Graham Cooley
{{Short description|British entrepreneur and investor}}
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| name = Graham Cooley
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| birth_date = 1964
| birth_place = Slough, England
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| nationality = British
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| education = BSc (Hons), PhD, MBA
| alma_mater = University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, Brunel University, University of Bradford, University of Oxford
| occupation = Entrepreneur & Investor
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| father = Mike Cooley
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Graham Cooley PhD (born 1964) is a British entrepreneur and investor, known for his contributions to energy storage and hydrogen technologies.Chris Baraniuk,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55763356|title=The global race to produce hydrogen offshore|publisher=bbc.com|date=12 February 2021|accessdate=27 April 2025}}Joe Buchanunn,{{cite web|url=https://www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/New-honorary-professor-to-deliver-a-'power-up'-for-the-Brunel-Hydrogen-Group|title=New honorary professor to deliver a 'power up' for the Brunel Hydrogen Group|publisher=brunel.ac.uk|date=2 August 2024|accessdate=27 April 2025}} Over a career spanning more than 35 years serving as leader in notable British companies, Cooley continues to play a significant role in the advancement of sustainable energy technologies.Gayle Rouncivell,{{cite web|url=https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/business/new-chairman-takes-helm-at-lancaster-based-nanosun-ltd-4095958|title=New chairman takes helm at Lancaster-based NanoSUN Ltd|publisher=lancasterguardian.co.uk|date=6 April 2023|accessdate=27 April 2025}}
Early life and education
Graham Cooley was born in Slough, England in 1964 to Mike Cooley, an engineer, writer, and trade union leader and Shirley Cooley, a physics teacher.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/mike-cooley-obituary-champion-of-human-centred-innovation-1.4351591|title=Mike Cooley obituary: Champion of human-centred innovation|publisher=irishtimes.com|date=12 September 2020|accessdate=27 April 2025}} He studied physics at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (now Cardiff University), earning a BSc (Hons) in 1985.{{cite web|url=https://www.climate-change-solutions.co.uk/speaker/dr-graham-cooley/|title=Speakers CEO, ITM Power - Dr Graham Cooley|publisher=climate-change-solutions.co.uk|date=|accessdate=27 April 2025}} He completed his PhD in Materials Physics at Brunel University in 1989, where he currently holds an honorary professorship. Cooley later pursued an MBA at the University of Bradford and a Diploma in Managing Innovation from the University of Oxford.
Career
Cooley began his professional career at the Central Electricity Research Laboratory (CERL) in Leatherhead in 1989, working as an R&D Manager. {{cite web|url=https://www.research-tree.com/newsfeed/article/pineapple-power-corp-corporate-update-2355095|title=Pineapple Power Corp - Corporate Update
|publisher=research-tree.com|date=18 April 2024|accessdate=27 April 2025}} Following the privatisation of the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) in 1990, he joined National Power PLC, where he contributed to the development of the Regenesys energy storage technology.{{cite web|url=https://hydrogen-central.com/dr-graham-cooley-appointed-chairman-nanosun-ltd/|title=Dr Graham Cooley appointed Chairman of NanoSUN Ltd|publisher=hydrogen-central.com|date=7 April 2023|accessdate=27 April 2025}} He later served as Business Development Manager at both National Power and International Power PLC.
In 2000, Cooley was appointed CEO of Antenova.{{cite web|url=https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=1323-15862109-10VF10MLPTKACE67J8BBOJE7B7|title=Appointment of Dr Graham Cooley to Chair H2 Green
|publisher=markets.ft.com|date=6 March 2023|accessdate=27 April 2025}} During his leadership, Antenova secured £9.4 million in venture capital funding and expanded its wireless communication product offerings before it was later acquired by discoverIE in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.lightreading.com/business-management/antenova-grabs-9-4m|title=Antenova Grabs $9.4M|publisher=lightreading.com|date=1 August 2002|accessdate=27 April 2025}}
Cooley subsequently became CEO of Metalysis in 2003, a University of Cambridge spin-out company. From 2007 to 2009, Cooley led Sensortec, Universal Sensors, and Cawood PLC, focusing on industrial diagnostics and biosensor technologies.
In 2009, Cooley was appointed CEO of ITM Power PLC, a manufacturer of electrolysers for green hydrogen production.Ed Wiseman,{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/hydrogen-mobility-gets-88m-boost/|title=Hydrogen mobility gets £8.8m boost|work= |publisher=telegraph.co.uk|date=26 March 2018|accessdate=30 April 2025}} Cooley served as a member of the UK Government’s Hydrogen Advisory Council and chaired the ESG Committee at RenewableUK.
Since 2023, Cooley has held several non-executive roles, including Director at Cadent Gas and Board Member of the Cadent Foundation. He currently works at Light Science Technologies Holdings Plc, as Non-Executive Chairman from 2024,Jamie Ashcrof{{cite web|url=https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/1042628/light-science-technologies-appoints-graham-cooley-as-chair-1042628.html|title=Light Science Technologies appoints Graham Cooley as chair|publisher=proactiveinvestors.co.uk|date=7 March 2024|accessdate=27 April 2025}} and CAP-XX Ltd., as Chairman from 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/UK/XLON/CPX/company-people/executive-profile/58171233|title=Graham Edward Cooley Chairman, CAP-XX Ltd |publisher=wsj.com|date=|accessdate=27 April 2025}}
Academic and professional recognition
Cooley holds the title of Honorary Professor at Brunel University, London. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET), and the Energy Institute (FEI). He received the Bessemer Society Lifetime Fellowship Award and has been named multiple times in the GreenFleet 100 list recognising his contributions to the decarbonisation of transport.{{cite web|url=https://gf100.greenfleet.net/graham-cooley|title=Graham Cooley Strategy Consultant, ITM Power|publisher=gf100.greenfleet.net|date=6 January 2025|accessdate=27 April 2025}}
Personal life
Cooley divides his time between Yorkshire and Oxfordshire, where he lives with his wife and daughter.
References
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External links
- [https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamcooley/ Dr. Graham Cooley] on LinkedIn
- [https://x.com/DrGrahamCooley Dr. Graham Cooley] on X
- [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Graham-Cooley Dr. Graham Cooley's profile] on ResearchGate
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Category:British businesspeople
Category:Alumni of the University of Bradford