Building the social economy co-operatively

Hybrid event – online and in-person in Carlton, Victoria

In a period of global instability and ecomomic inequality many would like to build a democratic social and solidarity economy that better distributes wealth and opportunity in our local communities sustainably. The Basque region offers inspiration.

Can’t afford a ticket to Mondragon in the Basque country? Our international guest pannelist, Ana Aguirre, is a co-founder and worker owner at Tazebaez co-operative that works closely with the Mondragon Cooperative Consortium a legendry worker co-operative ecosystem based in the Basque country that utilises democratic methods in corporate organisation. Ana is a graduate of the Mondragon Team Academy and plays an active part in the Platform Cooperative Coalition – a movement that asks the crucial question, “What kind of new economy do we want to create?” – and aims to optimise the digital economy for all people rather than a wealthy few.

We ask ‘what role can Australian governments and educators play… 

Ana Aguirre (international speaker) is visiting Australia as part of the BCCM Leaders’ Summit and brings inspirational entrepreneurship, education and worker co-op experience. Ana is a co-founder and worker-owner at TAZEBAEZS.Coop (a service of the Data Commons Co-op) where she leads the cooperative development area. Ana is Vice President of the International Cooperative Alliance Youth network in Europe, where she also serves on the youth executive committee.

This panel discussion will explore the role of the co-op sector, government and educators in supporting ‘bottom-up’ co-operative social economy development, and the related themes of community-driven economic development and working with the international and local co-op movement.

Our other pannelists

Shirley Jackson is the founder and inaugural Director of the Centre for New Industry at Per Capita, and a renowned policy expert in the fields of industry policy, employment, and skills formation. His work has helped shape new approaches to industrial development and is widely cited by government and media sources.

Melina Morrison is the chief executive of the Australian peak body for co-operatives and mutuals, the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM). Her advocacy for co-operative and mutual education and development has resulted in commitments of more than $24m in government funding to develop more co-ops and mutuals in agricultural and social care.

Antony McMullen (panel moderator) is a cooperative founder, developer and advocate, with a passion for placed- based social, cultural and economic development. He is co-founder of Co-operative Bonds, and 888 Co-operative Causeway (the first cooperative co-working space in Melbourne). He is the Advocacy and Sector Development Lead at the BCCM and an RMIT FORWARD fellow.

Download the event brochure