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Ariel Guarco

ICA President | President of the Cooperative Confederation of the Argentine Republic (COOPERAR)
Ariel Guarco
  • Ariel Guarco

    He is a cooperative leader that has undertaken a cooperative movement development process in his country and has built strong bonds with the rest of the cooperative movement in the American continent by becoming Cooperatives of the Americas’ Board member and through other regional integration sectors.

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António Guterres

United Nations Secretary-General
António Guterres
  • António Guterres

    António Guterres is a Portuguese politician and diplomat. Since 2017, he has served as secretary-general of the United Nations, the ninth person to hold this title. A member of the Portuguese Socialist Party, Guterres served as prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002.

     

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Udai Shankar Awasthi

Managing Director - IFFCO
Udai Shankar Awasthi
  • Udai Shankar Awasthi

    Dr. Udai Shanker Awasthi, born on July 12, 1945, is the Managing Director of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), the largest fertilizer producer and marketer in India. Graduating in Chemical Engineering from Banaras Hindu University in 1967, Dr. Awasthi began his career at Shriram Chemical Industries and later held significant positions in Zuari Agro-Chemicals, PPCL, RCF, IFFCO, and KRIBHCO. In 1993, he became IFFCO's Managing Director, substantially increasing its production capacity and turnover.

    Under his leadership, IFFCO's turnover surged from Rs. 1,405 crore in 1992-93 to Rs. 39,330 crore, and its profit after tax increased from Rs. 116 crore to Rs. 2,443 crore by 2023-24. Dr. Awasthi also chaired the Fertiliser Association of India and served as President of the International Fertiliser Industry Association. He has represented the industry at various high-level international forums, including the United Nations.

    Dr. Awasthi has been instrumental in various initiatives, including the creation of the IFFCO Kisan Sewa Trust, the launch of bio-fertilizers, NANO Fertilisers and the establishment of several organizations aimed at rural development. He is also involved in numerous national and international companies and has received many prestigious awards for his contributions to the fertilizer industry and cooperative development. He featured in most influential 50 persons list by Fame India.

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Tshering Tobgay

Prime Minister of Buthan
Tshering Tobgay
  • Tshering Tobgay

    The Hon'ble Tshering Tobgay, born on September 19, 1965, is the current Prime Minister of Bhutan, re-elected in January 2024 after his initial term from 2013 to 2018. A pivotal figure in Bhutan's transition to parliamentary democracy, he co-founded the People's Democratic Party, Bhutan's first registered political party, and continues to serve as its president.

    The Prime Minister's academic journey includes a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Before entering politics, he was a dedicated civil servant, focusing on policies to enhance technical education and vocational training in Bhutan.

    A strong advocate of Gross National Happiness, The Prime Minister has spoken globally on leadership, conservation, climate change, poverty, and happiness. His commitment to social welfare is evident in his founding of Bhutan’s first Youth Center and the Education Staff Welfare Scheme. His contributions have been recognized with honors such as the Royal Orange Scarf (2008, 2013), the Royal Lungmar Scarf (2014), the German Sustainability Award (2016), and the Distinguished Leadership Award (2022).

    Married to Tashi Doma with two children, the Prime Minister balances his public life with personal interests in volunteering, trekking, bicycling, archery, and music.

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Paula Narváez

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations in New York
Paula Narváez
  • Paula Narváez

    Ambassador Paula Narváez is currently the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations in New York. Her Excellency Paula Narváez assumed her duties as Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations on 08 June 2022. Ambassador Narváez was the seventy-ninth President of the Economic and Social Council from July 2023 to July 2024. Before this latest appointment, Ms. Narváez was the Officer-in-Charge at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) in Guatemala, from February to May 2022. She also served as Socio-Political Adviser at the UN-Women Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, from October 2021 to February 2022, and Regional Adviser for Governance and Political Participation in the same office, from 2018 to 2020. Between 2016 and 2018, Ms. Narváez was Minister Secretary General of Government, and she served as a Presidential Adviser from 2014 to 2016. From 2012 until 2014, she was a Latin America and Caribbean Section Program Specialist at UN-Women, based in New York. Following the eruption of the Chaitén Volcano in Chile in May 2008, Ms. Narváez served as the delegate of then-President Michelle Bachelet to the Chaitén Volcano Emergency, from 2008 to 2009. She has also held a number of other Government positions. Ms. Narváez earned a master’s degree in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University in the United States; a master’s degree in economics and regional management from the Universidad Austral de Chile; and a degree in psychology from the Universidad Nacional Andrés Bello, also in Chile.

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Jokin Diaz

Director of Social Economy in the Basque Government
Jokin Diaz
  • Jokin Diaz

    Director of Social Economy in the Basque Government since 2016.

    Mr.Jokin Diaz has been committed to social cohesion. He has focused his work in the Basque Government on promoting decent and quality employment that really  puts the person at the centre.

    He has been developing the values of the Social Economy and Cooperativism in the companies of the territory, as a fundamental pillar of the economy of the Basque Country and a hallmark of the Basque productive fabric.

    He has been working intensively in developing policies to promote a business network and promoting economic policies that stimulate the Social Economy. In order to guarantee future generations to be able to develop “another way of doing business”

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Abdelfattah M. Q. Al-Shalabi

Director General of the Jordan Co-operative Corporation (JCC)
Abdelfattah M. Q. Al-Shalabi
  • Abdelfattah M. Q. Al-Shalabi

    Mr. Abdelfattah M. Q. Al-Shalabi has been serving as the Director General of the Jordan Co-operative Corporation (JCC) since 2021. He has actively contributed to the preparation and launch of the National Strategy for the Cooperative Movement (2021-2025). His extensive experience includes representing Jordan at various Arab and international conferences and Ministerial meetings. He brings expertise in financial management, accounting systems, and cooperative policy development. He is deeply engaged in promoting the role of Jordanian women and youth in cooperatives, as well as enhancing the agricultural sector’s credit tools and mechanisms. Additionally, Mr. Al-Shalabi holds significant memberships, serving as Vice Chairman of the JCC Board of Directors, Vice Chairman of the Arab Cooperative Union (ACU) in Cairo, and holding board positions at the Economic and Social Council of Jordan (ESC), Agricultural Credit Corporation (ACC), National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), and the International Cooperative Fisheries Organization (ICFO). He holds a Master’s degree in Banking and Financing for Development from the University of Bergamo in Italy (1998) and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Yarmouk University in Jordan (1988).

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Agnes Mathis

Director, Cooperatives Europe
Agnes Mathis
  • Agnes Mathis

    Mrs. Mathis is currently director of Cooperatives Europe, the European organisation representing cooperatives at European level. Lawyer, graduated from the University of La Sorbonne (DESS Droit public et européen), she has worked within Barlow, Lyde and Gilbert sollicitors (London) and Wiener statische Insurance Group (Vienna). She then
    has worked in the Cooperative mouvement. After being responsible for European Affairs at Febecoop (the Belgian federation of co-operatives), in 2006 she took over the position of deputy director at Cooperatives Europe, where she was responsible for advocacy and institutional relations. She was appointed Director in June 2016. Representing 176.000 enterprises accross Europe, CE advocates to create a level playing fields between coops and other forms of enterprises at trans-sectoral level and supports projects for the development of cooperatives

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Aicha Errifaai

General Director of the Office of Cooperation Development in Morocco
Aicha Errifaai
  • Aicha Errifaai

    Ms. Aicha ERRIFAAI, is the General Director of the Office of Cooperation Development in Morocco, the organism in charge of the cooperative sector under the tutelage of the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and the Social and Solidarity Economy.

    She was appointed by the Moroccan Government Council on July 24, 2023, and has been working on designing, since her appointment, a strategy to enhance the cooperative sector in line with the aspirations of the new development model, in its section relating to the social and solidarity economy.

    She initially worked in the private sector for two years before joining the Ministry of Economy and Finance in the Budget Directorate, where she gained experience in various fields, including monitoring ministerial sectors and related public institutions in formulating and implementing their sectoral strategies. She also worked on the proper and effective implementation of the organic Law relative to financial legislation through multi-year budget programming.

    Aicha ERRIFAAI is a graduate of the Mohammedia School of Engineers in 2013, and holds a specialized master's degree in "Advanced Public Action in Morocco" from Mohammed VI University of Multi-disciplinary Sciences and the National School of Ponts et Chaussée in Paris. Her studies within this master's program provided her with the necessary skills to prepare, design, and evaluate various public policies.

    Today, as the head of the Office of Cooperation Development, Ms. ERRIFAAI’s aim is to develop and promote the cooperative sector as one of the important fields contributing to Morocco's social and economic development, and lead the sector towards a bright future, aligned with the nation's ambitious development goals.

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Ashish Kumar Bhutani

Secretary Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India
Ashish Kumar Bhutani
  • Ashish Kumar Bhutani

    Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani holds a degree in Medicine (MBBS) from King Georges’ Medical College, Lucknow.  He is an Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer of 1992 batch of Assam-Meghalaya cadre and is presently posted as Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India.

    Before joining Government of India as Secretary (Cooperation), he was posted as Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, in-charge of Departments of Agriculture & Transformation & Development and Chairman of State Level Recruitment Commission for all Grade-III Posts. He has also served earlier as Secretary in the Finance and Urban Development Departments in the State Govt. of Assam as well as District Magistrate in Kokrajhar and Nalbari districts.

    He had earlier also served in Government of India from 2013-2021. Before reverting to Assam in October 2021, he handled the charge of CEO, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), in the rank of Additional Secretary to the Govt. of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. He was instrumental in drafting the PMFBY Scheme which is presently the 3rd largest crop insurance scheme in the world in terms of insurance premium and largest in terms of number of farmers insured. He was also instrumental in drafting the PM-KISAN scheme which is one of the largest income support schemes for farmers in the world.

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Ali Agha Mohammadi

Vice Minister of Interior and Secretary of the Office for Empowering Underprivileged Neighborhoods in Iran
Ali Agha Mohammadi
  • Ali Agha Mohammadi

    Dr. Ali Agha Mohammadi, born in 1951 in Hamedan, Iran. His work experience is as follows:

    • Vice Minister of Interior and Secretary of the Office for Empowering Underprivileged Neighborhoods in Iran since 2021
    • Member of the Expediency Discernment Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 2009
    • Secretary of the Supreme Council for the Supervision of the Implementation of Government Policies (2019 to 2021)
    • Deputy for Supervision and Coordination of Economic Policies for the Vice President (two years)
    • Deputy Director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (5 years)
    • Second vice chairman of the Planning and Budget Affairs Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (1989 to 1992)
    • Representative of the people of Hamedan in the Islamic Consultative Assembly

    Dr. Agha Mohammadi received his PhD in sociology in 2022. Another PhD in management (development). He has a master's degree in economics and social sciences (welfare).

    From his viewpoint, cooperatives are crucial in promoting economic growth, social equity, and sustainable development. He also firmly believes that cooperative development is essential to an inclusive economy. Socially, cooperative development can be viewed as a tool for empowering communities, fostering social cohesion, and promoting democratic decision–making. He believes that the UN’s decision to name 2025 to cooperatives acknowledges their importance as a viable and democratic business model driving positive change in communities worldwide; it also reflects a growing awareness of the need for more inclusive and equitable economic systems that prioritize people capital over profit.

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Ameya Prabhu

President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC)|Founder and Managing Director of NAFA Capital Advisors Pvt. Ltd| Partner in UAP Advisors LLP
  • www.ameyaprabhu.com
  • Ameya Prabhu

    Ameya Prabhu is the President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) & the Founder and Managing Director of NAFA Capital Advisors Pvt. Ltd and a Partner in UAP Advisors LLP. Ameya has been designated as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He is also a writer and the author of “The Rock Babas and other stories”, a book of short stories published by Amazon and sold in over 40 countries globally. He is also the President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

    NAFA Capital is an asset management firm headquartered in Mumbai, India and manages funds in public equities, private equity, venture capital, debt capital markets that invest in the Indianmarket.

    Ameya is also a Partner at UAP Advisors LLP. UAP’s businesses include asset management, principal investing, investment banking, and sustainability in the agriculture space. UAP’s strategic investments include IFFCO Kisan Finance, a rural NBFC; Draslovka India, a chemical manufacturing joint venture with Draslovka from Czech Republic and investments in Ayurveda etc.

    Ameya also serves as the Managing Director of New Age Financial Advisors, UAP’s joint venture with IFFCO, which is the world’s largest farmer’s co-operative organisation. IFFCO’s businesses range from owning Asia’s largest fertilizer company to insurance, lending, chemicals, and other businesses. New Age focusses on investment banking, sustainable investments in agriculture and sustainable agri-inputs.

    The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) established in 1925 and headquartered in Kolkata, India, is the oldest chamber of commerce and industry in India.

    Ameya is a BSc. in Economics, Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick, MSc. in Financial Management from IE Business School, Madrid and has been Awarded a certificate of completion for the Global Leadership and Public Policy ,21st Century Program in April 2022, John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education.

    Ameya is a trustee of Manav Sandhan Vikas Sanstha, an NGO focused on skill training and skill development in rural and semi urban India with an emphasis on job creation for women and the under privileged classes. He is also the Vice Chairman of Konkan Krida Prabodhini, promoting sports in the rural Konkan region of Maharashtra. Ameya is a member of the advisory board of Climate Group India and is also on the board of Miracle Feet India, an NGO focused on elimination of club foot in India. He was formerly the Chairperson of the Young Leaders Forum of the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is also the Brand Ambassador for start-ups in the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

    He is a columnist and his writings have been published by well-known global media outlets such as the Huffington Post, The Quint, Business Today etc

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Ann Hoyt

Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Emerita)
Resource Person
Ann Hoyt
  • Ann Hoyt

    Ann is an Emerita Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she was Chair of the Consumer Science department and a consumer cooperative specialist with a focus on cooperative governance. She has served on many cooperative boards of directors, including the University of Wisconsin Credit Union for 21 years, nine years as chair; the National Cooperative Business Association for 25 years, 2 years as chair; and the National Cooperative Bank for 6 years. She was inducted into the United States Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2015 and became an Emerita Director of the UW Credit Union in 2016. Currently she is Board Chair of the Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, and Board Facilitator for the Willy Street Grocery Cooperative in Madison. 

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Anna Tibblin

Secretary General of We Effect
Anna Tibblin
  • Anna Tibblin

    Anna Tibblin is Secretary General of We Effect, the international development organisation of the Swedish cooperative movement, currently supporting 160 partner organisations in 20 countries around the world.

    She has more than 30 years’ experience in international development and has worked and lived in both Southern Africa (Zimbabwe and Zambia) and Latin America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala).

    Anna works to strengthen the involvement of the Swedish cooperative business sector in international development, advocating for cooperative development, both as a means and a tool for poverty eradication. She is a vocal spokesperson for cooperative solutions and participates regularly in the development debate and in media.

    Anna is convinced that people are stronger when they work together – she often says that she has the privilege of seeing this every day.

    We Effect works to end poverty and hunger worldwide. The strategy is to strengthen the organisation of women and men living in vulnerability so that they can improve their lives and move out of hunger and poverty for good. We Effect was founded 65 years ago and is funded by Swedish cooperative companies, individuals, and through institutional grants. We Effect is the worlds largest cooperative development organisation.

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Arjun Prasad Pokharel

Secretary of the Government of Nepal
Arjun Prasad Pokharel
  • Arjun Prasad Pokharel

    Mr. Arjun Prasad Pokharel, Secretary of the Government of Nepal, is a distinguished leader in the civil service of Nepal with over 30 years of expertise in governance and public administration. Currently serving as Secretary of the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, he is widely recognized for his impactful leadership across multiple government sectors, where he has championed sustainable development, public welfare, and efficient administration.

    Mr. Pokharel’s strong academic background, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Administration (MPA), and Bachelor of Law (BL), reflects his deep understanding of public administration, law, and business management. Throughout his career, he has held a range of senior leadership roles, such as Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, and Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. He has also served as Secretary of the Public Service Commission.

    In his earlier career, Mr. Pokharel held other critical positions, including Provincial Secretary, Chief District Officer, Chief Customs Officer, Chief Tax Administration Officer, and Chief of the Money Laundering Department. His tenure in these roles highlights his unwavering dedication to public service and policy advancement in Nepal. Today, his in-depth knowledge of public financing is pivotal to the ongoing reform in the cooperative sector of Nepal.

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Axel Marx

Deputy Director Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies at KU Leuven
Axel Marx
  • Axel Marx

    Axel Marx is Deputy Director Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies (KU Leuven), an interdisciplinary research centre of the Humanities and Social Sciences at the KU Leuven. He has managed over 80 funded research projects and acted as a consultant to several national and international organizations including  the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions, International Labour Organization, International Trade Centre, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards, UNCTAD, OECD, IDEA, Worldbank, the Belgian, Dutch and German Governments and several private actors. His academic publications (200+) have appeared in five dozen leading international peer reviewed journals and 10 languages. His research interests include voluntary sustainability standards, sustainable trade, human/labour rights, global governance, corporate social responsibility and EU trade policy. He is currently the co-chair of the Academic Advisory Council of the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards, a member of the Evidensia Research Council and a member of the steering committee of the ILO Labour Provisions in Trade Agreements Hub. As a guest lecturer he taught China University of Political Science and Law and several European Universities. He recently developed a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Sustainable Trade and sustainability certification on the EdX-platform: https://www.edx.org/course/sustainable-trade. The MOOC is freely available.

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Bahman Abdollahi

President, Iran Chamber of Cooperatives (ICC)
Bahman Abdollahi
  • Bahman Abdollahi

    Dr. Bahman Abdollahi was born in 1958 in Tehran, Iran. His work experience is as follows:

    • President of Iran Chamber of Cooperatives (ICC) since 2014.
    • Member of the Board of Iran Chamber of Cooperatives (ICC) since 2011.
    • Managing director and chairman of the board of the National Union of Consumer Cooperatives of Iran since 2009.

    Membership in councils, associations, or committees:

    • Supreme Council of Money and Credit
    • Supreme Council of Standard
    • Supreme Council of Higher Education, Vocational and Skills
    • Head of Cooperative Arbitration Organization
    • Board of Trustees of National Development Fund of Iran

    Dr. Bahman Abdollahi received his PhD in Business Administration in 2019.

    He has witnessed firsthand the transformative potential of cooperatives in promoting economic and social well-being. Throughout his career, he has been involved in establishing and managing various types of cooperatives. The cooperative model provides an alternative to traditional business structures, allowing members to pool resources, share risks, and work together toward a common goal. Effective management of cooperatives requires a deep understanding of cooperative principles and values and the ability to balance the needs and interests of individual members. Experience in this field has taught him the importance of strong leadership, clear communication, and ongoing education and training to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of cooperatives.

    The UN has recognized the importance of cooperatives by declaring 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC). This designation presents an incredible opportunity to showcase the achievements of cooperatives and raise awareness about their potential to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.

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Balasubramanian (Balu) Iyer

Regional Director for the International Cooperative Alliance Asia-Pacific (ICA-AP)
Balasubramanian (Balu) Iyer
  • Balasubramanian (Balu) Iyer

    Balasubramanian (Balu) Iyer is the Regional Director for the International Cooperative Alliance Asia-Pacific (ICA-AP), headquartered in New Delhi, India. ICA champions the cooperative social enterprise model and serves as a global platform for cooperatives worldwide. Balu brings a wealth of experience from working with organizations such as the Asia Foundation, International Development Exchange, ActionAid India, and the Aga Khan Rural Support Program. He has also served as Adjunct Faculty at Southern New Hampshire University. His academic background includes a master’s degree in public policy from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School, a Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management from IRMA, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from NIT Durgapur. Balu is the Administrator for the ICA Domus Trust, an Advisor to the Institute for Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (Japan) and serves on the Council of Advisors for the New School’s Institute for the Cooperative Digital Economy in New York.

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Bhima Subrahmanyam

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of NAFSCOB | President of ICBA
Bhima Subrahmanyam
  • Bhima Subrahmanyam

    Bhima Subrahmanyam has been associated with National Federation of State Cooperative Banks (NAFSCOB) in India since 1982. He assumed the position of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) / Managing Director of NAFSCOB in 1990. He has around 50 years of experience in the areas of Rural communication, Rural Development, Agricultural Credit, Cooperatives, Banking etc. He is author of more than 100 Articles, Research Papers, Occasional papers etc. in the above areas. He has been instrumental in formulating Risk Management Policy, Information Technology Security Policy, Operational Manuals for Cooperative Banks, Human Resource policy for banks, Fraud Monitoring guidelines, Cyber Security Advisory Forum etc. He addressed and analysed the impact of Prudential norms on cooperative banks.

    He was elected as President of ICBA in October 2019 in Kigali, Rwanda where he has commissioned and completed the following studies:

    • Regulation and Sustainabilty of Cooperative Banks: A cross country Study

    • Sustainable Development Goals & Objectives Contribution of Cooperative Banks

    • ICBA Members Today: How Do They Contribute and Report on Sustainable Development?

    He has been closely associated with a number of International organisations.

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Blase Lambert

Chief Executive Officer | Confederation of Co-operative Housing
Blase Lambert
  • Blase Lambert

    Blase became involved as a Board member of the UK representative organisation for co-operative housing, the Confederation of Co-operative Housing, in 1997 and has been its Chief Executive Officer since 2014.

    He has been a Board member of Co-operative Housing International since 2015 and its Treasurer since 2017. He was appointed to the Board of the International Co-operative Alliance in June 2022.

    He has provided support and advice to over 125 housing co-operatives and social housing providers in the UK. He has developed training programmes for housing co-operative boards, resident associations and panels and community led housing advisors and co-created the Wayshaper options planning tool for community led housing organisations.

    His areas of expertise are corporate governance, risk management and financial control and he has numerous publications to his name including the Code of Governance for Community Led Housing and Financing Co-operative and Mutual Housing.

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Chiara Carini

Senior Researcher at the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE, Italy)
Chiara Carini
  • Chiara Carini

    Chiara Carini is a senior researcher at the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE, Italy). Her work focuses on data-driven projects investigating the characteristics, evolution and impact of social economy entities. She edited the European Commission's 2024 report on benchmarking the socio-economic performance of the social economy in the EU, as well as Istat-Euricse reports on Italian cooperatives. She has also been involved in the World Cooperative Monitor, a research project analysing the world's largest cooperatives, since its inception.

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Chitose Arai

Vice President of the Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU) | Member of ICA Asia-Pacific Regional Board | Chairperson of ICA-AP Committee on Women
Chitose Arai
  • Chitose Arai

    Ms. Chitose Arai is the Vice President of the Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU), a national federation of consumer cooperatives. She has been involved in the cooperative movement as a member of a primary co-op and has led co-op activities for more than 30 years. She is former President of Co-op Mirai, the largest consumer cooperative in Japan. Currently, she is the member of ICA Asia-Pacific Regional Board and the Chairperson of ICA-AP Committee on Women.

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Cory Efram Doctorow

Blogger| Journalist |Science Fiction Author
Cory Efram Doctorow
  • Cory Efram Doctorow

    Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist. He is the author of many books, most recently THE BEZZLE (a followup to RED TEAM BLUES) and THE LOST CAUSE, a solarpunk science fiction novel of hope amidst the climate emergency. His most recent nonfiction book is THE INTERNET CON: HOW TO SEIZE THE MEANS OF COMPUTATION, a Big Tech disassembly manual. Other recent books include RED TEAM BLUES, a science fiction crime thriller; CHOKEPOINT CAPITALISM, nonfiction about monopoly and creative labor markets; the LITTLE BROTHER series for young adults; IN REAL LIFE, a graphic novel; and the picture book POESY THE MONSTER SLAYER. In 2020, he was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

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Cynthia Giagnocavo

Chairperson of ICA Committee on Cooperative Research|Cátedra (Chair) COEXPHAL-UAL, of Agriculture, Cooperative Studies and Sustainable Development, University of Almeria (Spain)
Cynthia Giagnocavo
  • Cynthia Giagnocavo

    Professor of Management and Business Organisation at the University of Almería, Spain. Master of Environmental studies (York U). Her research focuses on transitions to sustainability in food and agricultural value chains and systems. Expert on cooperatives, innovative business models and collaborative enterprise. President of the Global Board of International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), Committee on Cooperative Research, past president of the ICA CCR European board. Member of the Board of Govenors of the Institut international des coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins.

    She has led numerous European and international projects on Climate Smart Farming, innovative business models, sustainable agri-supply chains, and new technologies and digitalization processes. An experienced Barrister, Solicitor and Attorney qualified in Canada (Ontario), England and Wales and New York State, she has worked in both London and Madrid for the global law firm Clifford Chance LLP in structured finance and banking before switching her attention to social enterprise and cooperative business models. 

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Danilo Salerno

Regional Director, Cooperatives of the Americas
Danilo Salerno
  • Danilo Salerno

    Danilo Salerno is the Regional Director of Cooperatives of the Americas, one of the Regions of the International Cooperative Alliance ICA since 2018.

    Mr. Salerno, originally from Italy, is a specialist in International Development and passionate about multilateralism, with a deep sense of justice, equity and equality.

    He has extensive professional experience in the cooperative movement, both national and international. He studied Political Science at the University of Bologna and completed a thesis on the birth of the cooperative movement and the Chilean social and solidarity economy during the Pinochet dictatorship.

    Mr. Salerno has a master's degree in Non-Profit Organizations and European Project Management (ASVI, Rome) as well as a master's degree in European and International Relations (La Sapienza University, Rome). He also has a diploma in Latin American Studies from the Italian Latin American Institute (Rome).

    Between February 2016 and August 2018, Mr. Salerno served as President of the Private Sector Engagement Working Group of the National Council for Cooperative Development of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Government.

    In his professional career he also has several experiences of direct work with cooperatives and solidarity economy organizations such as Foundations, Fair and Solidarity Trade Associations in Italy and several Latin American countries.

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Diana Dovgan

Secretary General of European confederation of cooperatives in industry and services (CECOP) and International organization of cooperatives in industry and services (CICOPA)
Diana Dovgan
  • Diana Dovgan

    Diana Dovgan holds a Master’s Degree in Political Sciences from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. Since March 2018, she is the Secretary General of CECOP – European confederation of cooperatives in industry and services, and CICOPA – International organization of cooperatives in industry and services. Previously she was Policy Officer for 10 years for both organizations. She is member of the GECES (European Commission’s expert group on social economy), member of the Board of Social Economy Europe and of the Social Platform. From 2004 to 2008, she was a Policy Advisor for the Belgian minister in charge of Social Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

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Doug O’Brien

ICA Board Member |President & CEO National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA)
Doug O’Brien
  • Doug O’Brien

    Doug O'Brien works with the cooperative community, both domestically and internationally, to deepen their impact and influence. NCBA is the primary voice for cooperatives in the United States for using the cooperative business model to empower people in their businesses and communities. Doug has been with NCBA since 2016 and became president and CEO in January 2018. Before coming to NCBA CLUSA, Doug led the work of the White House Rural Council and served in top positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Doug has also worked in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House and for two Governors. O'Brien's experience in academia includes teaching and writing at the University of Arkansas and Drake University Law School. O’Brien was raised on a diversified farm in Dubuque County, Iowa, and holds degrees from Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa), the University of Iowa Law School, and the University of Arkansas Masters in Agricultural and Food Law Program. O’Brien lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife, Alisa and three children. He enjoys biking, travel, his memberships in a number of consumer co-ops and credit unions.

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Erwin Novianto

CEO of Fairtrade Network of Asia & Pacific Producer
Erwin Novianto
  • Erwin Novianto

    Erwin Novianto is a visionary leader in promoting sustainable trade and production, known for his significant contributions to advancing Fairtrade principles and cooperative growth across Asia and the Pacific. As the CEO of Fairtrade Network of Asia & Pacific Producer, Erwin has led transformative initiatives that have empowered thousands of smallholder producers, enhancing their livelihoods through ethical market access and sustainable agricultural practices. With over a decade of experience in regional leadership roles at Fairtrade, he has not only forged strategic alliances that advocate for living incomes, gender equality, and climate resilience but also worked closely with grassroots communities and cooperatives. His deep expertise in cooperative and sustainable supply chain development has made him a driving force in fostering equitable trade and social impact

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Esteban Kelly

Executive Director, the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC)
Esteban Kelly
  • Esteban Kelly

    Esteban Kelly is the Board Chair of NCBA–CLUSA, and a board member of CICOPA. He is the Executive Director for the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC), founding President of the freelancer platform co-op Guilded, and co-founder of AORTA– a worker co-op that has built capacity for hundreds of social justice projects through intersectional training and consulting. He was a co-founder and first board President of the cross-sector Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA) and has served on numerous founding boards including the Democracy At Work Institute, the US Solidarity Economy Network, Mariposa Food Co-op, Climate + Community Institute, and the Platform Co-ops Consortium. Esteban previously served on the boards of the Cooperative Development Foundation and the youth-led co-op association NASCO (North American Students for Cooperation). He was appointed to the Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council under two different mayors, and also co-chaired that council under Mayor Jim Kenny. Esteban is a Ford Global Fellow, A Margaret Burroughs Fellow in the Social Justice Initiative at Univ of Illinois- Chicago, an Executive Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University, and a Fellow with the Equitable Enterprise Initiative at the Institute for the Future.

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Francesca Federzoni

CEO at Politecnica
Francesca Federzoni
  • Francesca Federzoni

    Francesca Federzoni graduated in Engineering and has been working in the Engineering & Architecture consultancy sector since 1994 at Politecnica Ingegneria ed Architettura soc. Coop., where she has served as Business Director and subsequently as CEO from 2011 to the present. Since 2023, she has been the national vice president of Legacoop, the National League of Cooperatives and Mutuals (formerly known as the League of Cooperatives), the oldest and primary association dedicated to the protection and representation of Italian cooperatives. Legacoop brings together over 10,000 cooperative enterprises active across all Italian regions and sectors, with a total membership exceeding 7,400,000.

    Politecnica Ingegneria ed Architettura is one of the leading consultancy firms in Italy. Founded in 1972, the company provides integrated Engineering and Architecture services for the Construction Sector (Building and Infrastructure). With nearly 350 staff and an annual turnover of €30 million, Politecnica operates in Italy and abroad for both public and private clients. The company’s main focus areas are sustainability, gender equality, innovation, and human-centered projects. Politecnica has significant expertise in the restoration of historic buildings subject to the Ministry of Cultural Heritage’s regulations, employing an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to these projects

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Francesca Ottolenghi

Chief of International Relations, Internationalization and Development Cooperation Legacoop Nazionale
Francesca Ottolenghi
  • Francesca Ottolenghi

    Francesca Ottolenghi, expert in international cooperation, she has acquired extensive professional experience within the cooperative movement both nationally and internationally. As biologist, after advanced studies in France and Australia, she founded a women research cooperative in 1995. Since 2005 he has contributed to the foundation of the Haliéus Association - of which she has been Director and today President - as a structure for the implementation of international development cooperation interventions within Legacoop, managing projects in many countries around the world.   From January 2022 she is chief of the International Relations Office and chief of the Sustainability and Cooperation office and Chief of the Equal Opportunity Office of Legacoop and is a professor at the University of Rome La Sapienza in courses dedicated to the use of cooperative business model in international development cooperation projects on "Cooperative business model for sustainable development". Chair of the International Cooperative Development Platform (ICDP) Committee of the ICA.

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Gianluca Salvatori

Secretary General of the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE, Italy)
Gianluca Salvatori
  • Gianluca Salvatori

    Gianluca Salvatori is Secretary General of the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE, Italy), member of GECES (European Commission Expert Group on the Social Economy) and of the United Nations Task Force on the Social and Solidarity Economy, Vice-President of the Italian National Competence Centre for Social Innovation (SEED). Previously, he was a senior manager at the Bruno Kessler Foundation. He was also a member of the Council of the Autonomous Province of Trento (Italy), where he was responsible for research and innovation.

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Giuseppe Guerini

President of CECOP-CICOPA Europa the European Confederation of Industrial Cooperatives and Social Cooperatives
Giuseppe Guerini
  • Giuseppe Guerini

    President of CECOP-CICOPA Europa the European Confederation of Industrial Cooperatives and Social Cooperatives, representing some 50,000 companies with more than 1.3 million workers in Europe, member of the Board in CICOPA and Cooperatives Europe. Member on the board of ICA.

    Deputy President on Social Economy  Europe the voice of 4.3 million social economy enterprises and organisations in Europe. We are the social economy reference point at European level.

    Member of the Board of Confcooperative, charged on relations with European institutions and international representative organizations of the cooperative movement in partnership with Alleanza Cooperative Italiane, the permanent coordination of the three most important Italian associations Agci, Confcooperative and Legacoop, represents around 90% of the national cooperative mouvement with a global turnover of around 150 billions of euro, approximately 1.150.000 employees and more of 12 millions of members.

    Spokesperson for the Social Economy category of the EESC (European Economic and Social Committee). EESC member’s since September 2010 has been dealing in particular with the social economy and social enterprises, employment, finance for SMEs and social enterprises.

    Vice-president of the Fondazione Comunità Bergamasca. A philanthropic foundation that provides funding for the social and cultural sectors in Bergamo.

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Gretchen Hacquard

Director of Membership
Gretchen Hacquard
  • Gretchen Hacquard

    Gretchen Hacquard joined the ICA in 2006 and is the Director of Membership. In this role, she coordinates often with colleagues, regions and sectors to provide better value to members and exchange information. She also supports the Membership Committee of the ICA Board, informs members, and is always happy to provide advice and connect members when asked.

    Like most staff, she wears various hats. As a super user of computers, databases, websites, etc. she also plays the role of Technology Manager where she provides advice to colleagues and coordination for IT coop issues. She is also the coordinator of the ICA Youth Network. She also plays various roles in ICA’s General Assemblies and conferences, mainly voting and registration, as well as other roles depending on the needs of the event. She also supports various ICA Board Committees and Working Groups as relevant.

    Ms. Hacquard comes from the US cooperative movement where she worked primarily in the areas of advocacy and development. She worked with the NRECA International Foundation on strategy and fundraising, consulted for Land O`Lakes International Development Programs, and was Legislative Director of the U.S. Overseas Co-operative Development Council (OCDC) where she not only represented cooperative members with various domestic and international government bodies but also did marketing, institutional development, communications, and management. Prior to that, she worked for United States Senator Max Baucus.

    Gretchen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Montana State University (USA) and a Master’s degree in International Affairs from American University’s School of International Service. She studied music for over 20 years and played her flute for events and tutored. She also attended the University of Bologna’s (Canada) Summer Program for Cooperative Studies as well as the University of Missouri’s (USA) Graduate Institute for Cooperative Leadership

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Guido Schwarzendahl

President of Cooperative Housing International (CHI)
Guido Schwarzendahl
  • Guido Schwarzendahl

    Guido Schwarzendahl owns a Master Degree in Geography, Political Sciences and Sociology and a Business Administrator for Housing.

    He is a board member of Cooperative Housing International (CHI) since 2013 and currently president.

    His primary interest, focus and drive has always been social housing and specifically cooperative housing.

    He is managing director of a housing co-operative since 2001. He is also involved in various committees - both nationally and internationally - with a focus on cooperatives, housing and urban development.

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Hagen Henry

Chairperson of ICA Law Committee |Adjunct Professor, Research Director at University of Helsinki
Hagen Henry
  • Hagen Henry

    Born in 1952 in Germany. High school in Germany and in the United States. Studies in law and French language in Saarbrücken and Geneva; qualification as a German judge in 1981. Post graduate studies in development issues and development law in Geneva and Paris. Licentiate, doctorate and professorship qualification in comparative law at the University of Helsinki.

    Retired from the University of Helsinki since late 2020; Visiting scholar at that university. Prior to working at the University of Helsinki (2011-2020) Henrÿ worked as Chief of the Cooperative Branch of the ILO, as legal advisor to the German Federal Minister of Economy (1983-1991) and at the universities of Geneva and Saarbrücken (1977-1983). Since 1994 Henrÿ has consulted on cooperative policy and legislation in/for some 65 countries for national, regional and international governmental and non-governmental organizations, among which the ILO, the FAO, the World Bank, the EU, the OECD, the International Trade Center, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and the German Cooperative and Raiffeisen Confederation (DGRV). Since 2013 he has coordinated the ICA Cooperative Law Committee.

    Henrÿ has published widely on development questions, land law, comparative law and cooperative law and has been a frequent contributor to seminars and conferences in many countries over many years. He is member of several scientific associations and of editorial boards of scientific journals. Since 2004 he has taught cooperative law and policy and comparative law at several universities and other institutions.

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Hirofumi Kobayashi

Executive Director, Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA)
Hirofumi Kobayashi
  • Hirofumi Kobayashi

    Hirofumi Kobayashi has been in the position of the Executive Director, Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA) since 2019. The Executive Director is responsible for all management-related issues that include supervision of the budget, personnel affairs, organizing seminars and training courses, research and development consultations. The IDACA is an organization specialized in development and capacity building support for cooperative leaders in Asia-Pacific and other parts of the world, and accepted over 6,800 cooperative leaders in 135 countries as participants to its training courses since its establishment in 1963.

    Has over 30 years' experience in international affairs including development cooperation, food security and trade policy at the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA Zenchu) in Japan.

    Had been in the position of Treasurer, Auditor, and Board Member of the World Farmers' Organisation (WFO) respectively in 2010, 2010 - 2014, and 2017 - 2018. Had been a Japanese member to the APEC Policy Partnership for Food Security (PPFS) for over 10 years since 2011. Was born in Hokkaido, northern part of Japan, as a son of family farmer (rice, melon and other vegetables).

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Hiroshi Inamura

Managing Director of the Japanese mutual aid insurer, Kokumin Kyosai co-op (KKC)
Hiroshi Inamura
  • Hiroshi Inamura

    Hiroshi Inamura is the Managing Director of the Japanese mutual aid insurer, Kokumin Kyosai co-op (KKC) (with total assets of approximately 4.0 trillion yen (approximately 25.5 billion US dollars) and annual premium income of approximately 530.8 billion yen (approximately 3.4 billion US dollars)).

    In April 1984, he joined KKC. He has been involved in human resources and labor management, coordination and external affairs with government and related organizations, and business innovation within the organization.

    In addition, he has been the project leader for formulating business quality standards to improve customer satisfaction, and has held his current position since August 2021.

    Currently, he is leading the organization to exceed customer satisfaction by creating excellent customer experience through digital transformation.

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Howard Brodsky

ICA Chair G20 engagement group|Co-founder & Chairman, CCA Global Partners
Howard Brodsky
  • Howard Brodsky

    Howard Brodsky is a world leader of co-operatives and a prolific American entrepreneur. CCA is one of the largest Cooperatives in the United States with sales of over $12 billion. CCA Global Partners services 30,000 childcare centers, 2,000 nonprofits, and over 1,000,000 independent family businesses. 

    Brodsky was the first American to be awarded the Rochdale Award, the “Nobel Prize of Cooperative Business” given every two years to an individual who has made the greatest impact in cooperatives worldwide. Additionally, he received the Business Leader of the Decade Award, Global Leadership Award by the World Affairs Council, inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame, and Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame. He is the Founder and Chairman of Cooperatives for a Better World, a worldwide non-profit, which aims to scale the global cooperative movement. 

    Brodsky is the Global Chairman of the International Cooperative Alliance G20 Working Group. Brodsky is also a published author, and his theory on business can be seen on the highly rated TEDx Talks. Recently, he was invited to speak at the United Nations on the power of the contemporary cooperative. 

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Ibon Zugasti

International Manager at LKS (Consulting Division of MONDRAGON Corporation) | Deputy Director of the Millennium Project Global Futures Think Tank
Ibon Zugasti
  • Ibon Zugasti

    Ibon Zugasti is International Project Manager at LKS Cooperative (www.LKS.es - the Management Consulting Division of MONDRAGON Corporation), Deputy Director of the Millennium Project Global Futures Think Tank (www.millennium-project.org), Member of the Board of Foresight Europe Network – FEN (https://feneu.org/) and Associate Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science (http://worldacademy.org/). Ibon is also the Managing Partner/Director in PROSPEKTIKER – European Institute for Futures Studies and Strategy (www.prospektiker.es), a member of the PREPARE Sustainability Network (http://prepare-net.com/) and is named by Forbes as one of Spain’s 40 leading foresight experts.

    Since 1999, Ibon has led several high impact consultancy and research projects in fields like foresight, regional sustainable development, labor & training and energy for different Governments worldwide (e.g. USA, Canada, UK, Colombia, Uruguay), Cities (e.g. Montreal, Preston, New York City) and Corporations (e.g. Repsol, Telefonica, Iberdrola, Guggenheim). He has also advised the Committee of the Regions of the EU for the launching of a European Platform on Territorial Foresight. In the U.S., Ibon collaborates with North Carolina’s Industrial Commons, the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI) and Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City, Coop Cincy (www.coopcincy.org) in Ohio, and the nationwide 1worker1vote movement (www.1worker1vote.org).

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Ilcheong Yi

Senior Research Coordinator at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
Ilcheong Yi
  • Ilcheong Yi

    Ilcheong YI is a Senior Research Coordinator at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) in Geneva, Switzerland. Originally from the Republic of Korea, he holds a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from Seoul National University and a D.Phil in Social Policy from Oxford University. His research focuses on alternative economies, social policy, and international development cooperation, with a particular emphasis on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), sustainable development performance measurement, and transformative social policy. Prior to joining UNRISD in 2008, he served as an Associate Professor at Kyushu University, Japan, and held academic positions at Malaya University, Malaysia, and Bergen University, Norway.

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Iñigo Albizuri

Global Head of Public Affairs at MONDRAGON Corporation | President at CICOPA | President MUNDUKIDE | ICA Board member ( representing Spain)
Iñigo Albizuri
  • Iñigo Albizuri

    Iñigo Albizuri is industrial engineer of business management (6 years degree) He has spent his all working life in different cooperatives of MONDRAGON Corporation around the world ( Spain, Italy, México, United States and China). He owns multiple patents as the result of his work. He is also the president of MUNDUKIDE , the NGO of MONDRAGON co-operatives, that works setting up new co-operatives in developing countries like Mozambique, Colombia, Brazil or Etiophy. He has been also honored with the prize “Fair Saturday” for his work and capacity of innovation and social impact in the cultural field.

    He is president of CICOPA the international organization of industrial and service cooperatives.

    He is member of ICA Board representing Spain

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Isaac K. Nyamongo

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics, Cooperative Development, Research and Innovation) at the Cooperative University of Kenya
Isaac K. Nyamongo
  • Isaac K. Nyamongo

    Isaac K. Nyamongo is a Professor of Anthropology. He currently serves as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics, Cooperative Development, Research and Innovation) at the Cooperative University of Kenya. He holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Florida, USA and has over 30 years in teaching, research and consultancy. He has supervised and mentored students at Masters and Doctoral levels. Prof. Nyamongo has held research and training grants from many organizations including the European Union, World Health Organization, International Development Research Center, Wenner Gren Foundation and Toyota Foundation among others. His research and training experience spans several countries within the Africa region. Prof. Nyamongo has more than 70 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals. In addition, he has published books and book chapters. Further, he has held visiting Professor positions in the US as a Fulbright Scholar (2009-2010) and in South Africa where he was a Carnegie Mellon Fellow (2012). He is the President of the International Union for Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences and Chairs the Committee on Cooperative Research for Africa and a member of the ICA-Global Committee for Cooperative Research. He has received several awards including a Presidential Honor of the Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS), an International Cooperative Champion from the US Overseas Cooperative Development Council and Pelto International Award by the Society for Applied Anthropology. He maintains a monthly advocacy column for cooperatives in the Daily Nation, Kenya’s leading daily newspaper. Most recently he has led the development of the cooperative transformation strategy for Kenya.

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Jacqui Thomasen

CEO of the Co-operative College
Jacqui Thomasen
  • Jacqui Thomasen

    Jacqui Thomasen is CEO of the Co-operative College, an education provider established in Britain in 1919 with the same mission that we pursue today: to promote co-operative values, ideas and principles for public benefit, and to ensure co-operators are equipped and confident to enact the co-operative difference in their roles.

    Today we support co-operatives in the UK and around the world, welcoming international visitors to the heart of the UK co-op movement for immersive learning visits, collaborating with fellow infrastructure bodies: Co-operative Heritage Trust, Co-ops UK and Coop News, and facilitating learning exchanges between co-ops of all shapes, sizes and sectors. Our curriculum spans the breadth of online self-paced learning, to a newly launched Postgraduate Certificate in Co-operative Studies, executive education workshops and open-enrolment CPD.

    The College is proud to be the UK’s leading International Co-operative Development provider, a specialist service working in partnership with a range of funding organisations and in-country partners to develop co-operative ecosystems which bring sustainable benefit to co-operators, their communities and the economy.

    With a background in Business Schools, it perhaps comes as no surprise that one of Jacqui’s key priorities is to mainstream co-operative education. Our Co-ops on the Curriculum Campaign aims to target education at all stages, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn about co-operative enterprise: a proven model which we believe to be the only viable one for a sustainable and equitable future.

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Jelmer van de Mortel

Head of Acorn, Rabobank Cooperative
Jelmer van de Mortel
  • Jelmer van de Mortel

    Jelmer van de Mortel works for Rabobank to develop innovative, meaningful and pragmatic solutions in the Food & Agri domain and is Head of Acorn. As former strategy consultant at Roland Berger he has ample experience in bringing strategy into practice. During his period at World Food Programme he experienced farmer needs in developing countries at first hand.

    Acorn – Agroforestry Carbon removal units for the Organic Restoration of Nature – is a program being developed by Rabobank to support smallholder farmers in the developing world. Acorn’s mission is to combat climate change, land degradation and food insecurity with an inclusive agroforestry solution. This solution balances competing land use demands in a way that benefits both human well-being and the environment. To do this, Acorn has built a global, transparent and technology-enabled marketplace for carbon sequestration.

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Jeroen Douglas

Director-General - International Cooperative Alliance
Jeroen Douglas
  • Jeroen Douglas

    With over 30 years of experience in sustainable supply chains across the tropics, Jeroen has influenced key commodity markets such as coffee, tea, cocoa, oil palm, soy, bananas, cotton, beef, and gold. His work has mobilised over 700 million consumers globally to choose sustainability and fair trade labels. 

    A staunch advocate for systemic change, Jeroen believes that true sustainability requires a fundamental shift in business structures. They argue that sustainability labels and supply chain efforts alone are not enough. He champions the cooperative model as a powerful counterbalance to unilateral, capital-driven market forces.

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Kendra Faith Prestin

Member of the Aflatoun program of DCCCO Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Kendra Faith Prestin
  • Kendra Faith Prestin

    Kendra Faith Prestin is a 9-year-old Grade 3 pupil from Sagrada Elementary School in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, Philippines. She is a member of the Aflatoun program of DCCCO Multi-Purpose Cooperative, an active Aflatoun partner of NATCCO in the Visayas. She is the daughter of parents who work as grocery store merchandisers. Her family is part of the government's 4Ps Program, designed to help poor people in the community improve their circumstances. Despite her family's financial challenges, Kendra has been able to save through her school’s Aflatoun Savings Program.

    She was recognized as the Top Aflatoun Depositor for the school year 2023-2024 due to her consistent savings, even in small amounts. Even at a young age, Kendra appreciates and values savings as a way to achieve her goals. She actively participates in the laboratory cooperative activities of DCCCO MPC and is also involved in extracurricular activities at her school, joining the Inter-School Folk Dance Competition and the Search for Little Miss Manjuyod, where she won the Congeniality Award. Kendra is an active Girl Scout member and dreams of becoming a nurse someday.

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Kishor Kumar

Chief Project Coordinator of ULCCS
Kishor Kumar
  • Kishor Kumar

    Mr. Kishor Kumar is currently the Chief Project Coordinator of ULCCS. At National Level, he serves as a director of the National Labour Cooperative Federation of India (NLCF), New Delhi, the apex body of 46953 workers/forest cooperatives in India. He was one of the founding members of UL CyberPark, the 1st Information Technology Special Economic Zone developed by a Cooperative and played a pivotal role in making UL Cyberpark one of the top IT/ITeS parks in the country. A Post Graduate in Sociology with PG Diploma in management, Mr Kishor Kumar is also very active in Transformational Social Development Projects in the region. Presently functions as a member in various committees in the Cooperative movement. He has also represented Indian Cooperatives in Spain, Italy, Australia, UK, Sri Lanka, Iran, Thailand and Philippines for propagating innovative ideas in the Coop sector. Kishor Kumar is also very active in Transformational Social Development Projects in the region. He is a certified mountaineer, trained from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkasi, India.

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Leire Muguerza

MONDRAGON President
Leire Muguerza
  • Leire Muguerza

    Mrs. Leire Muguerza holds an Industrial Engineer Degree from Mondragon University and an MBA, “Master in Cooperative Business Management” from Otalora-MONDRAGON Corporation.

    She has worked in various cooperatives of the MONDRAGON Corporation. She began her professional career in 1998, in the industrial area of MONDRAGON, in EIKA S.Coop, where she held various responsibilities, Industrial and Systems Director of the Eika Group. She also became President of the Governing Council in this cooperative.

     In 2007, she continued her career as Managing Director in the Vocational School, “Lea Artibai Ikastetxea”, in the  Knowledge Area of MONDRAGON. Combining this position since 2012 with the Presidency of the Governing Council of Eroski S. Coop, cooperative in the Retailing area of MONDRAGON.

    In January 2022, she was appointed as President of the Congress and the Permanent Commission of MONDRAGON Corporation, a position that she will continue to make compatible with her previous ones.

    Since May 2022 she has been also appointed as 2nd  Vice-President of “CEPES”, Spanish Business Confederation of Social Economy and in November 2022 Board member of the “Consejo Económico y Social de España” in Madrid.

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LuAnn Werner

Deputy Executive Director of the US Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC)
LuAnn Werner
  • LuAnn Werner

    LuAnn Werner is an international development professional serving as the Deputy Executive Director of the US Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC). This is a member-based organization of international cooperative development organizations. Ms. Werner worked for cooperatives and non-profits throughout her career including leading two international cooperative development programs focused on increasing incomes and stimulating economic growth of farmers in several East African countries. Her market access, agriculture and youth development experience span multiple countries throughout Southern and Eastern Africa as well as Asia.

    An enthusiastic networker, she is passionate about using her cooperative knowledge and management skills to promote effective international cooperative development.

    Ms. Werner also serves as a Director on the board of her credit union in Minnesota. She holds a Master of Arts in Sustainable Development from SIT Graduate Institute and a bachelor's degree in social work.

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Manuel Leiva

President of FACTTIC
Manuel Leiva
  • Manuel Leiva

    Manuel Leiva, 33 years old, is the President of FACTTIC, the Argentine federation that brings together technology-based, innovation, and knowledge cooperatives. With more than 40 associated cooperatives, it represents a key player in the sector, adding value every day through technology. Additionally, he is a member and promoter of Patio.Coop, the international community of technology cooperatives that brings together more than 80 entities worldwide. He is a strong advocate for using technology to achieve efficiency, social impact, and sustainability in both productive and social processes. He serves as a mentor in the incubation and support of cooperatives and is a speaker at various conferences and institutes

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Maria Eugenia Pérez Zea

ICA board member| Executive Director of Colombian Association of Cooperatives | Lawyer
Maria Eugenia Pérez Zea
  • Maria Eugenia Pérez Zea

    Lawyer, Specialist in Administrative Law and Socioeconomic Evaluation of Social Projects, leader of the Colombian Cooperative Sector, with extensive experience of more than 20 years, in Cooperative leadership at the Latin American level, holding positions in union organizations such as: Cooperativa de Las Américas, member of the Board of Directors of Confecoop, Gestando, Corporación Verde and CIDE, President of the Board of Directors of the Coomeva Cooperative Business Group.

    In addition, she is Vice President of the Equity Committee of the International Cooperative Alliance and Member of the ICA World Board.

    She is currently the Executive President of the Colombian Association of Cooperatives.

    I consider myself to have a high social commitment, developing strategies through the social and cooperative economy that improve the living conditions of less favored populations and the well-being and empowerment of women.

    Faithful to the cooperative principles and values ​​that allow me to exercise leadership in the national and international sector, always showing the leadership and power of women in favor of cooperative citizen and business well-being.

     

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Melina Morrison

Chief Executive Officer, Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals
Melina Morrison
  • Melina Morrison

    Melina was the driving force behind the formation of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) in 2013 after heading Australia’s Secretariat for the International Year of Cooperatives. Melina has led the movement to historic achievements. Her campaign for access to capital resulted in new laws and more than A$450 million released into Australian cooperatives and mutuals since 2019.

    In partnership with Monash University, Melina has led the industry development of the Mutual Value Measurement Framework© to measure the value of cooperatives and mutuals. She has raised A$24.5 million in government funding for cooperatives in agriculture and care. Melina is leading a project to develop the first reporting framework for cooperatives for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). She is a director of Australian Mutuals Foundation which assists financial cooperatives in South-East Asia.

    Melina has worked for more than two decades in the cooperative and mutual movement including editing the ICA Digest for five years and writing the message platform for the ‘Blueprint for a Cooperative Decade’. She was engaged to write a strategic communications plan and assist ICA’s media outreach in the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives.

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Merav Niv

Head of Cooperative Development, the Kibbutz Movement
Merav Niv
  • Merav Niv

    Merav Niv is an expert in cooperative law. Currently heading the Cooperative Development Unit of the Kibbutz Movement and serving as Senior Legal Counsel for the Kibbutz Movement, Merav plays a key role in advancing cooperative initiatives in Israel and internationally. She is responsible for fostering partnerships across urban and rural sectors, developing cooperative research and education programs, and strengthening cooperative identity.

    Merav’s career includes significant positions such as Chair of the Finance Committee of the Jordan Valley Regional Cooperative, Chair of Kibbutz Gesher, and Head of Legal Department for Cooperative Societies at one of Israel’s leading law firms. Her expertise spans legal advisement on cooperative governance, regulatory compliance, and policy advocacy. Her academic contributions include published chapters in works on the evolution of the kibbutz model. Representing the Kibbutz Movement in various international forums and on ICETT, addressing contemporary local and global challenges that cooperatives face, through innovative ideas, research, education, and cooperation.

    She holds an MA in Political Science from the University of Haifa and an LLB from the same institution. Fluent in Hebrew, English, and highly proficient in Spanish, Merav brings a multifaceted and robust background in cooperative governance, strategic development and research to her work.

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Mirai Chatterjee

Chairperson, SEWA Cooperative Federation
Mirai Chatterjee
  • Mirai Chatterjee

    Mirai Chatterjee is the Director of SEWA’s Social Security team including health care, child care and insurance. She is also the Chairperson of the SEWA Cooperative Federation of 110 informal women workers’ cooperatives. She was the General Secretary of SEWA after its Founder, Ela Bhatt. Mirai is a leader of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), a national union that has organised 2.5 million informal women workers in India obtain work and income security, financial services, organize child care, primary health care, housing with water and sanitation and insurance, among many other activities and support services. She joined SEWA in 1984.

    Mirai serves as Chairperson of the global informal workers and policy-makers network, WIEGO (Women in Informal Employment Globalising and Organising), and is also on the Board of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, among others. She was advisor to the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector. In addition, she was also a Commissioner in the World Health Organization’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health and a member of the High-Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage set up by the Planning Commission of India in 2010. She is a former member of the National Advisory Council (NAC), appointed by the Prime Minister of India in 2010. Currently she serves on two Lancet Commissions on Oral Health and on Re-Imagining Health Care in India.

    She was conferred the Global Achievement award by the School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University.

    Mirai holds a bachelor in History and Science from Harvard University and a Master's in Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins University.

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Nelson Kuria

Group Chairman of CIC Insurance Group
Nelson Kuria
  • Nelson Kuria

    Nelson, a transformational and passionate co-operative leader is the Group Chairman of CIC Insurance Group which he joined in 1998 and became CEO in 2001 and retired as Group MD/CEO in February 2015. He is credited with leading the transformation of CIC from a very small co-operative insurer to one of the top 3 insurance groups in Kenya with 3 subsidiaries and regional footprint in South Sudan, Uganda and Malawi by the time of his retirement.

    Currently, he is also serving as Chairman of Smep Microfinance Bank, Africa International University (private Christian University) and the Institute of Directors of Kenya.

    In the international level of the co-operative movement, he served as board member and Chairman of the Development Committee of ICMIF, Member and facilitator in 3 UN Expert Group Meetings on Co-operatives, Member of ICA Planning Work Group for the Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade, Member of ICA Working Group on the International accounting Standards. In Kenya, he served as the Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Co-operative University of Kenya and Chairman of the National Co-operative Task Force which developed the latest new Co-operative law in Kenya.

    In insurance, he served as Chairman of the Association of Kenya Insurers, board member of Kenya Reinsurance Corporation and College of Insurance of Kenya. He also served as the pioneer Chair of the Working Group on Microinsurance Development of the African Insurance Organization.

    Among others, he has also served as Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Kenya Employers and Association of Microfinance Finance Institutions of Kenya and Member of the Presidential Task Force on Parastatal Reforms.

    Nelson has been honoured with two awards by the president of Kenya for his contribution in co-operative development (Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW in 2005) and Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS in 2011). In the insurance industry he was honoured with the Life Time Achievement Award in 2012 for his role in insurance development in Kenya. In 2017, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in leadership by the Swiss Management Academy. In 2019, in recognition of his outstanding role in promoting good governance he was made a Fellow of the Institute of Directors of Kenya.

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Noel Raboy

President and CEO of CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative
Noel Raboy
  • Noel Raboy

    Mr. Noel Raboy is currently the President and CEO of CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative, which is a cooperative that provides insurance coverage for its members, a leading insurance cooperative in the country and is known for its innovative products and services. Mr. Raboy has been working in the Cooperative sector for over 20 years and has become an advocate for the promotion of cooperatives as a means of achieving economic development and social progress. He has accumulated a broad understanding of the importance of cooperatives in creating opportunities for underprivileged communities and promoting financial inclusivity.

    Mr. Raboy is a founding trustee of the Cooperative College of the Philippines, Concurrent Chair of the Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives Inc.

    He has a degree in Sociology from Xavier University, He earned his MBA at the University of San Carlos and several executive educations in Singapore and United Kingdom and IMD Business School in Switzerland. His passion for social development resonated as a college professor, an active radio broadcaster and founded the Kusgan Volunteer KVI to promote volunteerism and love of our country as the foundation of social progress and democracy.

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Osamu Nakano

Chairperson of CICOPA Asia and Pacific, Vice President of CICOPA Secretary General, Board Member and Director of International Relations of Japan Workers’ Co-operative Union (JWCU)
Osamu Nakano
  • Osamu Nakano

    Osamu Nakano joined Japan Workers’ Cooperative Union (JWCU) in 2014. He has been a board member and director of the international relations department at the JWCU since 2017. He has also served as a researcher of Japan Co-operative Alliance (2018-present), an apex organization of all cooperative sectors in Japan, and visiting researcher of Tokyo University (2019-2021).

    He has served as a chairperson of CICOPA Asia and Pacific, a regional organization of industrial and service cooperatives in the Asia-Pacific region that was established in November 2021, and a vice president of CICOPA, an international organization of industrial and service cooperatives.

    He has been a secretary general of the JWCU since July 2024. He has a rich experience of giving a presentation at various international conferences, organized by the United Nations, ILO, ICA, CICOPA and so on. He has published many articles about cooperative movements, social and solidarity economy and so forth, including “Platform Cooperatives: Toward the Citizen-Centered Digital Platform Economy” (Decoding Platform Capitalism, Nakanishiya Shuppan, Japan, 2023)

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Pete Westall

Chief Values Officer of Midcounties
Pete Westall
  • Pete Westall

    Pete Westall is the Chief Values Officer & part of the Executive team for The Midcounties Co-operative, (www.midcounties.coop), where he has worked for over 30 years.

    Midcounties Co-operative is seen as one of the leading Co-operatives in the UK, in Europe and across the world. They operate a broad portfolio of businesses, including Food, Travel and Childcare on behalf of their 700,000 members, and have a purpose stating that “Through the power of co-operation, we’re building a fairer, more sustainable and ethical future”.

     

    Pete holds accountability to the Board for sustainability and the Society’s Social Responsibility agenda, as well as ensuring Co-operative Values & Principles are at the heart of the Society. He has taken Executive lead on several of the Society’s trading & support functions during his 3 decades with Midcounties, and believes all businesses have a responsibility to the communities in which they trade.

     

    He holds a number of Board positions associated with his Executive role – including as a Board Director of the Younity Joint Venture, as a member of the Leadership Board of Business in the Community and as Chair of Bright Future Co-operative - an organisation dedicated to the employment of survivors of modern slavery.  He was named Co-operator of the Year by Co-op UK members in 2021 in recognition of his work across the UK movement and has spoken at a number of national and international events over recent times, including at the Global Innovation Co-operative Summit in Montreal in September 2023, and at the Cooperatives Europe General Assembly and Symposium in Brussels earlier this year.

    Pete also represents Midcounties on ICETT – the International Co-operative Entrepreneurial Think Tank - formed in 2018 by the ICA to boost cooperatives' entrepreneurial performance. Its members seek to address the global challenges that cooperative enterprises are facing today, through innovative ideas, research, education, and cooperation.

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Preeti Sagar

Playback Singer
Preeti Sagar
  • Preeti Sagar

    Preeti Sagar is a well known playback singer a household name in India. Her rich musical repertoire is an epitome of versatility. It includes Film playback singing, Light songs, Pop songs, classical songs, Nursery Rhymes,  Bhajans, Ghazals, etc. She has rendered these in almost all languages of India.

    She has rendered a number of very popular hits that are remembered over the years…..all time classics. She has won a number of laurels including two Filmfare awards that for her song “My heart is beating in film Julie” and then her iconic, all time classic song “Mero Gaam Katha Paare in film “Manthan.  

    She was chosen to represent India at the international music festival, Tokyo, 1992, where she rendered her very popular number on world peace “Its time to change the world, its time the youth unfurled……..”.

    She was a member of the National Film Awards jury 2005.

    Her contributions span from entertainment, education to social work and public service message Films and a great part of her career has created entertaining and informative products and programmes for Children as she believes that childhood is the most impressionable period in one’s life.

    She came to music to enthral millions of hearts with her voice!

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Puvan J Selvanathan

Human Rights, Sustainability, ESG and SDGs Expert, leading global thinking on Digital Identity and Data Property Rights for workers, farmers and consumers for equity in the Digital Economy.
Puvan J Selvanathan
  • Puvan J Selvanathan

    Over 25 years of global experience the MNC C-suite of MNC to advising Governments and at the United Nations. Handles issues at the nexus of politics, technology and business operations, with a focus on global supply chains.

    Puvan is a former UN Expert on Business and Human Rights (UN Human Rights Council, Geneva), was Head of Food & Agriculture (UN Global Compact Office, New York), and Head, New York Office, of the International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the UN and WTO.

    Before the UN, as Group Chief Sustainability Officer for a MNC, he developed sustainability strategy and operational policies across 22 countries for Plantations, Property, Motors, Energy and Healthcare divisions.

    In 2015 Puvan established the Bluenumber Foundation, a 501c3 New York non-profit to work on issues including Value Chains and Forced Labour.

    An Architect by profession, with an MBA, a DBA in Corporate Sustainability Strategy and completing a PhD in the Human Right to Data.

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Revant Himatsingka

Health crusader (Food Pharmer)
Revant Himatsingka
  • Revant Himatsingka

    Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as Food Pharmer, is a food crusader who is on a mission to make 140 crore Indians become health literate. 

    He has fought and won against several MNCs in the world. He has been instrumental behind many leading companies reducing their sugar content. He has 3.5 million followers across social media and is one of India's most trusted voices on health. 

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Rinky Kumari

Social Entrepreneur
Rinky Kumari
  • Rinky Kumari

    Rinky Kumari is a social entrepreneur from Hutup village in Ranchi, India, where she faced the challenges of growing up in a patriarchal and caste-divided society. Inspired by her mother’s resilience in the face of domestic violence and economic hardship, Rinky began her journey through football. At age 10, she joined Yuwa, a local NGO, and later captained her team in international tournaments in Spain and the USA. These experiences expanded her vision for empowering women in her community.

    After returning home, Rinky re-started her education, coached football, and led life-skills workshops, encouraging girls to challenge societal norms. This fueled her passion for social change, leading her to study Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation at Mondragon University. She has co-founded several ventures in Spain, Germany, and South Korea, all focused on sustainable, community-driven change.

    Rinky’s journey has been featured in several media outlets like Le Monde and the South China Morning Post, and she has spoken at TEDx, the World HRD Congress, and at numerous other platforms.

    Her latest initiative, Ek Saath, addresses women’s health, early education, and financial literacy in rural India. Rinky’s mission is to create long-term, democratic, and sustainable impact through grassroots collaboration

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Roeland Monasch

CEO of Aflatoun International
Roeland Monasch
  • Roeland Monasch

    Roeland Monasch is the CEO of Aflatoun a Social Franchise delivering Social and Financial Education through a network of nearly 400 partner organizations in 100+ countries. Its mission is to inspire youth to socially and economically empower themselves to become agents of change for a more equitable future. Previously, Roeland worked for 20+ years with the UN (UNICEF & WHO), including as UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone, Georgia, and Zimbabwe. He coordinated the UNICEF response during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone (2014-2015).

    In Georgia, he worked with the government on the de-institutionalization of all children living in large orphanages established during the Soviet Union era and managed the humanitarian operation in Abkhazia. In Zimbabwe, he coordinated the UNICEF development programme and protracted humanitarian crisis [2004–2009: Displacement; Cholera; Political violence; Hyperinflation; Collapse basic social services].

    Roeland is married and has a seventeen-year-old daughter.

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Rose Marley

Chief Executive, Co-operatives UK
Rose Marley
  • Rose Marley

    As the voice of the UK’s co-operative movement, Co-operatives UK empowers and supports co- operative enterprise with specialised knowledge and expertise, to grow the co-operative economy and create a fairer society. From football clubs and farms, to convenience stores and pubs, there are more than 7,000 co-operatives in the UK.

    Rose joined Co-operatives UK as CEO in 2021 with a focus on engaging younger generations and building a tech & digital infrastructure capable of co-op innovation in the 21st century. Rose immediately spearheaded the creation of an ambitious new strategy to grow the co-operative economy.

    Rose is also Chair of the International Co-operative Working Group (ICWG) alongside consumer and worker coops and including infrastructure bodies such as the Co-op Heritage Fund, Co- operative College and Co-op News and has championed development work in India & Malawi. In the last few years, driven by the ICWG, the sector has donated £100,000 to female led co- operatives in India to provide emergency Covid aid and provide sustainable livelihoods for 40 young women. With Rose at its head, the ICWG is also developing an international fund which will be launched in 2024 in celebration of 180th anniversary of the Rochdale Pioneers.

    As Chair of ICWG, Rose has also launched co-op Beyond the Music at SXSW in Texas, USA andwas a keynote speaker at both WCM Brazil 2022 and the Global Innovation Forum in Paris, 2021.

    Rose lives in Manchester with her husband and two children.

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Sandra Uwera Murasa

Global Chief Executive Officer at Fairtrade International
Sandra Uwera Murasa
  • Sandra Uwera Murasa

    Sandra is the Global Chief Executive Officer at Fairtrade International, a leading global organization that works to empower producers and consumers to trade fairly and sustainably. She is a Fellow at Eisenhower Fellowships, a prestigious program that connects and inspires leaders from around the world to create positive change in their communities and fields of expertise. She brings more than 20 years of experience at a Senior and Executive management level in private sector development, Business and trade policy negotiations and advocacy, and strategic planning and execution. She has worked in Eastern and Southern Africa and International Markets in Europe, Latin America, North Asia and Pacific.

    As the former Chief Executive Officer at COMESA Business Council, a regional business member services organization and a recognized private sector institution of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), she led the development and implementation of programs and projects that enhanced the competitiveness, profitability, and sustainability of small and medium enterprises, women, and youth in sub-Saharan Africa. She also strengthened the governance, operations, and stakeholder relationships of the organization, and advocated for policy reforms and regional integration at the political and private sector levels.

    Sandra’s expertise is in senior/executive leadership, program management, multi-stakeholder relations, strategic negotiations, resource mobilization, and building strong teams. She is passionate about industry inclusion and sustainability, and has established and worked closely in regional and international markets with strong engagements and partnerships with governments, corporate industries, producers and other private sector actors in Africa and International Markets.

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Sangita Ben

Board Member of SEWA Megha Indigenous Women’s Agricultural Cooperative
Sangita Ben
  • Sangita Ben

    Sangita Ben is an agricultural laborer and Board Member of SEWA Megha Indigenous Women’s Agricultural Cooperative. She has been instrumental in advancing sustainable agricultural practices and health awareness among tribal communities. Sangita Ben organizes women farmers and provides training to them, while also educating farmers on certified seed use, and reducing reliance on unreliable hybrid seeds. Her guidance has enabled farmers to adopt multi-crop farming, improving yields and financial stability. Her work has driven a notable transformation in local agriculture and farmer knowledge.

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Satish Marathe

Cooperative representative to the Reserve Bank of India
Satish Marathe
  • Satish Marathe

    Born on February 1, 1950, Shri Satish Marathe holds Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce and Law (Gen) from the University of Bombay. He also holds Diploma in Journalism (Gold Medalist from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan). Shri Satish Marathe started his Banking career in Bank of India and rose to be the Chairman and CEO of The United Western Bank Ltd (from 2002 to 2006). Earlier, in September 1991, became CEO of Janakalyan Sahakari Bank Ltd. which recorded high consistent growth during his 10 years tenure.

    Shri Satish Marathe is the Founder Member of Sahakar Bharati which has spread its activities all over India and presently, over 40,000 CoOperatives are associated with it. It is the largest NGO in the CoOperative Sector in the country. In 2015, IFFCO conferred Sahakarita Ratna Award on Shri Satish Marathe. He is the only recipient of the Award from Maharashtra.

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Savitri Singh

Deputy Chief Executive of National Cooperative Union of India
Savitri Singh
  • Savitri Singh

    Mrs. Savitri Singh, Deputy Chief Executive of NCUI has more than 30 years’ experience working with national and international cooperative organisations in various capacities at higher management level. She has worked for 18 years with International Cooperative Alliance (ICAAP) and with 109 cooperative and nodal government organisations in 32 countries in the Asia-Pacific region including India. She has also worked with Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) at senior management level.

    She has expertise in cooperative law and policy, cooperative education, training, research, general administration, human resource development and relationship building with various stakeholders such as government ministries, international organisations i.e. European Union, UNDP, FAO, ILO, SAARC, ASEAN, Indian national cooperative unions and federations. She has represented ICA and NCUI as speaker at various national and international platforms including at ICA-ILO side events in United Nations, New York.

    She is instrumental in initiating various policy and advocacy  programs, women empowerment and gender mainstreaming programs, addressing social issues affecting cooperatives such as HIV-AIDS, establishing and running NCUI Haat, a marketing outlet to support rural artisans, revamping of course curriculum for National Centre for Cooperative Education of NCUI etc.

    She has commissioned and guided developing of training manuals, project on need of sex-disaggregated data collection and analysis, Critical Study on Co-operative Legislations and Policy Reforms, Advanced Training Manuals for capacity building of women etc. She has also contributed as ICA Expert on Gender-responsive Institutional and HRD Capacity Building for Promotion of Agricultural Co-operative Enterprise Development with FAO project on Enhancement of Food Security and Poverty Alleviation through Improved Institutional Capacity of Agricultural Cooperatives in Nepal.
    Mrs. Singh has a Master Degree in Political Science and a Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations. She has also attended various trainings on agriculture credit, processing & marketing of Agri products and food safety, enterprise development etc.

    Prior to joining NCUI and ICA Regional Office, she worked as Deputy Manager- Commercial, HRD, Vigilance and Public Relations in TRIFED under the then Ministry of Social Welfare, Govt. of India.

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Shatadru Chattopadhyay

Founder of Solidaridad Asia
Shatadru Chattopadhyay
  • Shatadru Chattopadhyay

    Shatadru Chattopadhyay is a distinguished leader in the field of sustainability and is known for his innovative work in sustainable supply chains. As the founder of Solidaridad Asia in 2007, he has transformed the organisation into a leading force in sustainable development, with 700 specialists across 34 offices in 9 Asian countries, supporting over 2 million smallholder farmers and their associations. He also serves on the Executive Board of Directors for Solidaridad Global, playing a key role in steering the organisation's global strategy. 

    With 24 years of professional experience, Shatadru has dedicated his career to empowering small farmers and workers within supply chains. His innovative solutions address critical issues such as reclaiming degraded land, fair farmers’ data, carbon farming, wastewater reuse for irrigation, and water management for smallholder agriculture systems. His commitment to holistic and long-term sustainability is evident in his efforts to make sustainability assurance more inclusive in southern-producing countries. He has developed 10 national standards tailored to local needs and contexts, empowering local producers and ensuring that sustainability practices are culturally and economically viable. 

    Shatadru's entrepreneurial spirit has led to several ground-breaking initiatives in sustainable development. He was the driving force behind the establishment of India's first farmer-owned cotton producer company, a significant milestone in the country's agricultural landscape. He also made history by launching the world’s first national sustainability frameworks for tea in China, India, and Indonesia, setting a new industry standard. Additionally, he has established two massive farmers’ supermarkets in Bangladesh and supports the development of food product brands produced by small farmers. His commitment to regional cooperation is evident in his role as the conceptualizer and leader of two of Asia’s largest regional sustainable commodity platforms: the Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA) and the Asian Tea Alliance (ATA). These platforms have aligned sustainability and trade strategies, fostering stakeholder collaboration and driving systemic change. 

    An accomplished author, he has written three books and numerous articles and has coordinated multiple research projects on sustainable development. He holds a bachelor's degree in Politics and Economics from Ramjas College, a master’s in International Relations, a master’s in Philosophy, and a Doctorate in South Asian Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University of India. Passionate about sustainability, he mentors young professionals and serves on the advisory boards of select sustainability-related organisations. 

    Shatadru’s extensive work throughout Asia has deepened his appreciation for the region's rich culture and people. Born and raised in Delhi, he now divides his time between Delhi and Hong Kong, continually seeking new opportunities to advance sustainability and create lasting positive impact. 

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Simel Esim

Programme Manager at the Enterprises Department of the International Labour Office
Simel Esim
  • Simel Esim

    Simel Esim, a Turkish-American economist, has led the ILO’s portfolio on cooperatives  and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE)  since 2012, when she became the first woman to be appointed as the head the ILO’s Cooperatives Unit (COOP) since 1920. In 2022, she served as lead technical expert for the ILO’s Office report  on decent work and the SSE. The general discussion at the 110th ILC led to the adoption of a resolution on decent work and the SSE , and the subsequent seven year strategy and action plan (2023-2029)  endorsed by the ILO’s Governing Body.

    Previously, Simel led ILO Regional Office for Arab States’ portfolio on gender equality and women workers rights. Prior to joining the ILO in 2004, Ms Esim worked for the World Bank, Development Alternatives, Inc. and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). She has been a member of Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) since its founding in 1997 and currently serves on its Board.

    She holds a PhD in Economics from the American University in Washington, DC, an MA in International Economics and Middle East Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna, Italy and Washington, DC, and a BA in Political Science from the Boğaziçi University in Istanbul. She is fluent in English and Turkish and has working knowledge of Arabic, French and Italian.

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Sonja Novkovic

Professor at Saint Mary's University
Resource Person
Sonja Novkovic
  • Sonja Novkovic

    Sonja Novkovic, Ph.D. is Emeritus Professor of Economics and the Academic Director of the International Centre for Co-operative Management at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada. She is former Chair (2013-2021) and member of the ICA Committee on Co-operative Research. She sits on the NCBA-CLUSA Cooperative Economics Council and serves in advisory role for the Overseas Cooperative Development Council Research Group in the US; the UNRISD Sustainable Development Performance Indicators project; the ICA World Cooperative Monitor, and the Cooperative Identity Advisory group of the ICA.

    Sonja’s research interests include theory of worker and multi-stakeholder cooperatives, humanistic governance and cooperative management, and measures of socio-economic sustainability performance in democratic organizations. She co-edited numerous books on the social economy, cooperative governance and cooperative economics, and is currently involved in research on cooperatives and the circular economy; systems thinking and cooperative networks.

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Stefania Marcone

Former member of the Boards of the ICA and Cooperatives Europe | Retired senior official of Legacoop Italy
Resource Person
Stefania Marcone
  • Stefania Marcone

    Stefania Marcone's distinguished career spans over four decades, marked by her commitment to international relations, cooperative development, and gender equality. Beginning her career at the External Relations Office of Cassa per il Credito alle Imprese Artigiane from 1983 to 1987, she also served as President of a women's cooperative in Rome. In 1987, she joined Legacoop's Foreign Department, where she would later be appointed Head of the International Relations Office in 1997. 

    From 1997 to 2005, Stefania served on the global Board of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), actively promoting gender equality and development cooperation. She played a key role in strengthening the ICA's organizational and financial structures and fostering international cooperation among cooperative organizations. Elected Chair of the ICA Gender Equality Committee in 2005, she was instrumental in establishing regional committees dedicated to gender equality. 

    In 2008, Stefania was appointed also Head of European Policies and Internationalization at Legacoop, and in 2011, she joined the Advisory Group for the UN International Year of Cooperatives. 

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Trebor Scholz

Professor at The New School in New York City | Faculty Associate at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center | Visiting Researcher at the Berlin Social Science Center
  • platform.coop
  • Trebor Scholz

    R. Trebor Scholz is a professor at The New School in New York City and also serves as a Faculty Associate at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center and a Visiting Researcher at the Berlin Social Science Center.

    With a Ph.D. from the University of Plymouth, his research focuses on cooperative entrepreneurship within the digital economy. Scholz is widely recognized for pioneering "platform cooperatives," innovative models for worker-owned and democratically controlled online platforms that advance economic, social, labor, and environmental justice. A global keynote speaker, he has delivered hundreds of talks, sharing his research with diverse audiences.

    His work has garnered acknowledgement and support from the European Commission, the Rockefeller Foundation, Google.org, the Berggruen Institute/USC, the Open Society Foundations, Mondragon University, and the Ford Foundation. Dr. Scholz's books, such as Own This!: How Platform Cooperatives Help Workers Build a Democratic Internet—the winner of the First Prize in the Joyce Rothschild Book Awards—and Uberworked and Underpaid, have been translated into multiple languages and have established a new academic subfield.

    In 2017, Scholz founded the Platform Cooperativism Consortium (PCC) at The New School, followed by the establishment of the Institute for the Cooperative Digital Economy (ICDE) two years later. Both institutions are at the forefront of research, education, and community building, promoting cooperative principles to tackle the grand challenges of the digital economy and beyond. ICDE also hosts a fellowship program that has supported 44 fellows to date, focusing on emerging scholars in the digital solidarity economy. As the Director of PCC and ICDE, Scholz has spearheaded the experimentation with platform cooperatives across 60 countries, driving innovative approaches and successfully advocating for transformative initiatives that have positively impacted millions of workers worldwide. He has also played an important role in launching discussions on the digital transition within the cooperative movement through 10 major global PCC conferences in Hong Kong, New York City, Rio de Janeiro, Berlin, Thiruvananthapuram, and Mombasa.

    Learn more at https://platform.coop/

     

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Vandana Shiva

Environmental thinker| Activist| Philosopher of Science| Writer | Science Policy Advocate
Vandana Shiva
  • Vandana Shiva

    Vandana Shiva, a world-renowned environmental thinker, activist, feminist, philosopher of science, writer and science policy advocat, is the founder of Navdanya Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology (India) and President of Navdanya International. Trained as a Physicist at the University of Punjab, she completed her Ph.D. on the ‘Hidden Variables and Non-locality in Quantum Theory’ from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. She later shifted to inter-disciplinary research in science, technology and environmental policy, which she carried out at the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore, India.

    In 1982 she founded the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology (RFSTE), an independent research institute that addresses the most significant problems of ecology of our times, and two years later, Navdanya (‘nine seeds’) the movement in defense of biodiversity and small farmers. In 2011 she founded Navdanya International in Italy and is Chairman of the International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture, co-founded with the then President of the Region of Tuscany.  Recipient of many awards, including in 1993 the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, and named among the top five “Most Important People in Asia” by AsiaWeek in 2001. Shes is a prolific writer and author of numerous books and serves on the board of the International Forum on Globalization, and member of the executive committee of the World Future Council

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Wenyan Yang

Chief of Global Dialogue for Development Branch in the Division for Inclusive Social Development of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Wenyan Yang
  • Wenyan Yang

    Ms. Wenyan Yang is Chief of Global Dialogue for Development Branch in the Division for Inclusive Social Development of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. She has extensive experience working on a broad range of sustainable development issues. Her current work focuses on the social dimension of the sustainable development agenda, addressing poverty, inequality and social inclusion to advance the wellbeing of all people through research and policy analysis, and technical support for national capacity development. Ms. Yang leads the team that coordinates substantive support to the UN Commission for Social Development and contributes to the publication World Social Report. She also serves as DESA’s Principle Focal Point for Gender. Her team is currently leading the provision of analytical and technical support to UN Member States in preparing for a World Social Summit in 2025.

    An economist by training, she started her UN career as a macroeconomic policy analyst.

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Willy Tadjudje

Academic Researcher | Professor at the University of Yaoundé II | Chairperson and a Senior researcher at YAMDUSI Expertise
Willy Tadjudje
  • Willy Tadjudje

    Willy Tadjudje is an academic researcher specializing in cooperative law and regulation. He holds a Ph.D. in cooperative and mutual society law from the University of Luxembourg and he is currently a Professor at the University of Yaoundé II in Cameroon.

    In addition to his University activities, he supports national and international organizations in research projects and development initiatives. As such, he is the Chairperson and a senior researcher at YAMDUSI Expertise, a cooperative society of experts, aiming at boosting the cooperative business model in Africa.

    Globally, he has extensive expertise with legal issues regarding Social and Solidarity Economy organizations. For example, for the past one year, he has been working with ILO (International Labor Organization) to draft a Guide for legislation in the Social and Solidarity Economy (in collaboration with Gilles Caire).

    Apart from ILO, he has also worked for other international organizations such as NCBA CLUSA, FAO, GIZ, Shelter for Life, OCDC, Health Partners, DGRV, European Union, among others, for projects in various African countries, to improve cooperative legal and regulatory environments.

    Willy is a great enthusiast and aficionado of the Cooperative Law and Regulation Initiative (CLARITY) methodology and tool kit. Since he became aware of this unique approach to cooperative legal and regulatory reform, he has not stopped promoting it. For example, he attended the ICA Global Youth Forum in Malaysia in January 2020 with the support of OCDC to introduce the tool to youth from all over the world. In synergy with Ed Potter, he worked for more than a year (2021-2022) on updating and strengthening the CLARITY methodology and tool kit.

    Willy is the author of various publications on cooperative law in Africa and Europe. In June 2022, he published with Springer (co-edited with Ifigeneia Douvitsa) an honorary volume entitled Perspectives on Cooperative Law, in honour of Hagen Henry, a leading pioneer and expert in cooperative law and regulation (from whom he draws inspiration).

    Willy is a member of various networks and scientific committees of scientific journals and organizations (IUS COOPERATIVUM, International Journal of Cooperative Law, Euro-African Institute for Economic Law, UNIDROIT Working Group on Collaborative Legal Structures for Agricultural Enterprises, Social and Solidarity Economy Research Network (Quebec), Interuniversity Network for Social and Solidarity Economy, etc.).

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Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya

Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development
Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya
  • Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya

    He is a distinguished accountant, and a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (FCPA).

    He has over 20 years of professional experience in local and international Finance Management, Audit, and Business Consultancy. Additionally, he has had a successful and outstanding 20-year transformational leadership journey in public service.

    He previously served as a Member of Parliament for Butere Constituency for 10 years, and Minister for State Planning, National Development, and Vision 2023 for 5 years. Furthermore, we was the first Governor of Kakamega County, through which he cemented his status as a pioneering figure in Kenya’s devolved governance system.

    Under his leadership, Kakamega County was ranked severally as one of the best-performing county governments in development, demonstrating his commitment to public service and his passion for driving developmental progress.

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Xiomara Nuñez de Céspedes

Chair
ICA Gender Equality Committee
Xiomara Nuñez de Céspedes
  • Xiomara Nuñez de Céspedes

    Chair of the ICA Gender Equality Committee. Member of the ICA Global Board and Member of the Board of Directors of Cooperatives of the Americas, Representative for the Dominican Republic.
    Vice-president of the Board of Directors of Cooperativa de Servicios Múltiples de Profesionales de Enfermería COOPROENF. Founder of the Women's Development Committee of COOPROENF.
    Vice-President of the Committee of Women Cooperativists of CONACOOP of the Dominican Republic.
    CONACOOP of the Dominican Republic.
    Trainer of Trainers for the Women's Entrepreneurship Project of the Andalusian School of Social Economy Foundation. Coordinator and Lecturer of seminars and workshops on Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Gender, Customer Service, Positive Attitude, Governance, among others.
    Positive Attitude, Governance, among others, nationally and internationally.
    Advisor to various cooperatives on Cooperative Education in 
    Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Panama, Nicaragua, Bolivia, among others.
    Trainer of Trainers for Women's Development Projects.
    Trainer of micro-entrepreneurs. Trainer of Women
    Micro-entrepreneur Columnist for the newspaper El Cooperador, Blog
    Bendiciones de Lo Alto, among others.
    Awards Received: Cooperative Woman of the Year, ENECOOP 2014.
    Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, COOPHERRERA 2015
    Golden Lamp for Excellence in Teaching, Dominican Nurses Association, ADEG 2015.
    Dominican Nurses Association, ADEG 2015
    Selected by the international organisation She-Coop, as one of the 100 global of the 100 world leaders in cooperativism.

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