The Co-op Federation/Co-operatives Research Group Virtual Symposium

Presented by the Co-operatives Research Group, The University of Sydney and The Co-op Federation.

Co-operative education has been a significant priority within the co-operative movement to highlight the benefits of the ‘co-operative difference’ to co-operative members. It was enshrined as one of the original co-operative principles formulated by the Rochdale Pioneers in the UK and remains one of the current seven co-operative principles of the International Co-operative Alliance, the peak international co-operative organisation, alongside training and information. Co-operative education has been seen as a significant factor in explaining the spread of the co-operative movement and the failure of some established co-operatives to commit sufficient resources to co-operative education has been seen as a significant factor in their demise.

This symposium will explore the various approaches to co-operative education for members both past and present ranging from co-operative libraries to social media. It will also examine co-operative education for members in practice through case studies. Overall the symposium highlights why co-operative education is crucial for sustaining and expanding co-operatives.

The symposium is virtual and registration is free.

Speakers

Rebel Black

Rebel Blacks’ mission in life is to #thrive, #heal and #evolve. She is a human agronomist and syntropic entrepreneur. She founded THE RW Collection, a socially conscious company that incubates enterprises focused on community wealth building - which she operates from her office on the opalfields in Lightning Ridge, Outback NSW. In 2021 Rebel led a ‘community exit’ as her company was acquired by a newly formed Cooperative. THE Rural Woman Cooperative’s mission is the advancement of rural women and girls. Rebel has received multiple national and global awards for her work with rural women and technology.

Sam Byrne

Sam provides expert support, advice and training to all types of co-operatives including governance workshops, and strategic planning and conflict resolution services. He is also a former Mayor, and a former director of a large superannuation fund with more than $10 billion in assets. Sam holds a Masters of Management from the University of Technology, Sydney and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Fi Emberton

Fi Emberton is responsible for member engagement and retail layout/ presentation at Maple Street Co-op. She has worked as a consultant to retailers, visitor attractions and to government service centres for over 20 years. Her career began as a management trainee at Marks and Spencer UK. She has been involved in environmental activities for over 40 years.

Claire Fountain

Clare Fountain is a regionally based award winning consultant with 20+ years’ experience. In this time, Clare has supported purpose driven groups to develop viable business models for their organisations and collaborations. She has demonstrated experience in developing and accessing financially viable and sustainable business models that maintain a strong connection to their vision and purpose. Clare has also been a mentor and consultant in two national co-op development programs: Farming Together and Co-operative Farming and has completed the ‘Co-operatives and Mutuals Strategic Development Program’ run by AIM/UWA. Clare is currently supporting the BCCM to ensure their Education program meets the needs of BCCM members and the co-operative and mutual sector.

Allan Gordon

Allan Gordon is currently the CEO of the Hastings Co-operative Limited; A member owned co-operative with 5 separate business divisions; Supermarkets and Liquor, hardware and rural supplies, bulk and retail fuel, department stores and car rental. Located on the Mid-North Coast of NSW the Co-op employs over 380 local people and has a turnover more than $110M. Established in 1916 by local farmers as Dairy Co-operative it has evolved into a retail Co-op with around 5,000 active members and 11,000 loyalty club members. Allan was previously the Chair the Holiday Coast Credit Union and sat on the Board of Regional Australia Bank until retiring from the Board in November 2021. Allan also has a background in consulting, specialising in legal practice management and managed investment scheme compliance. In a previous life he worked for the ANZ Bank where he developed expertise in business lending and relationship management. Allan holds a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Monash University as well as a Graduate Diploma in Education from the Queensland University of Technology.

Peter Pamment

Peter Pamment is a passionate co-operator having being involved in many of the Maleny Cooperatives since 1981. He was instrumental in the Maleny Credit Union’s success as both a banking system developer and a board member. He volunteered and consulted in the Pacific region on micro-finance and credit union development. Currently he is the Business Manager at the Maple Street Co-op leading the staff team and implementing the Co-op’s strategy.

Greg Patmore

Greg Patmore is professor emeritus of business and labour history and chair of the Cooperative Research Group in the University of Sydney Business School. His current research projects include the Visual Historical Atlas of Australian Co-operatives. His recent publications include A Global History of Co-operative Business (Routledge, 2018, with Nikola Balnave), and Innovative Consumer Co-operatives. The Rise and Fall of Berkeley (Routledge, 2020).

Kristin Sinclair

Kristin Sinclair brings over 24 years of experience running Webgirl Consulting, a digital and website consultancy business that elevates its clients digital presence and communications. Webgirl Consulting develops tailored online solutions for global, national, regional and small co-operatives, having worked with the ICA, BCCM, The Co-op Fed, Farming Together and a range of small to medium-sized co-operatives in a variety of sectors. Kristin is skilled at providing high-quality online solutions to organisations of all sizes, sectors and budgets.

Tom Webb

Tom Webb is a political economist who has had a varied career as a welfare worker, an adviser to two Canadian cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister, a consultant, a senior manager in a large co-operative, Director of the St. Francis Xavier University Extension Department. In the St. Mary’s University Sobey School of Business he oversaw the creation of the English speaking world's only Masters level co-operative management degree located in a business school. He has more than 35 years involvement with co-operatives and credit unions as a board member, manager and consultant. Mr. Webb has been a speaker at cooperative events in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and India. He is currently Adjunct Professor at Saint Mary's University, was a key organizer of Imagine 2012: The International Conference on Co-operative Economics. He retired from teaching in 2019 but still supervises Final Research Papers, writes, works on co-operative public policy proposals, and research.