Chair and Director Corporate Affairs, Chair Coopers Foundation

Mel was appointed Chair of Coopers Brewery in 2023, the first female Chair in its history, and is the brewery’s Director of Corporate Affairs.

Graduating from Adelaide University with a Bachelor of Economics, Mel worked for Price Waterhouse before joining the Brewery in 1985 as Assistant Accountant, and was appointed Company Secretary in 1989 and a Director in 2009, following her father Bill Cooper’s retirement. 

Mel is also Chair of the Coopers Brewery Foundation.

A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Mel has held Board positions with J & AG Johnston, the Prime Minister’s Community and Business Partnership, Burnside Hospital Foundation, the Neurosurgical Research Foundation and the Drinks Association’s national committees on gender reform. 

Mel received the Member of the Order of Australia Medal (AM) for philanthropic service to the community and leadership, and is Patron of St John’s Youth Services.

Managing Director, Governor Coopers Foundation

A fifth-generation family member, Tim initially studied medicine in Adelaide and practised in the UK as a registrar in medicine and cardiology. He was awarded an MD at the University of Bristol.

A brewing graduate from the University of Birmingham, Tim returned home to join Coopers Brewery in 1990 in the role of Technical Manager, later becoming Operations Manager.

Tim has been the Managing Director of Coopers since 2002 and retains the position of Chief Brewer. Tim is also a founding Governor and former Chair of the Coopers Brewery Foundation.

He has served as President of the global Institute of Brewing and Distilling (UK), board member of Anglicare SA and The Royal Flying Doctors Services Central Operations, and Chair of the University of Adelaide Alumni Council. 

Tim was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia Medal (AM) for service to the brewing industry, professional organisations and the community.

Executive Director

Andrew was appointed a Director in 2023, becoming the first of the family’s sixth-generation to join the Board of Coopers.

Initially based in Melbourne, Andrew started with the brewery in 2017 as National Business Manager managing the account of retail customer Endeavour Group.

In his current senior management position, Andrew is responsible for the brewery’s key national on-premise accounts as well as growing Coopers’ export markets.

Prior to joining Coopers, Andrew worked with global drinks companies Diageo and Pernod Ricard, in Singapore and Sydney respectively, as well as with investment bank Macquarie Group in Adelaide.

A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Andrew holds an MBA and Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Adelaide and a Diploma of Applied Finance.

Andrew represents Coopers on the Drinks Association’s Board.

Deputy Chair and Non Executive Director

James graduated in medicine from the University of Adelaide and then completed a PhD in Immunology. 

Over a period of eight years, James held research fellowships at the Max-Planck Institute in Freiburg, Germany, Harvard University and Oxford University in the fields of biochemistry, and cell and molecular biology.

James returned to Adelaide and joined the Board of Coopers in 1989.

James practised medicine in Adelaide, and following retirement from medical practice, completed an MA in Art History. He has served in the not-for-profit sector and has been Chair of the Palliative Care Council of SA and Deputy Chair of the Cancer Council of SA.

In 2017 James became Deputy Chairman of the Coopers Board.

Non Executive Director

Cam was appointed a Non-Executive Director of Coopers Brewery in 2002, replacing the position vacated by his late father-in-law, Maxwell Cooper, who had retired as Company Chairman.

Cam joined the brewery full-time in 2010 as Director of Business Development and was later appointed to the role of National Sales & Marketing Director. He retired as the brewery’s Marketing and Innovation Director in 2022.

Cam has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from Adelaide University and a Graduate Diploma in Management.

During his career, Cam was the CEO of Meals on Wheels (SA) for 10 years and worked for 20 years with the Shell Company of Australia in various sales and marketing roles in Adelaide, Melbourne and Papua New Guinea.

Cam is the current President of the Rotary Club of Adelaide.

Non Executive Director

Rob was appointed a Non-Executive Director of Coopers in 2017.

Rob’s has an extensive professional career within the financial services industry attaining the roles of Chief Executive Officer of St George Banking Group and Managing Director of BankSA.

Rob is the Executive Chairman of Chapman Capital Partners and currently serves as a Director/Chairman for several prominent South Australian and national Boards, including Export Finance Australia, Adelaide Airport, T-Ports, Barossa Infrastructure and Fusetec 3D.

A former President of Business SA and CEDA South Australia as well as a former Chair of the Adelaide Football Club, Rob is also a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Company Secretary

Louise, a sixth-generation family member, joined Coopers as Legal Affairs and Risk Manager in 2019.
Now in her role as Strategic Development Manager, Louise manages strategic capital projects and business opportunities at the Brewery, which includes the $60 million brand home, microbrewery and whisky distillery development. 

Louise also holds the position of Company Secretary.

Having completed a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Health Science from the University of Adelaide, Louise worked as a lawyer for more than seven years across government and corporate roles before joining Coopers.

Louise is a member of the Brewers’ Association of Australia’s regulatory committee and a Director on the Board of Morgan’s Brewing.

General Manager

As General Manager of Coopers, Michael is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Australia’s largest independent family-owned brewery.

Michael joined Coopers in 2004, initially in the role of Business Systems Manager and later promoted to Commercial Manager, before he was appointed General Manager in 2019.

Michael previously worked as the Finance and Administration Manager at manufacturing group Kimberly Clark Australia and as the Commercial Manager at Tip Top Bakeries.

The current Chairman of beverage container recovery firm Marine Stores and a former Director (and current alternate Director) of Exchange for Change NSW and the ACT, Michael holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from the University of South Australia and a Graduate Diploma in Technology Management from Deakin University.