Australian co‑operatives featured in ICA Asia and Pacific publication on women’s leadership

10 June 2026

The Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) has been featured in the latest edition of COOP Dialogue, a regional publication of the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA‑AP) focused on strengthening women’s leadership across the co-operative sector. 

Issue 10 of COOP Dialogue brings together case studies, research and practitioner insights from across the Asia–Pacific region under the theme of strengthening women’s roles in co-operatives, from agriculture to enterprise.

The publication sits within the broader context of international efforts to recognise the role women play in agriculture and enterprise development, and to support greater participation in leadership and decision-making. 

Recognition of Australian co-operative leadership 

BCCM’s contribution, authored by Melina Morrison, features alongside leading voices from across the region and highlights how Australian agricultural co-operatives are enabling women to move into leadership, governance and enterprise roles.

The article, From farm to boardroom: how women are strengthening agricultural co-operatives in Australia, demonstrates how the co-operative model creates institutional pathways for women to participate in decision-making and shape long-term value creation. 

It profiles three Australian leaders working across the agricultural sector: 

• Natalie Browning, CBH Group 
• Doriana Mangili, Sweeter Banana Cooperative 
• Carolyn Suggate, ORICoop 

These leaders represent different parts of the agricultural value chain, from large-scale grain logistics and governance through to regional marketing enterprises and regenerative agriculture networks. 

Connecting local leadership to regional priorities

The COOP Dialogue publication brings together contributions from across the Asia–Pacific region, illustrating how women are participating as producers, entrepreneurs and decision-makers in diverse agricultural systems.

A consistent insight across these contributions is the role co-operatives play in creating pathways to leadership. Where governance capability, enterprise development and market access are strengthened, women are better able to move into formal leadership roles and influence decision-making.

The Australian contribution aligns with this broader regional narrative, demonstrating how co-operatives: 

• connect participation with ownership and decision-making 
• support leadership development through governance capability 
• enable resilience at enterprise level 

Acknowledging ICA Asia and Pacific leadership 

BCCM acknowledges the leadership of ICA Asia and Pacific in convening this publication, and the contribution of its Committee on Women in advancing gender equality across the co-operative sector.

Through research, policy engagement and capacity building, ICA‑AP continues to support women’s participation and leadership across the region, helping to translate co-operative principles into practical outcomes. 

Recognising women shaping the future of co-operatives 

The women featured in this issue reflect the diversity of leadership across the co-operative movement. 

From farmers and producers to board directors and enterprise leaders, their work demonstrates how co-operatives can support inclusive participation and long-term value creation.

Their contribution highlights the importance of ensuring governance pathways and leadership opportunities remain accessible across the sector. 

Read full edition of COOP Dialogue 10.