23/09/2025
Announcement of Role Change – WA Wine Industry Partnership Market Development Engagement Officer
The WA wine industry is entering a new phase of activity, and with it comes a change of roles within the WA Wines to the World (now WA Wine Industry Partnership) program. After nearly five years of dedicated service as Program Manager, Liz Mencel will be stepping down from her role, and we are pleased to welcome Leah Clearwater as the new WA Wine Industry Partnership Market Development Engagement Officer.
Liz is a trusted industry leader in export market development and has played a pivotal role in delivering WA Wines to the World since its inception. Over this time, Hydra has supported a wide range of initiatives and worked tirelessly to strengthen WA wine’s global profile. We’d like to recognise Liz’s outstanding contribution in supporting more than 170 producers across over 100 global activations, and, beyond that, her tireless advocacy for WA producers in building international networks and trade partnerships through creative and dynamic approaches.
Liz will finish in her role on Monday, 22 September, and we warmly thank her for her outstanding contribution and wish her every success in future endeavours. Larry Jorgensen commented “Liz has made a fabulous contribution in managing this unique and leading Australian export initiative since 2020, we wish her all the best with her plans to ‘get back to the coalface’ of export sales management as she pursues new opportunities”.
As the WA Wines to the World program transitions into the WA Wine Industry Partnership, the next four-year phase will include equal export and domestic market development. In the meantime, current initiatives continue under the remit of Hydra Consulting who have engaged Leah as the WA-based engagement officer.
Leah is a consultant and educator with almost 30 years’ experience in the wine industry. Holding a PhD in Viticulture and Oenology, she began her career in wine production and lecturing at Curtin University before moving into senior roles in sales, marketing, business consulting and winery management.
She has worked extensively with wineries on brand and business strategy, direct-to-consumer models, market development, staff training and digital communications. Known for her engaging and practical approach, Leah helps businesses elevate their brand storytelling, customer experience, and commercial success. With a deep understanding of the wine sector from vineyard to cellar door to digital personality, she brings an integrated and authentic perspective to her work. Leah also runs her own consultancy, Clearwater Wine, and earlier this year launched the Margaret River Wine Academy.
Leah can be contacted at [email protected]. Hydra Consulting is excited to welcome another highly capable Western Australian supporting engagement in the WA Wine Industry Partnership.
Wines of Western Australia (WoWA) is the state representative organisation for wine producers in Western Australia. Our mission is to provide a unified, strategically influential voice that creates opportunities for the fine wine regions of Western Australia. WoWA advocates and represents wine producers to the state government and its agencies, the general community and wine consumers, with the primary goal of increasing wine producers' profitability through industry development.
Hydra Consulting is a leading consultant to the Australian wine and drinks sector who undertake export development, run export development programs, and deliver export training and coaching. They are also active across the whole of the value chain in winery and packaging line builds and optimisation, packaging performance, project management, business and process reviews, business coaching, and digital modernisation. They are in the final stages of building a revolutionary wine marketing platform for all sizes of wine producers.
![Media Release!Market Compass and Wine Sage Revolutionise selling for Australian Wine Industry July 18, 2025 – [Adelaide]...](https://img3.businesses10.com/878/203/1300126218782036.jpg)
