The Board of the Brewers Association of Australia comprises leaders in beer production with decades of experience both within Australia and globally. The Board has responsibility for the day-to-day management of the organisation, including:
- Oversight of the Brewers Association of Australia’s annual budget;
- Setting and implementing the priorities for the Association, as well as agreeing on courses of action in implementing the Strategic Plan in accordance with agreed policy imperatives;
- Establishing Committees;
- Receiving advice from Committees and the Secretariat; and
- Appointing the Chief Executive Officer.
The Board also makes decisions on the admittance of new members, based on the guidelines and criteria within the Brewers Association of Australia Constitution…
james brindley – chair
James Brindley was appointed Managing Director, Lion Australia in May 2024.
Previously, James had twenty-eight years with Lion including twelve years as Managing Director of Lion Australia, finishing in December 2021.
James is a board member of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Brewers Association of Australia and has been on the board of DrinkWise Australia.
James is very passionate about the liquor industry.
Dr Tim Cooper AM
Tim is an icon of Australian brewing. A fifth-generation brewer, he is Managing Director and Chief Brewer of Coopers Brewery in Adelaide.
Tim began his professional life as a doctor, completing medical studies (MBBS, Adelaide) in 1979. He practised hospital medicine for nine years, working mainly in the UK as a Registrar in medicine and cardiology. He conducted medical research in Bristol to complete a Doctor of Medicine (MD, Bristol) in 1990.
He has written several papers on the investigation of pulmonary embolism, along with other papers on cardiopulmonary disease. Tim took time off medicine in 1986-87 to study Brewing Science (MSc, Birmingham) before joining the family company in 1990.
After starting in the brewery as Technical Manager, Tim became Operations Manager in 1993 and, subsequently, Operations Director in 1997. He studied part-time from 1995-97, obtaining an MBA from the University of Adelaide in 1998. From 1999-2001 he was responsible, as Project Director, for the development of the construction of Coopers Brewery at Regency Park. He became Managing Director in 2002.
In 2018 Tim was elected President of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, the largest global professional body representing brewers, distillers, maltsters and cider makers.
Tim was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2008 for service to the brewing sector, particularly through environmentally sustainable production and manufacturing practices, to professional organisations, and to the community.
Nigel parsons
Nigel was appointed Chief Commercial Officer of Asahi Beverages in April 2025, overseeing the alcohol and non-alcohol commercial and sales functions across Australia and New Zealand.
Nigel has a well-earned global reputation in the food and beverage industry for delivering sustainable growth and profit. He is a highly engaging leader with over 30 years’ experience in the branded food industry that spans general management, sales, mergers & acquisitions and strategy & transformation.
Nigel career started with Pepsi Co, before spending 20 years with Mondelez across South Africa, Australia, Asia in various roles across Sales, Regional Sales, General Management and finally running Sub Sahara Africa before joining Asahi as CEO of the Non-Alcoholic Division.
Over the last 4 years, Nigel has reframed the business model into a Category, Consumer and Customer led organisation. Nigel has positioned the organisation to deliver accelerated growth, through a strong acquisition plan, exceptional in market execution and building a strong innovation and success with our customers.
In addition to his role at Asahi and Brewers Association, Nigel contributes to the broader industry as a board member of the Brewers Association and Australian Food & Grocery Council.