The former deputy chief of staff to the federal communications minister, Amanda Watson, has been appointed CEO of the Brewers Association of Australia (BAA). Watson starts in the role on 14 July and replaces John Preston, who had been in the role for five years.
Amanda Watson. (Source: BAA)
BAA chair, James Brindley, said Watson was selected after an extensive and competitive nationwide recruitment process.
“Amanda brings an incredibly strong track record in policy, advocacy and stakeholder engagement, but most importantly is passionate about beer and the many thousands of people and communities who make our industry great from grain to glass,” Brindley said.
Of her time working for the Albanese government, Watson said to call it a trip of a lifetime was a “ridiculous understatement”.
“While I am certainly sad to leave the staffing cohort, life throws up the most incredible opportunities for those who seek to seize them. And that's me, this time,” Watson said.
Prior to working in the federal parliament, Watson was a policy and public affairs lead in business advocacy and spent more than a decade in the higher education sector. She began her working life in hospitality small business ownership and hotel management.
"Amanda will represent Australia’s leading brewers as an advocate for a vibrant, sustainable, community-centred and socially responsible beer industry and be a constructive partner to our industry’s wide network of stakeholders,” Brindley said.
He thanked John Preston for his contribution and said he had been instrumental in fighting for positive regulatory and policy outcomes for the industry, including the freezing of tax indexation on draught beer.
Watson said, “As a champion of responsible beer drinking, part of our role is to ensure that raising a glass together remains accessible. Put simply, Australia’s beer tax – the third highest in the world – is too high. Under my leadership, our association will continue to make the case for a meaningful reduction in beer excise.
“There are so many people and communities reliant on the success of our industry, with Australia’s brewing sector supporting around 100,000 full time jobs. Every schooner poured contains the combined efforts of farmers, brewers, transport, logistics, retail and hospitality workers, and many more beyond.”
