2025 BCCM Leaders' Summit wrap-up

The 2025 BCCM Leaders’ Summit marked a defining moment in the International Year of Cooperatives, celebrating strong, sustainable and purposeful leadership across Australia’s co-operative and mutual movement.

All three Summit events were held in Adelaide, bringing together more than 300 leaders from over 100 co-operatives and mutuals, business, academia, government and community at the world-class Adelaide Convention Centre, Government House and the National Wine Centre of Australia, Adelaide. Over two days, delegates shared insights, strengthened connections and explored how our sector can lead through purpose and partnership in a rapidly changing world.

The Summit unfolded across three flagship events – beginning with the renowned Taste of Australia Dinner at the National Wine Centre of Australia on 23 October, followed by Breakfast on the Hill at Government House and the full-day Leaders’ Summit on 24 October. The celebrations concluded with an optional tour of the Barossa Co-op, showcasing community enterprise and local ownership in action.

This year’s program featured more than 50 speakers and panellists, including international leaders shaping the future of co-operatives and mutuals worldwide. Andrew Pakes, UK Labour (Co-op) MP for Peterborough, shared insights on policy reform to double the size of the UK mutual economy. Shirine Khoury-Haq, CEO of Co-op Group UK, joined the Business Leaders in Conversation session to explore how purpose and performance intersect in one of the world’s oldest and largest co-operatives. Kevin Parry OBE, Chairman of Nationwide Building Society, delivered an inspiring after-dinner address, The March of the Mutuals, highlighting the resurgence of member-owned business and Nationwide’s acquisition of Virgin Money. Jeroen Douglas, Director General of the International Co-operative Alliance, closed the Summit with an international call to action for co-operatives to deepen their impact on people, planet and prosperity.

Across keynotes, dialogues and interactive panels, delegates explored major themes shaping the future of our sector: the role of purpose-driven leadership, strengthening capital and member value, policy and regulatory reform, and the co-operative response to social care and housing challenges.

We also celebrated outstanding achievement with the announcement of our 2025 BCCM Honour Roll inductees, recognising leaders who have made an enduring contribution to the co-operative and mutual sector.

The feedback has been extraordinary – with accolades for our speakers, panellists and the BCCM team who made this year’s Summit a success. Thank you to all who joined us in Adelaide to celebrate leadership, purpose and impact in this milestone International Year of Cooperatives.

Save the date: The 2026 BCCM Leaders’ Summit and Taste of Australia Dinner will be held in Sydney on 20–21 October 2026. We look forward to coming together once again to celebrate the co-operative difference.

The 2025 Taste of Australia Dinner, presented by People First Bank, was a spectacular celebration of co-operative produce, political insight and international collaboration – the perfect opening to the BCCM Leaders’ Summit in the International Year of Cooperatives.

Held at the National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide, the evening brought together more than 300 leaders from Australia’s top co-operatives and mutuals, joined by Members of Parliament, international guests and industry partners. Guests enjoyed a menu crafted by Executive Chef Sato Kikuchi and paired with wines selected by Sommelier Fernando Miyazaki, showcasing the finest co-operative produce from MBL, Almondco Australia and The Barossa Co-op as well as MBL partners Angelakis Bros, SA Mushrooms, Wintulichs Smallgoods, Cheese Culture, Paroo, Riviera Bakery and Thomas Foods International Australia. Thank you also to Barossa Valley Gourmet Fudge.

Steve Laidlaw, CEO of People First Bank, highlighted the shared purpose and strength of Australia’s member-owned model.

Ms Louise Miller-Frost MP, Federal Member for Boothby and Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Co-operatives and Mutuals, then reflected on the importance of co-operative values in building resilient, people-centred communities.

The highlight of the evening was the after-dinner address by Kevin Parry OBE, Chairman of Nationwide Building Society and Chair of the UK’s newly formed Mutuals and Co-operatives Business Council. In his speech, March of the Mutuals, Kevin explored the global resurgence of the mutual model, drawing on recent developments such as Nationwide’s acquisition of Virgin Money and the growing recognition of mutuals as a force for long-term stability and member value.

The evening, hosted by journalist and author Annabel Crabb, combined humour, insight and celebration – culminating in the induction of six outstanding leaders into the BCCM Honour Roll. Guests left inspired by a night that truly embodied the spirit of strong, sustainable and purposeful leadership in Australia’s co-operative and mutual sector.

Find yourself in the BCCM 2025 Taste of Australia Dinner and Honour Roll photo gallery (photos by Chris Gleisner and Daryl Charles)

The BCCM Breakfast on the Hill, sponsored by Beyond Bank, took place at Government House, Adelaide.

Her Excellency The Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, gave the first address.

David Marshall, CEO, Beyond Bank, delivered the opening address along with Chris Burns, CSC, The Hutt St Centre, one of Beyond Bank’s charity partners.

The breakfast was a moving and thoughtful introduction to the Summit’s themes with all speakers delivering powerful speeches about the need to work together, leaving no one behind.

Browse the Leaders’ Breakfast photo gallery (photos by Chris Gleisner)

The opening keynote was presented by the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia Limited and introduced by Kathy Gramp, President of the RAA. Read Kathy’s speech. 

Andrew Pakes MP, UK Labour (Co-op) MP for Peterborough and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Mutuals, outlined the UK Government’s commitment to doubling the size of its co-operative and mutual economy. He shared insights on how strong partnerships between government and the sector can unlock inclusive growth and long-term prosperity. Read Andrew’s speech.

This was followed by a dynamic panel discussion, Why Mutuals Matter: Partnering with Co-operatives and Mutuals for Inclusive Growth and Prosperity, moderated by David Speers, Host of ABC’s Insiders. Joined by Andrew Pakes, Rohan Mead, Sheena Jack and Tim White, the panel explored how collaboration between business, policymakers and communities can strengthen resilience and amplify the co-operative difference in Australia and abroad. 

Thank you to Common Equity Housing Limited (CEHL) for sponsoring the Morning Tea and the Coffee Cart.

The afternoon program opened with the Business Leaders in Conversation session, supported by KeyInvest Limited, featuring Shirine Khoury-Haq, Group CEO of the UK’s Co-operative Group, in conversation with David Speers, Host of ABC’s Insiders. Shirine shared candid reflections on leading one of the world’s largest co-operatives through transformation — balancing people, profit and purpose in a 180-year-old organisation of seven million members. Her insights on authenticity, social impact and modern leadership resonated strongly with delegates. Listen to Shirine’s interview on ABC’s Radio National Hour.

BCCM CEO Melina Morrison then unveiled the Power of Co campaign, the centrepiece of Australia’s celebration of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. The campaign showcases stories of co-operative leadership and collaboration, alongside the new Australian co-op and mutual directory, developed with SGS Economics & Planning, and more than 150 Icons case studies shared across the IYC 2025 Australia website and social media. These initiatives highlight the reach, impact and diversity of co-operatives and mutuals nationwide.

Presented by Almondco, the Closing keynote was delivered by Jeroen Douglas, Director General of the International Cooperative Alliance, who spoke on Making our mark – taking co-ops and mutuals to the next level of influence, traction and action. Jeroen’s address underscored the global role of co-operatives in building a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

The Summit concluded with a forward-looking panel discussion, The co-operative and mutual difference: Leveraging mutuality for sustainability and success, moderated by Alison Holloway of SGS Economics & Planning, featuring Jeroen Douglas, Professor Simon Wilkie, Emily Perry and Professor Lorenzo Fioramonti. Together, they explored how co-operatives can align profitability with purpose and lead the shift toward a wellbeing economy.

Find yourself in the BCCM 2025 Leaders’ summit photo gallery (photos by Chris Gleisner and Daryl Charles)