12 August 2016 Distinguished Lincoln Alumnus joins University Council

Steve Smith has been appointed as a member of the Lincoln University Council for a four year term. He fills the vacancy created by Tom Lambie’s retirement.

Steve is a Lincoln alumnus with a distinguished career in the land-based sector. He graduated in 1983, gaining a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Scholarship to UC Davis in 1985, and specialising in viticulture research work.

Steve joined Villa Maria Estate in 1987. For the next decade Steve played a pivotal role in securing Villa Maria’s winemaking future. His role extended to a wider ambassadorial and public relations role through until 1996.

In 1996 he passed the prestigious Master of Wine examination on his first attempt, which is very rare, and became the first viticulturist in the world to become a Master of Wine. There are only 370 people that have gained this academic achievement in the world of wine since its inception in the 1950’s. He has been named by the world’s most influential wine magazine, Decanter, as one of the 50 most influential people in the world of wine going into the next millennium.

Steve is best known as the Co-Founder and former Managing Director of Craggy Range Vineyards Limited.  He has now moved to an advisory and governance role with that company.

Steve has become involved in government led business initiatives largely related to land-based enterprises. He was involved in the development of the NZ Story and has been seconded to the NZ Story Board, a nation-branding government initiative, as a private sector ministerial appointment.

He was also seconded to the Tourism Growth Partnership Independent Panel of Experts recommending co-funding opportunities for the government for innovative projects in the tourism sector. This has been followed by appointment to the Primary Growth Partnership Panel of Experts recommending and managing projects for a $700 million government innovation fund in the primary sector.

In July 2015 Steve moved to an advisory and governance role at Craggy Range. This has allowed him to develop his wider interests in the global wine business and develop an innovative land-based solutions business, LandBaseNZ.

In August 2015 Steve was awarded a prestigious Prime Ministers Business Scholarship to study corporate entrepreneurship, innovation, design thinking and strategic marketing at the prestigious Stanford University in California.

Steve is a highly regarded speaker, MC and presenter on both wine and his wider love of all things New Zealand.