Australian wine tourism. She has actively contributed to industry collaboration through the VTIC Roundtable, Wines of the King Valley Committee and Milawa Gourmet Region Committee, working alongside tourism organisations, wineries and regional businesses to create stronger visitor experiences and drive destination growth. Georgia brings a collaborative, commercially grounded perspective to the UWEA Board, with a commitment to championing premium wine experiences and strengthening Australia’s reputation as a world-class wine tourism destination.
Director - Renee Jeffrey
Renee Jeffrey brings extensive experience in premium wine tourism, luxury travel and international market development, having represented two of Australia’s most recognised wine brands, Jacob’s Creek and Penfolds. As Tourism & Corporate Experiences Manager at Penfolds, Renee leads initiatives that drive visitation, revenue growth and exceptional guest experiences, while developing strategic partnerships across tourism, corporate and luxury travel markets. Her career has included representing Australian wine tourism at major domestic and international trade events, including Tourism Australia’s Australian Tourism Exchange on 13 occasions, as well as luxury showcases and international trade missions. Renee has built strong relationships with tourism organisations, destination management companies and luxury travel advisors, and has delivered major industry events including Dreamtime and ATE Luxe. With a strong focus on commercial performance, team leadership and industry collaboration, Renee is passionate about elevating Australia’s reputation as a world-class wine tourism destination. She brings valuable international market insights and a collaborative approach to the UWEA Board, championing partnerships, knowledge sharing and new opportunities to drive visitation and strengthen the collective success of Australia’s premium wine tourism industry.






























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