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100 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014 { organizations } EVERY JUNE, THE INSTITUTE OF MASTERS of Wine (IMW) publishes its notoriously rigor- ous closed-book examination and in September announced this year's newly-minted Masters of Wine. London-based SOMM Journal contributor Anne Krebiehl from Germany and two Americans— Nicholas Paris, Senior Manager of Education for E. & J. Gallo Winery, and Chicago native Robin Kick of ARVI SA in Lugano, Switzerland—join U.K. writer Natasha Hughes, Domaine Direct's Rob MacCulloch and Swede Louise Sydbeck as the six new members of the Institute. Window to a World Penny Richards took the administrative helm of the IWM as Executive Director in early 2013. Though new to the industry, Richards, a former Asia-Pacific Bureau Editor for the BBC and non- profit policymaker, brings a global perspective to the organization, which has been evolving at a quickened pace over the last decade. "The IMW as initially founded in 1953 to rebuild the wine trade after WWII," says IMW Chairman Jean- Michel Valette, "though the organization itself has no commercial objective." Now in its fourth year of a five-year strategic plan, one that has pushed for greater transpar - ency, Richards points to the Institute's rich online archive of previous Symposia sessions and presentations, tastings and award ceremonies— resources freely available to the public—and sheds light on how the examination itself is evolv - ing to address changes taking place within the industry. For starters, Richards realized the need for a summary that detailed the ground rules of the examination process. "We can't make the assumption that everyone knows what we do, and we realized that even candidates themselves weren't entirely sure about how the examination is conducted." The exam itself has undergone several recent changes; it's been extended from four extempo - raneously-written theory papers to five. "From June 2015, candidates will be examined on viti- culture, vinification and pre-bottling procedures, the handling of wine, the business of wine and contemporary issues," she says. When the membership voted last year to switch the dissertation portion of the exam to a research paper, Richards says, "the prospect of change galvanized the membership across More Mastery, Less Mystery NEW TRANSPARENCY SHEDS LIGHT ON THE INSTITUTE OF MASTERS OF WINE by Deborah Parker Wong, AIWS PHOTO COURTESY OF IMW IMW Chairman Jean-Michel Valette is guiding the member organization through the fourth year of a five-year strategic plan.