President
Emmanuel (Manny) Loucas (WA)
Since the beginning of 2014, Manny has held various positions within WPC and has once again agreed to lead the direction of WPC and in 2018 is President. Manny would like to extend a warm thank you for all the efforts of Val Stopp and Bill Crappsley and their tireless efforts in the past with WPC.
Manny has been a WPC Member since 1994. He joined the committee soon after in 1997 and was WPC President from 2009 to 2011.
Entering the Wine Industry in 1985, Manny’s career in the liquor industry began as the Western Australian (WA) area manager for Lindeman Wines.
He then progressed to Penfold Wines Group and Southcorp Wines, where he spent over 16 years as the area manager and eventual sales manager respectively.
In 2006 Manny moved to De Bortoli Wines as the company’s WA sales manager, where shortly after in 2008 he undertook his current role as De Bortoli’s State Manager for WA.
With his long-term involvement within the industry, Manny has extensive sales and management experience, demonstrated through a variety of industry channels, such as National Account management, Liquor Store operation, ‘On-premise’ based work and Hotel administration.
Committee Members
Foni Pollitt
Award-winning sommelier, restaurateur and certified wine educator, Foni Pollitt, is behind one of Perth’s top restaurants Mayfair Lane Pub and Dining Room.
Since opening with husband Chris in 2017, the accolades have continued to roll in – ‘Best Pub Restaurant Wine List’ in Gourmet Traveler’s Wine List of the Year Awards in 2019 and 2020 with the award of Three Glasses, and featured in the Top 50 Restaurants for the Western Australian Good Food Guide in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Last year Mayfair Lane took out the ‘Jury Prize’ at the World of Fine Wine Awards in London. This was a big win considering 94 venues were picked around the world, with only 18 from Australia, and one from Perth – Mayfair Lane.
Foni was awarded WA Good Food Guide ‘Sommelier of the Year’ in 2018 and is in the process of obtaining a Masters of Wine. As a WSET educator, Foni loves sharing her passion for wine with students – taking her guests on a journey and encouraging everyone to discover their own tastes and preferences.
Kirsty Potter
Gerome Vaughan
Trent Everitt
Jay Beeson