UN International Year of Cooperatives

Published: 21st September 2012

RDA Mid North Coast (New South Wales) is hosting the UN International Year of Cooperatives (UN-IYC) national conference in Port Macquarie on 24—26 October 2012. 

This year is International Year of Cooperatives and the event is a rare opportunity for Australian cooperative businesses to come together to celebrate and share their success.

The conference is a unique opportunity to hear national and international cooperative business leaders speak about the benefits of running a cooperative. Speakers will include chairs and CEOs of some of Australia’s most successful cooperatives and mutuals including NRMA, Murray Goulburn, CBH, Capricorn Society, Norco and Dairy Farmers.

The conference discussion will focus around the role of cooperatives and mutuals in building stronger more resilient regional economic hubs. Other topics will include devolving a greater part of public service delivery to communities and the role that cooperatives could play in a budgetary constrained environment. There will be particular discussion around housing, health, aged care, education, renewable energy and food distribution networks.

This conference is relevant to local government, small business representatives, community leaders, economic development and planning officers, jobs networks and enterprise development centre managers, academics and researchers.

It will also offer skill development opportunities for those working in regional and local economic planning and stimulus programs, community services and social enterprises.

For more information, visit the International Year of Cooperatives Australia website.

For more information, visit the RDA Mid North Coast website.

(Pictured above) Elizabeth McGregor Director North Coast TAFE, Peter Tregilgas Executive Officer RDA Mid North Coast, Cameron Marshall Manager ABC Mid North Coast.