Sixth annual conference welcomes speakers promoting inclusion and advancement of female leadership
Portland, Ore. (May 20, 2024) — Women in Wine Oregon, a nonprofit organization fostering inclusion and the advancement of female leadership, has launched ticket sales for its full program for a one-day conference on Tuesday, July 16. Hosted at Abbey Road Farm in the Willamette Valley, the sixth annual conference provides opportunities for personal and professional development. Tickets are on sale now.
Founded in 2019, Women in Wine Oregon amplifies female voices and promotes female leadership in the wine and beverage industry. While the organization was born in Oregon, the annual Women in Wine Conference draws a national audience and a roster of speakers and panelists from a wide range of industries.
The 2024 Women in Wine Conference, themed “RISE,” will provide attendees with valuable insights from leading female wine professionals, business leaders, journalists, entrepreneurs, and industry trailblazers. Guided by the principles of Regeneration, Investing, Supporting, and Empowering, the conference aims to inspire and empower participants on their personal and professional journeys. The conference brings together engaging speakers from all sides of the wine business.
The 2024 program will feature leaders from the Portland Timbers, Wine Unify, and Ide Energy. A panel of wine storytellers from top wine magazines such as Jancis Robinson and Decanter, will be moderated by Trish Glose. Inspirational speaker and leader Marli Williams will return for a second year as the conference’s emcee and Master of Connections. The July 16 conference lineup includes:
- Britt Ide, CEO of Ide Energy & Strategy
- Alicia Towns Franken, Executive Director of Wine Unify
- Heather Davis, CEO of the Portland Timbers
- Ashley Highsmith, COO of the Portland Timbers
- Dr. Robin Beavers, VP of Community and Social Impact for the Portland Timbers
- Sarah Keane, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer of the Portland Timbers
- Sensi Graves, professional kiteboarder, Founder of Sensi Graves Swim
- Trish Glose, journalist, storyteller, podcast host of Hungry For More
- Samantha Cole Johnson, Senior US Editor for JancisRobinson.com
- Clive Pursehouse, US Editor for Decanter
- Julia Coney, journalist and Wine Consultant for American Airlines
- Nori De Vega, digital content producer, Founder of Tikim PDX
In addition to panel discussions and the dynamic speaker lineup, the conference program also includes structured networking activities and time to connect.
“Our conference has consistently grown year over year, and we know that fostering connections is one of the greatest parts of the day,” said Stacey Gibson, 2024 President of Women in Wine and partner at Parallel Food & Drink. “We have created a schedule with more time built in for networking and connecting with the other attendees.”
In addition, Women In Wine Oregon has partnered with Travel Dundee and Alt Wine Fest to host a pre-conference party on Monday, July 15 at Wooden Heart at The Dundee Hotel sponsored by Travel Dundee. This new Monday Mingler—falling between Alt Wine Fest on July 14 and the Women In Wine Conference on July 16—will feature the female winemakers from Alt Wine Fest, bites from Wooden Heart, and other local artisans. This opportunity for further connection is free, but guests should RSVP as there is limited space.
Tickets are now available for the July 16 conference:
- General Admission: $315 ($283.50 for Women in Wine members)
- General Admission plus Women In Wine Annual Membership: $358
Conference tickets include a welcome bag, continental breakfast with welcome beverage, lunch, and a glass of wine at the post-event happy hour sponsored by Brooks Wine with bites provided by Sprig & Spread. The sparkling wine sponsor for the event is Varnum Vintners, who will provide non-alcoholic sparkling wine as well to accompany breakfast and lunch. Lodging is available at The Vintages and The Dundee Hotel for a discounted rate.
Conference scholarships are also available, with applications due May 24. Applications are available at the link here. The scholarship winners are sponsored by Women in Wine Oregon, along with Schmidt Family Vineyards and Partake Grants Pass. For the first time, Women In Wine has partnered with Linfield University to sponsor two WSET students to begin their wine studies. Applications for the WSET sponsorship are available at the link here.
The Platinum sponsor for the Women In Wine conference is UBS Financial Services, with lodging for scholarship winners sponsored by Björnson Vineyards, and transportation sponsored by NW Wine Shuttle. Gold sponsors include the Oregon Wine Board, AgWest Farm Credit, Linfield University, Northwest Distribution and Storage, Wine Direct, and Domaine Serene.
Women in Wine Oregon 2024
Abbey Road Farm
10280 NE Oak Springs Farm Rd, Carlton, OR 97111
Doors open: 8 am
Conference: 9 am – 5:30 pm
Happy Hour: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
ABOUT WOMEN IN WINE OREGON
Women in Wine Oregon is a membership-based nonprofit organization committed to promoting the inclusion and advancement of female leadership in the wine and beverage industry. Since its inception in 2019, Women in Wine Oregon has been instrumental in supporting long-term growth of women in the industry through ongoing networking events, an annual conference, and a year-long mentorship program. For more information, please visit womeninwineoregon.com.
