Founder of The Wine Lists of the Year Awards Australia (28 years) and China (7 Years)

A Chartered Accountant and MBA (Macquarie University), joined the liquor industry over 30 years ago and over the decades since has represented many of the world’s great brands since taking on the role as Chairman of Tucker Seabrook (Established 1838) three decades ago – a position still held today.

As a passionate believer in wine education and training, helped facilitate the setting up and expansion in Australia of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) program in 1989, the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) in 2008 and the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and TAFE, which together – over the decades, have given thousands of Industry professionals the opportunity to elevate their qualifications and build their careers.

Inducted as a Keeper of the Quaich in Blair Castle, Scotland, in 1988 and in 1998 appointed a Master Keeper. In 1994 founded the Wine List of the Year Awards to recognise and reward top Restaurants, Hotels, Pubs, Clubs and Wine Bars and their Sommeliers and owners and in 2006, with late wife Judy, inducted into the Restaurant and Catering Aust Hall of Fame for services to the industry. In 2008 received the Professional Excellence Award - Sydney Morning Herald’s Annual Industry Good Food Guide Awards and in 2011 was recognised in the Sydney Morning Herald’s - Sydney’s Top 100 Most Influential individuals.

In 2013 founded China’s Wine List of the Year Awards with Tommy Lam to recognise and reward Greater China’s best Wine lists and their talented Sommeliers and committed owners and in 2015 received the 'Wine Communicators Aust – Legend of the Vine Award' in recognition of his outstanding and lasting contribution to the wine business and the industry at large.