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 Saul Symonds or call 0493 515 116.
About the CEO
Melina Morrison
CEO of Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals
Melina Morrison has been a driving force for change in Australia’s co-operative and mutual sector for 25 years.
She is the founder CEO of the country’s first cross-sector body for member-owned enterprises, the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM).
Under Melina’s leadership, the BCCM has achieved fundamental reforms to level the playing field for member-owned firms.
She commissioned the first study in Australia’s co-operative and mutual sector, the annual National Mutual Economy report, driving meaningful change and creating the first evidence base to advocate for better support.
Significantly, Melina was at the forefront in advocating and developing amendments to the Corporations Act, opening new opportunities for co-operative and mutual businesses to grow whilst safeguarding mutuality for future generations.
Melina continues to advocate for ethical business models that put the consumer first in sectors ranging from finance to aged care.
BCCM in the media
Worker-owned care firms could bring services to rural and remote areas, The Australian, 6 August 2023
ABC Riverina interview: How the co-operative model empowers communities to fight back, 3 August 2023
Overcoming the capital conundrum, ICMIF, 6 July 2023
Calls rise for expansion of co-operative housing in Australia, Sky News, 1 July 2023
ABC’s Western Australia Country Hour (from 4:35 min): WA co-ops and mutuals, CBH and the NME on ABC Radio, 26 June
North Coast farming co-ops tally up monstrous flood cost, Daily Telegraph, 13 June 2023
Offshoring of Australia’s food processing must be reversed: BCCM, Australian Rural & Regional News, 8 June 2023
Time to revive co-ops, The Weekly Times, 24 May 2023
The sector that wants to sandbag itself from private equity, Australian Financial Review, 29 May 2023
European launch for BCCM’s new tool to measure value of co-op businesses, Co-op News, 25 May 2023
BCCM launches the Mutual Value Measurement framework in Europe, ICMIF, 25 May 2023
A delicate balancing act between people and business, ausbiz, 10 May 2023.
Half of Australia’s GDP: Why the budget should focus on SME growth, SmartCompany, 8 May 2023
Mutual benefits: in the rush to DMFs, core principles must not be forgotten, Insurance News, 24 April 2023
Letters: Financial Review, 19 April 2023
Why acquisition of milk processors raises concerns for food security: Melina Morrison’s insights, ABC Radio’s Warwick Long (WL) on Country Hour, 10 April 2023 (Listen to recorded interview on ABC Tasmania: 01:39 – 07.51)
BCCM chief gives evidence to Australian Senate on value of co-op sector, Co-operative News, 23 February 2023
Riverland and South East SA Rural Report, 7 February 2023
Annual Q&A with BCCM CEO Melina Morrison, Co-operative News, 11 January 2023
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 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
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
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
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