Professor Charles "Charlie" Bamforth has been elected as the sixty third President of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD). Charlie was born in Lancashire in the North of England and has worked in the brewing sector for over 36 years, in a variety of both academic and corporate roles in the UK and USA. He is currently Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences at the University of California, Davis. 

On his election, the new President said "It is an enormous privilege to be taking over a President at a time when the Institute of Brewing is thriving; over the past four years membership has increased by 20% and the number of people sitting our exams is up by over two thirds. This is an enormous tribute to my predecessor as President, Alan Barclay, and to the hard work of the IBD team led by Simon Jackson." 

"But we cannot be complacent. The world of education is changing fast. Students are rightly very demanding; they are looking for qualifications that will best equip them to succeed in a very competitive global jobs market. I will be working with the Board of Examiners to ensure the excellence and relevance of the world class examinations that are at the heart of the IBD Professional Development mission." 

"This will allow us to strengthen the presence and significance of IBD as an indispensable player in the technical and educational development of individuals within companies around the world - from the smallest of organizations to the largest" 

Professor Katherine Smart, Group Chief Brewer at SAB Miller, was elected Deputy President to become President in 2016.