Dr Tim Cooper is the current Managing Director of Coopers Brewery. He has the unusual combination of qualifications in brewing and medicine.

With the family brewery in jeopardy during the 1970s, the former generation of Coopers discouraged their children from being involved in the business, so Tim completed his medical studies (MBBS, Adelaide) in 1979 and practised hospital medicine for 7 years, working mainly in the UK as a registrar in medicine and cardiology.

Following improvements in fortunes at Coopers, Tim was asked to consider being involved in the brewery. He decided to take time off medicine in 1986-87 to study brewing science (MSc, Birmingham), and was awarded the Sir William Waters Butler Award for top student. Tim engaged in medical research and received a Doctor of Medicine (Bristol) in 1990 for research in cardiopulmonary medicine.

He returned home to enter the family company in 1990, starting as Technical Manager, and becoming Operations Manager in 1993, responsible for brewing, packaging and engineering. He later completed his MBA and took on the responsibility as Project Director for the design and construction of the new brewery at Regency Park.

Tim is now Managing Director of Coopers Brewery and sustains the workload of MD duties whilst still keeping a close eye on the brewing side of the business as Chief Brewer.

Tim was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2008 Queen’s Honours for service to the brewing industry, particularly through environmentally sustainable production and manufacturing practices, to professional organisations, and to the community.

Tim has served on numerous Boards including Anglicare, The Royal Flying Doctors and as Chair of the University of Adelaide Alumni Council. In 2016, Tim was elected Deputy President of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling for a two-year term.