Dr Mary Retallack
Agroecologist · Viticulturist · Educator · Managing Director
Growing resilience through practical agroecology
Dr Mary Retallack is an internationally recognised agroecologist, agricultural scientist and third-generation viticulturist with more than 30 years' experience helping vineyards and agricultural businesses improve resilience, profitability and fruit quality through practical ecological solutions.
As Managing Director of Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd (also trading as Retallack Ecology), Mary provides independent agroecological and agribusiness consultancy throughout Australia and internationally, combining rigorous science with practical, commercially relevant outcomes.
Mary is the founder and custodian of the award-winning EcoVineyards program, an industry-leading initiative that champions functional biodiversity and ecological farming practices across a broad range of production systems.
Her philosophy is simple: the most resilient production systems work with nature rather than against it.
Research and expertise
Mary's work bridges scientific research, grower extension and practical implementation. Her PhD investigated the role of native insectary ground cover plants in supporting predatory arthropods and enhancing functional biodiversity within vineyards—research that has helped shape ecological vineyard management across Australia.
As a Chartered Agriculturist, she is recognised internationally for her leadership in viticulture, agroecology and functional biodiversity enhancement. She has published extensively on native insectary plants, biodiversity, soil health and ecological vineyard design, and is a passionate adult education extension specialist.
International
Mary is a sought-after keynote speaker and technical presenter, regularly sharing Australian innovation with international audiences.
Recent invitations include:
- EcoVineyards Aotearoa tour, New Zealand
- Organic and Biodynamic Winegrowing Conference, New Zealand
- Washington Advancements in Viticulture and Enology (WAVE), USA
- International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), Geneva, Switzerland
- GiESCO International Meeting, Greece
- Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference, Adelaide, Australia
- Bragato Research Institute Grape Day, New Zealand
Professional leadership
Current leadership roles
- Managing Director, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd (2009–present)
- Founder and Custodian, EcoVineyards Program
- Viticultural Commission Member, International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV)
- Editorial Panel Member, Australian and New Zealand Grapegrower and Winemaker
- Mentor, Australian Rural Leadership Foundation
Selected accolades
Mary's leadership in science, agriculture and community has been recognised through numerous national awards, including:
- Australia Day Award for Active Citizenship (2025)
- Landcare Australia General Jeffery Soil Health Award Finalist (2025)
- Best Rural Communicator Award Winner (2025)
- SA Women of Impact Award Winner (2025)
- Women in Innovation Award Winner (2025)
- SA Women's Honour Roll (2023)
- Bob Hawke Landcare Award Finalist (2022)
- Gourmet Traveller WINE Len Evans Award for Leadership (2020)
- RIRDC Rural Woman's Award – SA and National Winner (2012)
Her work has also been featured on ABC Gardening Australia.
Connecting people through the wine community
Throughout my career I've been passionate about connecting growers, researchers, industry and government to create practical solutions for Australian agriculture. Whether through mentoring, board leadership or collaborative research, I believe resilient landscapes are built through strong relationships as much as good science.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maryretallack
ORCiD: orcid.org/0000-0003-4442-1408
Best Rural Communicator award winner, 2025
Wine Communicator award winner (best wine education provider), 2025
Women in Innovation award winner (sustainability category), 2025
General Jeffery Soil Health award finalist, 2025
SA Women of Impact awards finalist, 2025
Australia Day Award for Active Citizenship, 2025
Gardening Australia, Plant to protect, 2024
SA Women’s Honour Roll, 2023
SA Environment Innovation Award Winner, 2023
Bob Hawke Landcare Award Finalist, 2022
The Australian’s inaugural list of 100 Green Power Players 2022
Gourmet Traveller WINE Len Evans Award for Leadership, 2020
RIRDC (now AgriFutures Australia) Rural Women’s Award, SA and National Winner, 2012
Connecting people through our extensive networks in the Australian wine community
Unlocking the potential of the next generation
Mary has had numerous roles in the wine and agribusiness communities
Board Positions:
Managing Director / Viticulturist, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd (2009 - current)
Director, Wine Australia, Chair Remuneration Committee, Member Research, Development and Adoption Committee (2018 - 2021)
Director, Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA), Audit and Risk Committee (2020 - 2021)
Director, Australian Grape and Wine Authority (2015 - 2018)
Non-Executive Director, Australian Wine Research Institute (2015)
Director, Wine Communicators of Australia (2012 - 2013)
Non-Executive Director, Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation (2008 - 2011)
Council, editorial, advisory panel and steering groups:
Viticultural Commission, Enviro and Protec Groups, International Organisation of Vine and Wine (2019 to current)
Editorial Panel, The Australian and New Zealand Grapegrower and Winemaker Journal (2012 to current)
Rural Women’s Award Alumni Advisory Panel member, AgriFutures™ Australia (2019 - 2021)
Strategic Investment Council member, Food Agility Cooperative Research Centre (2019 - 2021)
Wine Alumni Steering Group member, The University of Adelaide (2010 - 2020)
Advisory Board Member, Women of the Vine Global Symposium (2014 - 2017)
Ministerial Advisory Council Member, South Australian Wine Industry Council (2013 - 2014)
Advisory Group Member, National Rural Women’s Coalition 'Networking the Networks' (2013 - 2014)
Decision Support Network Inaugural Member, Wine Grape Growers Australia (2012 - 2015)
Adelaide University Wine Alumni Steering Committee (2011)
Career awards and leadership recognition
Best Rural Communicator award winner, 2025
Wine Communicator Awards winner (best wine education provider) (2025)
Women in Innovation Award winner (sustainability category) (2025)
General Jeffery Soil Health Award finalist, Landcare Australia (2025)
SA Women of Impact Awards finalist (Impact in Industry) SA Government, Office for Women (2025)
Australia Day Award for Active Citizenship, Adelaide Hills Council (2025)
SA Environment Award finalist (conservation science category), Conservation Council SA (2025)
SA Women’s Honour Roll, SA Government, Office for Women (2023)
SA Environment Award winner (innovation category), Conservation Council SA (2023)
National EcoVineyards Program, Wine Australia ($2.2 M) (2022)
The Australian’s inaugural list of 100 Green Power Players, The Australian newspaper (2022)
Bob Hawke Landcare Award Finalist, Landcare Australia (2022)
Regional Showcase Award Finalist, Solstice Media (2022)
South Australian Landcare Awards, Finalist (2022)
Smart Farms Small Grants Round 4, National Landcare Program in conjunction with the WGCSA ($100K) (2021)
Len Evans Award for Leadership, Gourmet Traveller WINE (2020)
Scholarship, Food and Beverage Development Fund (2020)
Smart Farms Small Grants Round 2, National Landcare Program in conjunction with the WGCSA ($200K) (2019)
Great Wine Capitals Knowledge Exchange, PIRSA (2019)
Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program, National Farmers Federation (2018)
Winnovation Award Finalist, Women in Innovation (2018)
Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame, HerBusiness (2017)
Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions Ambassador, PIRSA (2015)
The Len Evans Tutorial, Len Evans Foundation (2014)
100 Women in Australian Agribusiness, Emerald Grain (2014)
GREENHOUSE 2013: NRM Scholarship, SA Government (2013)
SARDI Women's Suffrage Centenary Bursary, SARDI (2013)
AgriFutures (formally RIRDC) Rural Woman of the Year, South Australia and national winner (2012)
Australian Postgraduate Award, University of Adelaide (2012)
Postgraduate Biodiversity Grant, Adelaide Hills Wine Region (2012)
Australian Rural Leadership Program (Course 15), ARLF (2008)
Wine Industry Future Leaders Program, WFA, WGGA, GWRDC, WBM (2007)
Pathways to Rural Leadership, DAFF (2007)
Phylloxera Board Viticulture Study Tour of France and Spain, GWRDC travel grant (2006)
Elephant Weevil impact and control in vineyards - Stage 1: Literature review, GWRDC grant (2003)
