2017 Leaders’ Summit & Industry Dinner

Given the significant successes, record profits and growing membership experienced by the co-operative and mutual sector in recent years, our success has not been without challenges.

Some of these challenges relate to persistent, systemic issues such as access to capital. Other challenges are cyclical, such as the threat of demutualisation. These challenges are by no means unique to Australia, as the similar experiences of CMEs around the globe shows.

It is likely many of our businesses will face the same issues in coming months and years and our businesses need to position themselves to deal with established and emerging threats.

This year’s Summit was a unique platform for our sector leaders to discuss these challenges and to share strategies for tackling adversity and turning it to advantage. Highlights of the program include an insider’s take on the ‘near death’ experiences of some iconic CMEs both here and abroad and a panel discussion with key regulators for their take on whether the operating environment for CMEs is fair.

We held our second Breakfast on the Hill at Parliament House in Brisbane, in response to sector demand after last year’s oversubscribed inaugural breakfast at Parliament House in Canberra.

We’d like to thank all delegates and speakers for attending, for their contributions and for making the Summit such a great success. It is another indication of the strength of the CME sector and the bright future we have.

Summit highlights

Relive the Summit week from the announcement on Hammond to closing drinks, in words and pictures at our Summit story page.