James Drake (businessman)
James Drake | |||
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| Born | Paris, France | ||
| Nationality | French | ||
| Citizenship | France | ||
| Education | University of Leeds | ||
| Alma mater | BSc in Biochemistry | ||
| Occupation |
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James Drake is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the Chairman and Founder of The Drake Foundation, and founder of The Future Science Group. He is a prominent figure within the professional Rugby union|rugby and football health and welfare debate.[1]
Early life and education
Born in Paris, France, Drake spent his early years in Tondu, South Wales and Devon, before settling in Cardiff, Wales. Drake attended the University of Leeds, where he achieved a BSc in Biochemistry.
The Drake Foundation
In 2014, Drake launched The Drake Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation committed to understanding and improving the health and welfare of sporting athletes who participate in contact sports. Since launch, the foundation has committed over £2.2 million into research and resources across various sports and competition levels, working with sports organisations, leading UK universities and governing bodies.[2]
In July 2021, James Drake and The Drake Foundation published the Drake Biomarker Rugby Study, a landmark research into abnormalities in brain structure within professional rugby players.[3] The study gained worldwide coverage and prompted response from governing bodies within the sport[4][5][6]
In July 2021, Drake appeared on BBC One's Morning Live to discuss the study, specifically the neuro-imaging section of the research.[7]
Later that month, James was interviewed by ITV News, where he called for player health within rugby to “be taken more seriously".[8] Drake also appeared live on LBC|LBC Radio to discuss the study with host Iain Dale, where he called for a review of health protocol within professional rugby.
Drake's comments have also been featured in leading French daily newspaper, L'Équipe|L'Equipe, Ireland's Raidió Teilifís Éireann|RTE and Australia's The Sydney Morning Herald|Sydney Morning Herald.[9][10][11] James has also been at the forefront of other leading brain health studies across football and rugby, with University College London describing him as “pioneering work in this field in the UK”.
Career
In 2003, Drake founded the Future Science Group, a progressive publisher focussed on medical, biotechnological and scientific research around the globe.[12] In 2015, James launched the Drake Calleja Trust, an organisation that provides music grants to those with exceptional musical talent from predominantly socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.[13]
In 2019, the Drake Calleja Trust launched The Drake YolanDa Award, which recognises and supports emerging artists across the UK. Drake launched the initiative with award-winning musician and BBC Music ambassador, YolanDa Brown.[14]
Other work
James is an amateur painter and has created a number of private works for a host of well-known figures and organisations. One of his most well-known pieces depicted the moment when UK Prime Minister, Theresa May signed the Withdrawal from the European Union|Article 50 letter that officially committed the UK to leaving the European Union. The painting generated attention in the UK media and was subsequently purchased by May in a private sale.[15]
References
- ↑ Matters, Business (2020-07-28). "James Drake: 20 years of philanthropic achievements". Business Matters. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ↑ "About us". The Drake Foundation. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ Overman, Deborah. "Could Playing Rugby Rewire the Brain? - Physical Therapy Products". Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ "Drake Foundation calls for more research into heading". SkySports. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ World, Rugby (2021-07-23). "New rugby concussion reports call for action on brain trauma". Rugby World. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ "Half of elite rugby players showed changes in brain volume, concussion study finds". The Japan Times. 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ The Drake Rugby Biomarker Study on BBC's Morning Live, retrieved 2021-08-31
- ↑ "'Buck passing' over sport concussion protocols slammed by MPs". ITV News. 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ "Une étude sur les commotions démontre des changements de volume du cerveau de la moitié des joueurs de rugby de haut niveau". L'Équipe (in français). Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ Proszenko, Adrian (2021-07-22). "Study shows one in four elite rugby players could have brain damage". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ "Concussion study findings 'will scare certain players'". 2021-07-22.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ↑ "Meet the team". Future Science Group. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ Munbodh, Emma (2019-02-25). "15 weird and wonderful bursaries that could get you into university for free". mirror. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ "YolanDa Brown and James Drake announce new music prize for emerging young artists". Music Mark. 2019-02-22. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ Yorke, Harry (2018-03-30). "Theresa May buys portrait of her signing Article 50". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
External links
This article "James Drake (businessman)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.