News

This International Women’s Day not only do we send a big cheers to all the amazing women working on our Board and in our industry but we thought we’d do something a little different and shine a spotlight on the 3 women who give their all to the IBA and to a successful future for all independent brewers.

Our “Em” Membership Manager, Emily Doughty only works for us 3 days a week but boy is her contribution invaluable. Not only does Em support Sabrina and Kylie but her purpose each and every day is to service our 460+ Members.

Her other 2 days a week are spent servicing a very different industry Association so she definitely knows what it’s all about!

The things you might not know about Em:

• She is one of the bubbliest people on the planet and we all get to benefit from that infectious energy.
• Em was born in Newcastle in the UK and moved to Australia for some sun in 2005.
• In her ‘other life’ she is a personal trainer and has even written programs for a few celebrities!
• With her hubby, two gorgeous kids and two dachshunds, she resides on the Central Coast of NSW.
• Dreams one day of being able to get out from behind the computer to visit our Members 😊

Many of you will know our Head of Industry Development, Sabrina Kunz from her days at the New Zealand Brewers Guild or Brews News. We think her LinkedIn profile says it all – “Getting things done for causes I care about.” And doesn’t she what!

What you don’t know about Sabrina:

• She was born in Canada, grew up in Australia, then lived in Germany and New Zealand before coming home to Brisbane to be close to her mother and sister.
• Lawyering was what she decided to do when she grew up and did this for many years before moving on to beer. Definitely a refreshing change from clerking for judges we’re sure.
• She is Mamma Bear to Mr Tyler (a quasi-member of the IBA Team) a 4-year-old powerhouse, just like his Mum. And in addition, a new little scruffy schnauzer puppy and loyal cat Ferris.
• Wanderlust is high on her agenda.
• Like Em, she also dreams being able to get out from behind the computer to visit our Members more often. 😊

You all know our CEO, Kylie Lethbridge who joined the IBA on the first day of lockdown in 2020. She regularly claims her, nearly 5 years working in the beer industry have been like dog years – having to navigate a global pandemic, the evolution of the Association and in more recent times operating in a constant state of battle mode for the organisation and its members.

What you don’t know about Kylie:

• Her career has been varied; she started off working for Ministers, has negotiated trade deals in Japan, presented to royalty in the UAE, loved working and living in Scotland (aside from the no sun bizzo), built industrial estates and danced on stage with Bruce Springsteen.
• She’s lived in regional Victoria for nearly 20 years and would find it very hard to be a city slicker again – although her jaunts around the country to visit members are a brilliant alternative.
• Travel is what fuels her fire and in her spare time she’s either in the garden or enjoying amazing food experiences (with a cracking bevvy of course!).  
• Her friends and family are crazy but very important and her kids all have four legs and fur – horse Rosie, boxer dog LeeLou and a cat who thinks he’s a ginger Viking.
• She dreams of living near the ocean and slowing down – at some point😊