2024 Taste of Australia Dinner and Leaders' Summit wrap-up

The 2024 Leaders’ Summit set an inspiring stage for advancing our identity, impact, and influence in anticipation of the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2025. With a sold-out record since 2014, the Summit brought together over 300 leaders from 100 co-ops and mutuals, business, academia, government and community, in the stunning surrounds of the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Perth, for our annual industry dinner and business strategy summit. Over 2 packed days we celebrated our contribution to economic and social development and discussed how we can rise in the public psyche and shape a compelling narrative for the future of CME businesses in Australia.

The Summit unfolded over three flagship events, beginning with the celebrated Taste of Australia Dinner on 22 October, followed by the BCCM Leaders’ Breakfast and a packed one-day program of the Leaders’ Summit on 23 October. As Australia’s only cross-sector co-op and mutual leadership gathering, this event connected CEOs, managers and directors from diverse industries with visionary business thinkers, politicians, media representatives and researchers.

Our program featured over 50 international and national speakers to debate pressing issues: The global rise of co-ops and mutuals, the value of countercyclical thinking, building brand recognition, member value enhancement and regulatory impacts on productivity. Additionally, five deep-dive breakout Leaders’ Dialogues provided insights on emerging industry trends, including the future of agricultural co-ops, rural care solutions, brand equity and co-operation with First Nations businesses.

Our popular armchair panel – Business Leaders in Conversation – returned with a star line-up of Western Australian and national business leaders, P&N Group boss Andrew Hadley, Wesfarmers Chair Michael Chaney AO and Chief Economist Besa Deda, chaired by ABC’s  Peter Ryan OAM, offering perspectives on shaping a thriving future for the Australian economy and co-ops and mutuals operating in it.

The Taste of Australia Dinner, presented this year by CBH Group, is one of our most highly anticipated annual events as a night of culinary celebration and political discussion. Over 300 leaders from Australia’s top co-operatives and mutuals gathered in the Ritz-Carlton in Perth, representing sectors as diverse as financial services, social care, healthcare, housing, motoring, purchasing and supply, retail and wholesale, and agricultural and fishing co-ops.

Thanks to our BCCM Taste of Australia Dinner Partners for a great night: Platinum Partner CBH Group, Gold Partner Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative and Silver Partner HIF Australia and our produce partners Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative, WAMMCO International, Almondco Australia and Carnarvon Sweeter Banana Co-operative.

BCCM CEO Melina Morrison welcomed the Members of Parliament, special guests and VIPs, before introducing MC David Speers, a leading Australian journalist and program anchor. As the ABC’s National Political Lead and host of Insiders on Sunday mornings, David regularly interviews the nation’s political leaders, decision makers and analysts.

David commenced the evening with insights into the current economic and political landscape, considering the global election season, he highlighted the electoral activities in the United States and locally in Queensland.

The event, sponsored by our platinum partner CBH Group, began with an address from CBH Group Chair Simon Stead:

“Being here tonight with a room full of like-minded individuals who share a deep commitment to delivering value to members as a co-op or mutual is a great privilege. In Australia, co-ops and mutuals have been serving our communities for over 175 years, with 8 in 10 Australians being members of at least one mutually owned organisation. This is a testament to the enduring strength and relevance of this model and speaks volumes about the trust and value that co-ops bring to the lives of Australians. At CBH, we are proud to have around 3,500 grain-growing businesses as members of our 91-year-old co-op. Their dedication and commitment to building a bulk handling system to ensure the success of their individual businesses, and, therefore the future of the entire WA grain industry and regional WA is inspirational to all of us at CBH. As custodians of this legacy, this is at the core of our purpose to create and return value to the growers of today and our future.”

The Hon. Don Punch MLA, Minister for Regional Development; Disability Services; Fisheries; Seniors and Ageing; and Volunteering, delivered a powerful message of support for Western Australian co-ops and mutuals on behalf of the State’s Premier. Co-operatives and mutuals operate across the WA economy providing essential goods and services for more than 8 in 10 Western Australians who are their members. The Minister raised a cheer for the 40 fishers representing Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-op who were attending the dinner, noting the importance of the reopening of the China market for the livelihood of GFC members and the capacity to earn vital export dollars for the State.

The Ritz Carlton’s Executive Sous Chef, Stephen Cocks, created a standout menu using Western Australia co-operative produce from our dinner partners Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative, WAMMCO International, Almondco Australia and Carnarvon Sweeter Banana Co-operative. The sumptuous meal began with a rock lobster entrée before moving to the lamb back-strap, grilled black pearl mushrooms, mushroom powder, watercress puree and mushroom sabayon and wrapping up with an Almond Dacquoise, macerated banana, hazelnut praline, Madagascar vanilla Chantilly, salted caramel ice cream and finished with a gold tuile.

BCCM Chair Rohan Mead addressed the Summit, inviting the delegates to consider this pivotal moment for mutuals and co-operatives to rise and shine with a business model that is suited for these challenging times and great opportunities to connect to a new generation with the mutual model.

“Co-operatives and mutuals are an under-represented group in the thinking around some of our community’s most significant challenges. The BCCM is working to address this under-representation — to raise the voice of our members and all co-ops and mutuals and contribute the valuable experiences and perspectives of these diverse enterprises to the policy debate.”

BCCM CEO Melina Morrison spoke on how “as many Australians face daily challenges with cost of living pressures and affordable housing, our sector offers hope. We bring genuine choice, economic viability and social impact into tightly held markets where there is volatility, profiteering and short-termism. Looking ahead to the second United Nations International Year of Cooperatives in 2025 there is a lot to celebrate and an opportunity to raise awareness of the important contribution our members make to the economy and community. We greatly look forward to this work with you and thank you for your loyal support.”

“The values of co-operatives and mutuals are Australian values. A fair go. Egalitarianism.

The unavoidable truth that the Australian people are stronger when we come together.

And Australian mutuals and cooperatives are there from our very first breaths. HBF Health was there when my son, Leo, was born in 2017.

They quite literally put food on our tables. Like CBH Group and Dairy Farmers. And five million Australians who rely on mutuals, credit unions and building societies for their banking needs.

They help people fulfil the dreams they have for themselves and their children.”

Read his full address.

The Leaders’ Summit included five facilitated, deep-dive discussions based on industry case studies.

Dialogue 1: Agricultural Roundtable – Addressing Emerging Challenges in Producer Co-operatives

Led by Simon Venus, Partner at Piper Alderman, this roundtable gathered insights from industry leaders, including Mark Wiessing, CEO of Rabobank Australia; Stephen Morton, CFO of Almondco; Simon Stead, Chair of CBH Group; Basil Lenzo, Chair of Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative; and Jamie Higgins, CEO of MBL.

The session examined the “horizon issue” in producer co-operatives, being the threat of demutualisation. Demutualisation was seen as a failure of the co-operative principles and ethos which is often precipitated by weakening member loyalty. The emphasis reverses – the agricultural inputs for which the co-op wants to deliver maximum economic value to its members under the patronage model, become an input cost which under a corporate or investor-owned firm model, where costs are to be minimised. The corporate purpose is inverted on demutualisation – members become a cost of the business, not the reason for the business. The discussion explored the features of success for the co-ops represented in the session. Attendees delved into the pressures that can weaken member loyalty, potentially leading to demutualisation, and discussed strategies mitigating the threat, including establishing a value proposition for members, engendering member loyalty and effective communication with members.

Dialogue 2: Better care in the bush – how co-ops and mutuals are shaping the future of care in remote, regional and rural communities

Panel facilitator, Care Together Program Manager Michael Pilbrow, shared that “the Better Care for the Bush panel session was energising as it highlighted how many good people are aware of the challenge of providing care in regional, rural and remote communities and – more importantly – are motivated to be innovative in using the co-op model to find solutions”.

The panellists included Dr Alison Koschel, Executive Manager Population Access and Performance Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network, Wendy Pederick, Convenor, Co-operative Care Wagin, Gillian McFee, Program Director Care Together, Clive Thompson, Director CoSolve, Liz O’Connell, CEO Kudos Services, Prue Bowden, CEO—Home Health, Australian Unity and Dr Paul Thambar, Director Mutual Value Lab Monash University.

Care Together is the BCCM’s program to help Australian communities in regional, rural, and remote areas to explore novel co-op and mutual approaches to address failures in the delivery of care. Care Together is funded through a $7 million grant from the Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care, to work with local groups of care workers, care recipients and care organisations on solutions in all areas of care from aged and disability care to Indigenous, veterans and primary healthcare. This roundtable discussed the benefits of co-ops and mutuals delivering care and how Care Together is working with different BCCM members on care projects.

Dialogue 3: Countercyclical strategy and mutual brand equity in financial services – Mutual Value Framework business case study

Peter Hunt, Managing Partner of Mutuo, facilitated a workshop featuring Andrew Haigh, CEO of Newcastle Building Society (UK), talking about innovation in financial services with Newcastle Building Society, as well as how to ensure you remain authentic as a mutual to help members help themselves.

This session examined Newcastle Building Society’s pioneering role as the first UK mutual to earn Mutual Value Accreditation. The society developed a mutual value framework to support its innovative growth strategy. By adopting a countercyclical approach, Newcastle Building Society is strengthening its mutual brand equity through actions like opening new branches, promoting traditional passbooks, and expanding customer services, all aimed at supporting both growth and profitability.

Andrew Haigh shared, “It has been a privilege to tell Newcastle Building Society’s journey in mutual value measurement and our belief in the importance of high streets, innovation in branches, and the power of our North East communities.”

Dialogue 4: Regulation roundtable – the 2025 regulatory outlook and effective advocacy

The regulation roundtable focused on the trends in regulation impacts co-ops and mutuals and the end goal for co-op and mutual regulation. Panellists also discussed how to be better regulatory advocates: understand the objectives and powers of the regulator; provide a practical solution backed with evidence of costs and benefits. The roundtable complements BCCM’s new regulation roundtable series with APRA which will pick up the themes discussed at the Summit.

Moderated by Dr Michael Schaper, Chair, Energy Consumers Australia with Trish Blake, Commissioner for Consumer Protection WA, Jo Dodd, Partner Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Tari Makanda, Partner Grant Thornton, Joanna Burton, National Leader, Finex (Financial and Executive) Claims, WTW and Anthony Taylor, Head of Policy and Government Affairs, BCCM.

Dialogue 5: The power of co-operating with First Nations businesses; and doing more with the co-op business model

Neil Willmett, CEO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Queensland, Pastor Ray Minniecon, Director Bunji Consultancies, Mark Love, Legal Director, Business & Corporate, BAL Lawyers, Linda Henry, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Great Southern Bank, Paul Saeki, CEO Northern Australia Aboriginal Kakadu Plum Alliance (NAAKPA) and Linda Seaborn, Senior Policy Advisor, BCCM explored co-operation through business relationships, employment, and reconciliation. The findings of the BCCM’s landmark research into First Nations’ inclusion in Australian co-ops and mutuals and the BCCM’s Reconciliation Action Plan were discussed.

Mutual Value Measurement lead researcher and director of the Monash Mutual Value Lab‘s Paul Thambar was on hand to present CivicRisk Mutual’s Andrew Armitstead and Lisa Williams with their Mutual Value Accreditation. Congratulations to CivicRisk Mutual and StateCover Mutual on being the first Australian mutuals to gain reaccreditation for Mutual Value Measurement (MVM).

This accreditation confirms that these organisations are practising MVM as intended by the Framework. We now have nine accredited organisations. MVM is gaining momentum internationally with a second building society in the UK following the example of Newcastle Building Society and implementing MVM to identify, measure and communicate the total value created by the organisation for stakeholders.

Closing the BCCM Leaders’ Summit, Melina invited members to save the date for the 2025 Leaders’ Summit to be held in Adelaide from 23-24 October, promising another great gathering of the sector’s leaders.

“With the United Nations declaring a second International Year of Co-operatives, 2025 is an unparalleled opportunity to showcase our social and economic credentials and I look forward to celebrating our success as a nation builder business model with members in Adelaide next year.”