Episode 30

Family Brew: How Coopers Built a Multigenerational Legacy

Purpose of Wealth Podcast

About the episode

What’s the secret to building an enduring family legacy that spans over 160 years?

In this episode of The Purpose of Wealth, fifth and sixth generation members of the iconic Coopers Brewery, Melanie Cooper and Andrew Cooper share some of the highs, lows, and lessons with host Narelle Hooper.

From its early beginnings in Adelaide in 1862 when founder Thomas Cooper brewed up an ale as a tonic for his sick wife Ann, Coopers is now Australia’s largest independent family-owned brewer, brewing more than 80 million litres a year with its sights set on sustainable growth and impact.

Discover how this iconic Australian family keeps its entrepreneurial spirit (or should that be ale?) alive and kicking

Featuring

Narelle Hooper - Host

During more than 25 years as a business and finance journalist and editor Narelle has worked for Australia’s leading media groups including the ABC, Fairfax Media and SBS TV. She’s a former Editor of the Australian Financial Review’s BOSS Magazine and was founding co-chair of the Financial Review’s Women of Influence Awards.

Narelle is also a member of the board of the The Ethics Centre. She has held a number of non executive director roles over the past decade, including with the Tasmanian Development Board, the Documentary Australia Foundation and with women's entrepreneurship accelerator SBE Australia, which runs the Springboard Enterprises program.

Melanie Cooper - 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.

Andrew Cooper - 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.