President
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
Marnie Devitt
Tony MacManus
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 Traveller’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.
Emma Farrelly
For over 19 years, Emma’s passion for the wine industry has produced award-winning wine lists across top venues in Perth.
As Director of Wine for the State Buildings & Como The Treasury, Emma’s invaluable insights and industry-wide network enables her to curate unique wine lists and wine events for each of the award-winning restaurants at the State Buildings, including Wildflower, Long Chim, Post, Petition Kitchen and Wine Merchant. Emma also creates world-class experiences for the guests of the 48 room luxury hotel.
For two years whilst in her early 20’s, Emma studied under the guidance of Dr Steve Charters, Master of Wine. Since then, Emma has worked as a Sommelier and consulted on various wine lists and menus, earning her recognition through numerous awards.
With her finger firmly on the pulse of the wine industry, Emma has been selected as a judge for over 10 wine shows between 2017 and 2021.