Gender equality advocate Jane Thomson OAM has taken the Australian wine industry’s diversity message to the global stage, attending a major United Nations forum in New York and urging the sector to accelerate action on gender equity in 2026.
Thomson is participating in the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at the United Nations headquarters as part of the official Australian delegation alongside UN Women Australia. The event coincided with International Women’s Day.
Her participation has been supported in part by Wine Australia and Australian Women in Wine, with Thomson using the international forum to encourage the Australian wine sector to move beyond discussion and implement practical measures to improve gender equity.
Central to that push is the Australian Wine Industry Gender Equity Toolkit, developed by Wine Australia in collaboration with Australian Grape & Wine and its Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in Wine committee. The toolkit provides a structured framework to help wine businesses introduce policies and workplace practices that support greater inclusion and leadership opportunities for women.
“We can be proud of the conversations the Australian wine community has started, but conversations don’t change culture on their own,” Thomson said.
“What changes culture is what we choose to implement, measure and lead on day after day, vintage after vintage.”
Thomson is calling on businesses across the wine supply chain — from vineyards and wineries through to suppliers, distributors, retailers, educators and media — to publicly commit to adopting the toolkit this year.
“Here’s my ask: commit publicly, then access the resource and implement it. Not someday. This year,” she said.
“Gender equity isn’t a ‘nice to have’. It’s a leadership issue, a workforce issue, a reputation issue. And it’s a competitive advantage when you get it right.”
The toolkit is designed to support organisations at different stages of their diversity journey, offering practical guidance on issues including recruitment, retention, leadership development and workplace culture.
Thomson said the industry’s long-term success will depend on its ability to attract and retain talent across all areas of the business.
“If the Australian wine industry wants to keep attracting brilliant people, and keep them, we need to build workplaces where women can thrive, lead and stay,” she said.
Thomson has been advocating for gender equity in the wine sector for more than a decade, founding both The Fabulous Ladies’ Wine Society and Australian Women in Wine.
“The Toolkit makes it easier to move from good intentions to real outcomes,” she added.
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