International Summit will feature world-renowned economists and co-operators
20 Mar 2014
Over 150 co-operators, economists and academics will be speaking at this year’s International Summit of Cooperatives. The second edition of the Summit takes place in Quebec on 6-9 October and features speakers from across different sectors.
This year’s Summit will be focusing on five different topics: developing co-operative and mutual enterprises; economics; financing and capitalisation; employment; food security and health and social care services.
One of the keynote speakers at the conference, world-renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs will engage delegates in a discussion on how co-operatives could stand out in the transition to a sustainable economy.
Michael Beall, president and chief executive of the National Cooperative Business Association will be participating in a round table on job creating and heightened productivity.
Another speaker at the event, Bruno Roelants, secretary general of CICOPA (International Organisation of Industrial, Artisanal and Service Producers’ Cooperatives), will be introducing the Global Report of Cooperatives and Employment.
Greg Wickham, chief executive of Dairylea, will focus on the future of the dairy industry, while Rüdiger Krech, director of the Department of Ethics and Social Determinants of Health at the World Health Organization will talk about the relationship between banking, co-operatives and people’s health.
Delegates will hear from a number of co-operators and industry experts, including Bill York, chief executive of AgriBank; Udai Shanker Awasthi, chief executive of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO); Suee Chief Tan, chief executive of NTUC Enterprise; Chunsheng Li, President of All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Co-operatives (ACFSMC); José Carlos Guisado, president of the International Co-operative Health Organisation and Toby A. A. Heaps, co-founder of Corporate Knights. The full list of speakers will be revealed over the next few weeks.
“We are very proud to welcome these key actors to our event", said Joanne Lechasseur, Program Director, 2014 International Summit of Cooperatives. "The wide variety of speakers who will take part in the Summit shows that interest in this business model transcends borders and cultures. Thanks to the presence of these exceptional speakers, the Summit will help extend the influence of the cooperative movement around the world, and promote its growth and long-term viability.”
