Julie Twohey is the founder and strategic director of Grapevine Futures, a biomaterials venture transforming unharvested grapes and winemaking by-products into high-performance, sustainable textiles. With a background in biology, systems thinking, organizational leadership, and applied change strategy, Julie brings a rare blend of vision, rigor, and purpose to the emerging circular economy materials sector. 

Her work is grounded in a deep appreciation for viticulture and the science behind winemaking - an interest shaped through time spent exploring the Niagara, Kelowna, and Napa Valley ecosystems and understanding the environmental challenges faced by vineyards. Julie recognized that millions of tonnes of grape pomace and unharvested grapes go unused each year. What others saw as agricultural waste, she saw as untapped potential for high-value, climate-positive materials. 

Drawing from her academic training in change leadership, policy, and administration at Queen’s University and her professional experience navigating complex system-wide initiatives, Julie leads Grapevine Futures with clarity, authenticity, and a commitment to restoring harmony between agriculture, design, and the planet. Her work centers on building strategic partnerships between universities, wineries, material scientists, and global brands to create scalable, economically viable, and aesthetically exceptional alternatives to traditional leather. 

Julie’s mission is simple: 

Transform waste into possibility. Build materials that honour the land. Lead innovation that feels inevitable.