YOUR TEAM
NATIONAL VINEYARD FUND OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED
MANAGEMENT TEAM
The Management Team, led by Ashley Keegan of FABAL Operations Pty Ltd, has in excess of 50 years’ of combined experience in the management of premium Australian vineyards.
Ashley, the Chief Viticulturist, David Olssen and Brad Currie and their team. They are supported by Chris Dundon, the water specialist for FABAL Operations.
ASHLEY KEEGAN
MBA (Finance), B App Sc.(Viticulture)
Chief Executive Officer
Ashley has been in charge of viticulture and infrastructure management for FABAL Operations since 2003. He previously held the position of Western Australian viticultural manager for FABAL Operations, commencing with the company in April 1999.
Ashley is responsible for the management and development of the FABAL Operations managed viticulture projects. He has more than 18 years of viticultural management experience, and has been directly involved in the development of all the Barossa Valley properties over the past 13 years.
DAVID OLSSEN
B App Sc.(Viticulture)
Group Viticulturalist & Vineyard Manager - Clare Valley
David has been a member of the FABAL Operations team since January 2005.
He has experience in warm and cool climate viticulture having previously worked in the Coonawarra for Beringer Blass Wine Estates and prior to that for McGuigan Wines in the Riverland.
He also has a working knowledge of the Clare Valley through his involvement in a local family vineyard development.
David has also spent time in New Zealand in the Marlborough and Gisborne wine regions.
Russell Schutz
Regional Manager
Russell joined FABAL in 1997 as the Assistant Vineyard Manager at Marandoo Estate at Langhorne Creek, becoming the Vineyard Manager in 2000. Russell has since advanced to the role of Regional Manager where he oversees vineyards in McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and Heathcote.
Russell had 10 years experience in vineyard management and vineyard development when he ran Murphy & Schutz Pty Ltd. He has also had 10 years experience in the building industry. As Regional Manager he supervises technical staff, co-ordinates vintage within the company and in conjunction with the wine and transport companies and works alongside the Group Viticulturalists to maintain the vineyards at peak production.
BRAD CURRIE
Vineyard Manager - Barossa Valley
Brad has been responsible for the Sheaoak Log Estate, Moppa Springs Estate and Barossa Rise Estate vineyards for the past 7 years. Brad has worked on these vineyards since 2002 when the developments commenced in the northern Barossa Valley.
He previously held the position of Vineyard Supervisor and Vineyard Hand.
In 2007, Brad also worked a vintage in Sonoma County in California to further his knowledge in the winemaking side of the industry. Brad and his friends are the owners of a boutique super-premium Barossa Valley wine brand that makes him very qualified to understand the requirements of his customers to grow A & B grade wine grapes.
TONY LEES
Vineyard Manager (Padthaway & Limestone Coast)
Tony started with FABAL in 2001, and was heavily involved in managing the contractors used at Marandoo Estate. His dedication, enthusiasm and skills saw him promoted in 2004 to Vineyard Manager for Bell’s Padthaway Entrance Vineyard.
Prior to working for FABAL, Tony spent 6 years, in the early 80’s, in the Royal New Zealand Navy before working in construction for almost 10 years and then briefly as a stock auditor. He then worked for 2 years as a vineyard hand at vineyards in the McLaren Vale area and for 2 years as an Assistant Manager at Mt Compass.
STEVE SOCHACKI
Vineyard Manager - Belvidere Estate
Steven started with FABAL 1/10/2001 as Vineyard Supervisor at our Kayinga Vineyard (240ha) in Langhorne Creek. His viticulture journey started as vineyard hand with Pernod Ricard Winemakers before joining the FABAL team in 2001.
Steven’s self-motivation, dedication and being an effective team player who demonstrated competency in all areas of vineyard operations, saw him promoted to Vineyard Manager at FABAL’s Belvidere Vineyard (152ha) in 2012.
TROY HINE
Vineyard Manager - Heathcote Ridge Estate
Troy started with FABAL in January 2015, where he manages the Heathcote Ridge Estate in Victoria.
He has been working in agriculture since 2001, first starting on Apple Orchards and Tomato Farms in country Victoria.
He began working on vineyards in 2004, as a vineyard hand, and in 2006 he joined the Timmering Wines Vineyard. There, he was promoted to Vineyard Manager in 2010, where he stayed until he joined FABAL at the start of 2015.
RICHARD BATEMAN
Vineyard Manager - Bantry Bay Estate
Richard commenced employment with FABAL in early 2018 as Vineyard Manager of Bantry Bay Vineyard in Margaret River, Western Australia.
Richard is a highly skilled Viticulturist with 17 years senior management tenure and 19 years full time involvement in the wine industry within numerous winegrowing regions.
He is responsible for all aspects of the operations and management of the vineyard.
