My job: Helping the vines grow even greener

Sally van der Zijpp. Photo / Supplied

Name: Sally van der Zijpp.
Role: National Co-ordinator, Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
Age: I have been in the industry 20 odd years, so you figure it out.
Employer: New Zealand Winegrowers.
Working hours: Office hours are 8.30am to 5pm but it's flexible depending on what project I am working on, plus I also travel and do workshops.
Salary: Middle management scale (between $55K to $80K depending on experience).
Qualification: M.App Sc (Hons).VARIETY: Sally van der Zijpp says a focus on sustainability is vital in the wine industry.

Describe your job.
I manage the Sustainable Winegrowing programme - an initiative of New Zealand Winegrowers, the body representing this country's wine industry. I am responsible for the programme and my role covers everything from writing business plans and sustainability policies to talking to the members and monitoring international developments.

What is your background?
I started my career as a research technician and then decided to pursue my career in the wine industry more seriously. I completed a Masters in Viticulture and Oenology. My intention was to be a winemaker; although, after travelling and working in NZ, Australia and California, it became clear I preferred being in the vineyard. (This was a surprise to me.)

I have managed vineyards, lectured for seven years at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawke's Bay, and I've worked as a viticulture and oenology consultant.

Tell us about Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
SWNZ is focused on the natural environment, meeting the needs of today, without adversely impacting on the needs of tomorrow. Its aim is to be a holistic programme that covers all aspects of wine production and its effect on the surrounding environment. This includes economic sustainability and protection of human resources.

Is your job office-based or do you get out and visit winegrowers?
It's a balance between the two. As well as the office-based work, I visit members/potential members and other stakeholders, present workshops (we run at least two workshops across the regions a year) and attend and represent the industry at meetings and industry-related working groups, presentations and conferences within New Zealand and occasionally overseas.

As I am based in Marlborough, the country's largest wine-producing region, I get to talk to a lot of different people as they either drop in or attend meetings and visit the Marlborough Research Centre (where our office is). We also talk to wine writers, researchers, suppliers and other international representatives as visitors.

What skills are required to do this job?
You have to be a little bit of a politician; not too much, though. You have to be able to listen, have a good thinking process and be practical. There is no point in doing things that aren't relevant. You need to liaise with people, to look for information. Basically good people skills.

Doing my masters took patience, research and cross-checking; and you have to be thorough. Those are all skills you need for this job. I did my research in both viticulture and winemaking so those give me a good understanding of what people are trying to achieve.

What are the benefits for NZ vineyards and wineries of being sustainable? And what expense is involved?
Benefits for members in the SWNZ programme include reduction in operating costs (through minimising artificial inputs); improved identification and management of risk; a better understanding of their business through evaluation; access to markets (retail outlets are demanding wine companies are able to prove sustainable practices); increased brand /product value through positive consumer perception; and a safe and positive working environment for owners, employees, contractors and allied businesses.

We don't think it is expensive to be a part of the programme. Part of it is funded from the fees that the wine industry pays and partly from annual membership fees. We have kept the membership fee stable for five years.

Three of us are directly involved in the programme and we have other resources through the New Zealand Winegrowers team; eg, research, marketing, regulatory and general management. We all work together.

You have a major project on the go?
Two years ago we reviewed the programme and compared what we are doing to what was happening internationally. We made changes, including the core document that vineyards and wineries use to report and measure their sustainable practices annually.

We redeveloped it in terms of both the content and as a web-based reporting and analysis tool.

Why is your job important?
Sustainability is an important issue for the industry. And I am lucky enough to have that position. I had my eye on this job for a while.

What are the job's challenges?
The challenges are the people. They are fantastic. The wine industry is full of different people who have had different careers. They are innovative, introspective and passionate. They are out there in the industry, travelling the world with their products , multi-skilled and interesting. Every day is a challenge and different.

Do you get any time to enjoy wine?
I love all wines. Everything from bubbles to red wine.

Advice to those interested in doing something similar?
Get out there and get involved. Take opportunities where you can. I didn't have a plan when I started and I have done lots of different things and it has come together into something I love.