Wild Card head brewer Jaega Wise appointed SIBA director

Wild Card Brewery’s Jaega Wise has been elected as a director at The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).

(Photo: Miles Willis/Wild Card)

Wise, a high-profile figure in the campaign against sexism in the beer industry, will join the SIBA board as a director of the association’s South East region.

The brewing boss was elected by SIBA members at the organisation’s annual regional AGM, which has around 150 members working in independent breweries, and will work alongside current directors Tom Bott, founder of Leyton-based Signature Brew, and McIntosh from Red Cat Brewing.

Bott has been elected as Chairman of SIBA South East, replacing current regional boss and Five Points Brewing boss Ed Mason.

Mason said Wise is “a much liked and respected brewer from one of the regions newer breweries.”

“I know she will do a fantastic job of representing the region’s brewers.”

Wise has spoken out in recent months about institutionalised sexism in the beer industry, calling for a ban on overtly sexualised labels on beer pumps and bottles from festivals organised by SIBA and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Jeaga presented a motion at the AGM for SIBA to “create & implement a more comprehensive marketing ‘Code of Practice’ for its members, to specifically include the issue of sexist or otherwise discriminatory images and language.”

This motion passed unopposed, and will now go forward for consideration at SIBA’s next board meeting in February.

Wise, who is due to speak about discrimination in the brewing world at the Manchester Beer Festival later this month, added: “I am really pleased to have the opportunity to represent the South East region.”

“We have many challenges ahead, but I’m confident with the skills, passion and love of great beer in the region, we can overcome them altogether.”