Summary:

Queena Wong, Founder of Curious Vines, will be presenting the key issues from her ground-breaking UK Women in Wine Survey she commissioned in collaboration with research company PROOF Insight. This survey has been instrumental in kickstarting the UK Drinks Industry Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Initiative of which she is on the Advisory Council. She will also outline her current strategy to create new worlds in wine fostering a more accessible and balanced wine industry for all. 

About the Speaker:

Queena Wong, a prominent UK wine collector, is the leader and voice for Curious Vines, a supportive community of women in the UK wine industry that cultivates connectivity and now is nearly 1100 strong. Its objective is to create new worlds in wine fostering a more accessible and balanced wine industry.

Queena commissioned the ground-breaking UK Women in Wine Industry Survey released October 2023 kickstarting the drinks industry EDI initiative of which she is on the Advisory Council.

Her advocacy work has been felt - she was recently nominated No. 2 in the recent Drinks Retailing Top 100 Most Influential in Drinks 2024 and been recognised in CODE Hospitality Women of the Year awards.

TimeStamps: 

Introduction (00:00) 

Justin introduces Queena Wong and the UK Women in Wine Industry Survey. 

Queena Wong's Background (00:02) 

Queena discusses her personal background and the challenges she faced as a female wine collector. 

Curious Vines Community (00:03) 

Queena explains the development and objectives of the Curious Vines community for women in the UK wine industry. 

Community Building and Education (00:04) 

Queena outlines the community-building and educational activities of Curious Vines, including events and career panels. 

UK Women in Wine Survey (00:06) 

Queena discusses the motivation behind and the process of conducting the UK Women in Wine Industry Survey. 

Survey Results and Sample (00:09) 

Queena presents the demographics and sample characteristics of the survey respondents. 

Challenges Facing Women in Wine (00:11) 

Queena delves into the main issues identified by the survey, including sexism, underrepresentation in leadership, and discriminatory pay and conditions. 

Sexism and Gender Bias (00:13) 

Queena discusses the prevalence and impact of sexism and gender bias in the UK wine industry. 

Harassment in the Industry (00:15) 

Queena addresses the issue of harassment faced by women in the UK wine industry, including experiences and reporting systems. 

Underrepresentation in Leadership (00:20) 

Queena highlights the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles and the factors contributing to this imbalance. 

Impact of Bias and Networking (00:21) 

Queena explains how bias in recruitment and promotion, as well as networking practices, contribute to the underrepresentation of women in leadership. 

Challenges Returning to Work (00:23) 

Queena discusses the challenges women face when returning to work after maternity leave and the need for flexible working arrangements and mentorship opportunities. 

Opportunity for Training (00:24) 

Barriers faced by women in the industry, lack of training on negotiation and assertive communication, and the need for companies to support and promote women and minorities. 

Discriminatory Pay and Conditions (00:26) 

Issues related to discriminatory pay and conditions, lack of transparency in salary grades, and discrimination linked to pregnancy and maternity. 

Policies for Equity (00:27) 

The need for industry policies to support equity, including parental leave, flexible working, and menopause policies, to retain female resources in the industry. 

Progress and Initiatives (00:28) 

Efforts and initiatives taken since the survey to address the issues, including the proposed EDI program and the formation of Drinks United. 

Curious Vines' Role (00:31) 

The role of Curious Vines in supporting women in the industry, including creating safe spaces, providing education and development opportunities, and advocating for diversity and inclusion. 

Geographical and Ecological Diversity (00:36) 

Efforts to support geographical and ecological diversity through e-newsletters, financial support for young individuals, and inclusivity mentorship. 

Resistance and Empathy (00:45) 

Potential resistance from male leadership, the need for empathy, and practical advice for leadership to address issues and promote inclusivity. 

Future Progress and Challenges (00:47) 

The fear and reticence of male leaders, the need for bravery to address past issues, and the importance of drawing a line to progress for the future. 

The definition of leadership (00:48) 

Queena explains the criteria for leadership roles and emphasizes the need for progress and inclusivity in the wine industry. 

Challenges for women in the wine industry (00:49) 

Queena discusses the barriers women face in wine collecting, including access, confidence, and male-dominated circles. 

Efforts for change and future plans (00:53) 

Queena outlines a three-year plan to address issues in the wine industry and discusses the possibility of a second survey. 

Information about the panels and community (00:55) 

Queena directs people to her website and community, Curious Vines, and explains how to stay updated on events and panels.