Shivani Tomar

DWWA Regional Chair for the USA & Central America: James Tidwell MS

James Tidwell MS consults for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and founded the TEXSOM conference and awards.

DWWA Regional Chair Veneto: Richard Baudains

Richard Baudains, a longstanding contributor to Decanter, also works as a Cambridge University English language examiner.

DWWA Regional Chair for Portugal: Sarah Ahmed

Sarah Ahmed, aka The Wine Detective, is an independent, London-based wine writer, educator and judge.

DWWA Regional Chair for Loire: Jim Budd

Jim Budd is a wine writer and has been writing for Decanter since 1989.

DWWA Regional Chair for Provence: Rod Smith MW

Rod Smith MW is a wine educator, marketer and salesman, based in the South of France.

DWWA Regional Chair for Canada: Barbara Philip MW

Barbara Philip MW is category manager at BC LIQUOR in Canada, as well as a lecturer, radio columnist and consultant.

DWWA Regional Chair for Languedoc-Roussillon: Justin Howard-Sneyd MW

Howard-Sneyd founded The Hive Wine Consulting and is a winemaker at Domaine of the Bee.

DWWA Regional Chair for Port & Madeira: Richard Mayson

An expert in the wines of Iberia, Richard Mayson writes regularly for Decanter, contributes to The Oxford Companion to Wine, and has written 5 books.

DWWA Regional Chair for New Zealand: Cameron Douglas MS

New Zealand’s first Master Sommelier, Cameron Douglas MS is in charge of the wine and beverage programme at AUT University in Auckland.

DWWA Regional Chair for Northern Italy: Michael Garner

Michael Garner is a regular contributor to Decanter, and co-owner of Italian Wine Specialists Tria Wines Limited.

DWWA Regional Chair for Beaujolais, Southwest and Rest of France: Dominique Vrigneau

Dominique Vrigneau is Buying Director at Watermill Wines and a Chevalier du Tastevin.

DWWA Regional Chair for the UK: Simon Field MW

Simon Field MW worked for Berry Brothers & Rudd for over 20 years. In 2015, he was admitted into the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino.

DWWA Regional Chair for the Rhône: Matt Walls

Matt Walls is an award-winning freelance wine writer, author, blogger and consultant, contributing regular articles to Decanter.

DWWA Regional Chair for Spain: Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, an active member of numerous wine committees, is a wine writer, consultant and educator .

DWWA Regional Chair for South Africa: Fiona McDonald

Fiona McDonald, trained news journalist turned wine writer, is Regional Chair for South Africa at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2025.

DWWA Regional Chair for Spain: Ferran Centelles

Ferran Centelles is a wine writer specialising in Spanish wine for JancisRobinson.com.

DWWA Co-Chair: Ronan Sayburn MS

Ronan Sayburn MS, CEO for the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe, is a Co-Chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

DWWA Regional Chair for Australia: Justin Knock MW

Justin Knock MW is the Director of Wine for Decant London, a fine wine merchant and importer based in central London.

DWWA Co-Chair: Michael Hill Smith AM MW

Michael, wine producer, international wine judge, wine consultant, and occasional wine writer, is a DWWA Co-Chair.

DWWA Co-Chair: Sarah Jane Evans MW

Sarah Jane MW, award-winning journalist, is a Co-Chair at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

DWWA Regional Chair for Asia: Ch'ng Poh Tiong

A lawyer by training, Poh Tiong Ch'ng published the world’s first Chinese Bordeaux Guide in 2000 and is the author of 100 Top Chinese Restaurants of the World.