 Speaker's Bio
Nick Champion, born in Elizabeth, South Australia, has spent much of his working life advocating for workers’ rights and representing his local community.
First elected to Federal Parliament in 2007, Mr Champion served as Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Science, along with Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.
Mr Champion married the love of his life, Fiona, in Gibraltar in 2016 and years later their family grew, the pair now raising their five-year-old daughter Louise.
Mr Champion resigned from Federal Parliament in 2022 to contest the seat of Taylor at the State Election, which is the community he now represents.
Previously, Mr Champion studied a Bachelor of Arts at UniSA and a Graduate Diploma in Communication. While completing his studies and after graduating, Mr Champion worked as a cleaner, salesman, trolley collector, and went on to become a union official at the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association.
Rachel Triggs is responsible for Wine Australia's strategy development, including the development and execution of an ESG and sustainability strategy for the Australian grape and wine sector. Rachel also manages Wine Australia’s legal, regulatory and market access functions, including the administration of the export controls and the Label Integrity Program. She is a delegate to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the World Wine Trade Group, a Member of the Presidential Council of FIVS, and the President of the Australasian Wine Law Association. Prior to joining Wine Australia, Rachel worked as a corporate lawyer specialising in wine law. Rachel has a Bachelor of Science (Jurisprudence) majoring in genetics and biochemistry, a Masters in Oenology and a Bachelor of Law (University of Adelaide), a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, and a Diploma of European Wine Law (University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne). Before completing her Law degree, Rachel worked as a winemaker – predominantly in the Adelaide Hills, but also in the Clare Valley, Hunter Valley, Oregon and Tuscany.
Andrew Ferguson started as a professional fisherman in 1975 at the age of 16 fishing with his father Bob. He purchased his first Southern Zone lobster licence and boat in May 1980. During his fishing career up until 2000, Andrew owned and operated fishing vessels and fishing licences, in South Australian waters for Southern Rock lobster, shark and recently Ocean Jacket. Ferguson Australia began exporting in 2003. The business overtime has gained international recognition as an award winning and innovative seafood processor and exporter. Today, Ferguson Australia Group has three export establishments based at Port Lincoln, Port MacDonnell and Hendon, exports to 20+ countries and employs approx 80 FTE.
Taliessin joined the Department for South Australia Trade and Investment in March 2020 as Director International Education and Tourism Investment. Since March 2022 he has been Director International Markets, looking after South Australia’s Global Network of overseas offices. Prior to that he was A/g Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Singapore with Austrade. He held other roles at Austrade including Trade Commissioner to Hong Kong and Macau, and Market Analyst. Prior to joining Austrade, he had spent time in the Victorian Government focused on industry and trade policy. Additionally, he has held roles in the financial services sector, higher education sector and tourism industry. He brings a wealth of local and international knowledge & experience in both industry and government to DTI.
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