For media

The BCCM is the peak body for co-operatives and mutuals in Australia. We unite member-owned businesses operating in all industries to increase awareness and recognition of co-ops and mutuals and the important contribution they make to the economy and community.

For all media enquiries about the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals and the co-operative and mutual sector in Australia, or for comment from our CEO Melina Morrison, please email the BCCM or call +61 2 8279 6050.

Melina Morrison

CEO of Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals

Melina Morrison was the driving force behind the formation of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM). The BCCM was formed in 2013 by the members of the National Steering Committee which hosted the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives in Australia. Ms Morrison was appointed to head up the newly formed organisation as its inaugural CEO.

Under Melina’s leadership the BCCM has achieved fundamental reforms to level the playing field for member-owned firms. She has created greater awareness of co-operative and mutual enterprises, advocated for and successfully driven legislative and regulatory changes, and worked with government and the private sector to introduce socially-minded competition in enterprise.

Melina has worked closely with member businesses operating across nearly all sectors of the Australian economy.

Like other Australian businesses, co-operatives and mutuals in many industries are severely impacted as a result of the business interruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Melina has headed the sector’s COVID-19 response working with BCCM member organisations to share information, resources and supply chain strategies to keep these businesses strong. She has been working with government at all levels, to make sure the co-operative and mutual sector is treated fairly, in line with assistance given to other types of businesses. She has worked closely with government, being involved with response coordination roundtables across the industry, agriculture and treasury portfolios on a range of issues.

Melina in the media

Forbes Australia: Manufacturing’s missing middle: solving the riddle

Insurance News: Conduct code for mutuals launched as ‘traditional’ premiums rise

NSW Country Hour, ABC: Gas price cap a just-in-time measure

Australian Financial Review: Beware the trade-offs a gas price cap brings

ABC Radio Country Breakfast: Interview with Enrique de los Rios and the BCCM

Co-operative News: Australian co-op apex BCCM calls for fresh action on climate change

Various: Heritage-People’s Choice merger is a milestone for banking industry competition

ABC Mid North Coast: About the need for the “Government to think about what is required to retain 170 jobs and vital dairy capacity in the Northern Rivers region in NSW, and indeed, in Australia”

ABC RN Breakfast: Are co-operatives and mutuals one answer to Australia’s weak wages growth?

ABC News: Are cooperatives and mutuals one answer to Australia’s weak wages growth?

Co-operative News: Australian co-op apex launches country’s first development fund for the sector

InnovationAus.com: In the room at the Advanced Manufacturing skills forum

Southern Riverina News: State unprepared for NSW floods: inquiry

Pro Bono Australia: Making co-ops visible

The Courier: Farmers join forces in environmental push

Soundcloud: Co-ops bounce back from pandemic woes and lows

The Australian: Mutuals and co-ops resilient in challenging economic times

The Australian: Time is right for co-operatives with ESG in focus, says Melina Morrison

Sydney Morning Herald: Manufacturers warn thousands of jobs at risk unless gas held back from export

The Australian: Migration a fix for labour shortage: CEOs

Countryman: Agriculture industry ‘ready to work with Labor’ as leaders label biosecurity and skills shortage key issues

ABC North Coast radio: How co-operative labour pools and co-operative housing can help address the growing worker shortage and housing crisis in the Northern Rivers (from 2:03:38)

Onimpact: The impact of investing in co-ops and mutuals

auzbiz: How to reinvigorate regional Australia

ABC Life Matters: Whose job is it to buffer communities from natural disasters? (16’05 to 19’58)

Co-op News: Australian co-op sector responds to catastrophic Queensland and NSW floods

Peter Ryan OAM Interview: Economic management a recurring theme as Treasurer fine-tunes pandemic budget

7 News: ‘Missing middle’ of economy wants support

ABC RN Breakfast with Cathy Van Extel: Push for big business to boost Indigenous employment

Your Mortgage: Mutual sector posts strong growth in home lending

South Coast ABC, Breakfast with Simon Lauder: Community resilience and recovery

Co-op News: Mutuality, ESG & sustainable business – a new catalyst for Australian climate action

Australian Ageing Agenda: ACSA and co-op peak sign MOU

Australian Financial Review: What aged care could look like

ABC’s NSW Country Hour, discussing why the co-op model is great for farmers

Interview about co-ops and mutuals with Adam Creighton on Your Money

ABC Radio Country Hour: Could co-operatives help small businesses and primary producers get through the COVID-19 pandemic?

RN Breakfast: Australians should reconsider benefits of mutual business model, industry lobby group says

RN Breakfast: Could more co-ops help fix the aged care crisis?

Rural Queensland Today, discussing the Co-operative Farming project

Melina on Rural Queensland Today radio

Co-op News: Australia’s BCCM stresses power of co-operation against Covid-19

Farm Weekly: Time to rethink manufacturing with co-ops

Australian Institute of Company Directors: The value of sitting on a cooperative board

The Australian: The leadership conversation: John Eales meets Melina Morrison

SBS: Mutuals get chance to take on big banks

AFR: The lessons from AMP’s origins

SMH: How friendly societies can work to our mutual benefit