Growth for IBD

The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) reports a growing membership globally and of the Asia Pacific (AP) Section, with unprecedented levels of female participation. For example, women represent between 19 percent and 24 percent of people sitting IBD examinations.

Speaking at the AP Section’s 35th Convention in New Zealand in March, IBD President Professor Katherine Smart said that the Institute now had 5,417 members and she challenged incoming president, Dr Tim Cooper, to take it to over 6,000 members when he takes over in September. Ian Roberts, the AP Section’s Chair, added that the Section had more than 1,200 members and that the composition of its board now better reflected the membership base. “We have a board of eight people with a diversity of representation covering formal financial skills, brewing, distilling, malting, barley and hops; with 40 percent of the board being female.”

At the Gala Dinner on 22 March 2018, Dr Cooper revealed new branding for the IBD, together with a promotional video, timed to coincide with the launch of new e-learning products. The IBD hopes that its new identity will help increase its appeal to craft brewers and distillers.

The 36th convention of the AP Section will be held in Perth, Western Australia, in 2020.