Patrick Spencer is the Executive Director of the Natural Cork Council, where he works at the intersection of wine, packaging, sustainability, and supply-chain decision-making. With over three decades of experience across the wine and food industries, Patrick has built a career focused on helping producers, buyers, and industry stakeholders better understand the environmental and commercial implications of packaging choices.

His work centers on evaluating packaging materials and closures through a practical lens — balancing sustainability claims with real-world considerations such as sourcing, logistics, scalability, cost, and market acceptance. Patrick regularly collaborates with winemakers, packaging suppliers, and trade organizations, and is a frequent speaker and moderator on topics related to sustainable packaging and responsible sourcing in wine.

At IBWSS, Patrick will moderate the panel “Sustainable Packaging: Environmental Impact, Closures & Smart Sourcing Decisions,” guiding a grounded, solutions-oriented discussion designed to help producers make informed packaging and sourcing decisions aligned with both sustainability goals and business realities.