News

The IBA launched its Regional Cluster Leads in February of this year. With the new format replacing the former State Chapter Leads; the key difference being that across each state, there are now multiple active leads instead of one. This new setup helps us reach more brewery members with important messaging, and just as importantly provides a stronger line of communication for breweries to feedback information to the IBA.

In total, the IBA has 31 Regional Cluster Lead positions, with 26 of those volunteer roles currently filled. One of those volunteers is Christen McGarry, Beer Director at Your Mates Brewing Co, a brewery that resides in the ‘Sunshine Coast’ Cluster in Queensland.

“Your Mates is an independent brewery, and we’re all about beer bringing people together. Old mates, new mates, some of the best friendships are forged and cemented over a good beer.” Says Christen.

Being a member of the IBA and an active Regional Cluster Lead is all about working together for Christen.

“The IBA gives independent brewers a stronger collective voice. A lot of the issues we face are hard to tackle individually, so having the IBA there advocating for the industry is really important.”

“The reason I chose to be a Regional Cluster Lead is to be useful to other brewers in the region. Sometimes we’re asked to support campaigns, letters or industry issues and it can be hard to work out exactly what you’re signing up for. I’d like to help make that clearer and help the region act together when it matters.”

Christen’s sentiments are common across the IBA’s Regional Cluster Leads, where each state and region faces its own unique challenges. With the IBA being a national body, it’s important to understand every brewery’s needs, and our Regional Cluster Leads, like Christen, help the IBA to be across all of those challenges, and connect with as many independent Australian breweries as possible.

When Christen isn’t on the tools at Your Mates, or volunteering for the IBA, a beer is never too far away – and his favourite is a Your Mates classic.

“Larry Pale Ale is my favourite beer. How lucky I am that I got to learn how to brew developing my favourite beer!  Although don’t tell him how much I’ve been hanging out with Dave Hazy Pale lately…”