January 15, 2026

5 mins with Jenna Vaughan

Hunter Valley’s Jenna Vaughan is the living embodiment for what this region is known for: community spirit, exceptional people and having fun while working hard.

 

WHO IS JENNA VAUGHAN?

Caffeine lover, wine tourism and food digital marketer, EmpowHER founder and chair, married to a Cronulla Sharks supporter and mother of two girls. I fell into the wine industry when I got a job at a cellar door here in 2018. Since then, I’ve embraced the wine industry and they’ve embraced me back.

“You can be annoyed and critical about things but what’s the point? I like to turn my frustrations into outcomes.”

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE HUNTER VALLEY?

The community of people, from the growers to the winemakers and the hospitality professionals. Everyone wants the region to be the best that it can be. People are so selfless in the way that they share and collaborate. When we all do well, the whole region does better. Wines’ strength is also in its regional branding. Although we’re known for our Semillon, we also produce top-quality Chardonnay and Shiraz. As Australia’s oldest wine region, we have a great history and offer a great regional experience.

So yes, I’m very Hunter Valley proud even though I grew up in Cronulla.

WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT GETTING MORE WOMEN INTO THE WINE INDUSTRY?

I feel like there are so many missed opportunities. You can be annoyed and critical about things but what’s the point? I like to turn my frustrations into outcomes.

Women bring so much to the tourism, wine and hospitality industry here in the Hunter and Newcastle, but only 30 per cent of this $4 billion local industry is led by women. Women in viticulture and vineyards earn, on average, $18,500 less per year. That’s the equivalent of a year’s worth of groceries for a family of four.

Supporting women at every stage of their professional journey not only enriches our world with diverse perspectives but also fosters innovative solutions. Through the Hunter EmpowHER Association, we are dedicated to providing funding for educational opportunities, helping to open new doors and build a more inclusive environment for all.

My birthday is International Women’s Day (8 March), and I was about eight years old when I realised it was a really important day. By running an International Women’s Day lunch this year, we were able to raise $10,000, which was also co-sponsored by the Hunter Culinary Association. This has all been given back to local women in the wine, tourism and hospitality industries. Next year, my goal is to raise $30,000. 

 

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT

THE WORK YOU DO?

As much as I love the large-scale opportunities that come my way, like working for the Len Evans Tutorial and the Wine Australia Rootlings program, it’s the little moments when people tell me that I’ve helped them that keeps me going. This is the stuff that fulfils my soul.

WHAT WOULD A DREAM DAY IN THE HUNTER VALLEY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

I would book a babysitter! Jess from Wine Country babysitting would come over and then my husband and I would head out for the day. We would have breakfast at Irongate Estate (I love their coffee) and we would go on a De Iulius winery tour to go behind-the-scenes and taste something that hasn’t been released yet. After that, we would head over to Mercer Wines. Alison and Aaron have created such a lovely experience and the wines are awesome. We would do another tasting and then we would have lunch at Flock and Fork, a new café in Lovedale. We would finish up the day at Scarborough Wines drinking all their alternate white varieties – definitely a Vermentino – and we would watch the sunset over the Brokenback Ranges.

 

The EmpoweHer Educational Fund is available to all people that identify as female including those assigned female at birth, non-binary and transgender people. This year’s $10,000 EmpowHER recipients are:

 

Keira Bourke from Newy Tour Co, who will use the funding to attend the Australian Tourism Exchange in 2026.

Jess Fletcher from Muse Restaurant, who will complete her WSET 3.

Lou Eather from Tyrrell’s Wines, who will attend the AWRI’s Advanced Viticulture Course.

Kiri Irving from Mercer Wines, who will attend the AWRI’s Advanced Wine Assessment Course.

Mel Lomas from Scarborough Wine Co. will do a Digital Copywriting Course.

Jessica Gregory from Thermidor Brasserie, who will attend the Future Leadership Conference in Melbourne.

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