Champion of the co-operative movement receives Order of Australia award for services to business and the community

10 June 2019

BCCM Director recognised for contribution to Australian public life

The Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) congratulates Greg Wall on his Member of the Order of Australia (AM) award for significant service to business and the community. Mr Wall is a Director and founding Chairman of the BCCM.

Melina Morrison, CEO of BCCM, said, “This is the first time such an award has been given to someone in the sector which underpinned the emergence of modern Australia. We are delighted it’s been given to BCCM’s Director and Founding Chairman. As a leader and advocate, Greg has helped ensure that the co-operative and mutual sector has received greater attention, not only in Australia but also internationally. Greg’s work has helped to build a strong co-op sector in Australia and a national representative body that is working to help Australians utilise this powerful and intrinsically aspirational model of enterprise for community empowerment.

“This award marks a turning point as our sector is recognised for helping Australians realise their goals and building communities. With trust in corporations at an all time low, our profit-for-purpose model offers an all-important haven of accountability and ethical business. Co-operatives and mutuals put members and communities first and are not conflicted between shareholder or customer interests.”

Some of Mr Wall’s achievements include:

• Establishing the first national forum for the Chairs of Australia’s top co-operative firms
• Advocating for the highest governance standards in business
• Chairing the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives Secretariat 2012
• Presenting at the United Nations in New York for the launch of the International Year of Co-operatives
• Founding Chair of Australia’s national peak body for the sector, the BCCM

Mr Wall is also recognised internationally:

• He is the first Australian to be elected to the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the peak global body representing co-operatives and mutuals worldwide. With members from more than 95 countries, Mr. Wall was the first Australian in its 120 year history to be elected to the board of the ICA in 2013. Since joining the board he has been appointed to the board of the Dot Coop Ltd (the internet domain for co-operatives worldwide) and has joined the leadership circle of the ICA.
• He played a vital role in successfully advocating for a co-operative business leader, Dr. Andrew Crane, on the B20 Group appointed by the Prime Minister to advise the G20 Ministers when it was hosted by Australia in November 2014. This is the first time a co-op has been appointed to a B20 group anywhere in the world and this legacy has continued with co-operatives being represented in subsequent B20 workings groups.
• He also represented Australia during a trade mission to China in 2015 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding for ‘Coop to Coop’ trade within the Asia Pacific region.
• He has presented at numerous conferences, seminars and forums both in Australia and internationally which have raised the profile of the co-operative movement at large.