Speakers
Dame Pauline Green
President
International Co-operative Alliance
Website: www.2012.coopConference theme:
Towards a declaration - Experts' report and Ministerial round table: A role to play - GLobal socio-political influence
Interview
Monday, October 17, 2011
Our main challenge is to demonstrate that the cooperative movement can offer sustainable alternatives and creative solutions – Dame Pauline Green, President of the ICA
With less than 8 weeks to go before the 2012 Summit, marking the the International Year of Cooperatives, here is an interview with Dame Pauline Green, President of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA). What is the ICA and what are its main purposes? Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the Interna... >>
Biography
Dame Pauline Green was elected the first woman President of the International Co-operative Alliance in November 2009. Pauline Green has been a committed co-operator from her time as a local leader in the Woodcraft Folk. She was Assistant Parliamentary Secretary of the Co-operative Union from 1984 to 1989, Co-operative Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 2000, President of the Co-operative Congress in 1997, a member of the Co-operative Commission in 2000 and Chief Executive of Co-operatives UK from 2000 to end of 2009.
Pauline was elected as President of the ICA on an agenda of change. After 8 years on the ICA Board she argued that it was the time to make the ICA fit for purpose in a global market and specifically to focus on 3 key elements – offer the opportunity for business synergies for co-ops around the world, enhance representation in global institutions and develop a centre of excellence for global co-operative knowledge and information. With the election of a new Board and the appointment of a new senior manager, that work is underway, and the International Year of Co-operatives in 2012 is the first opportunity to make something different happen!
Pauline Green's personal ambition is to achieve recognition for the co-operative model of business within the global institutions so that the movement can continue to grow and expand in the coming decades
About the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)
The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) is an independent, non-governmental organization that unites, represents and serves co-operatives worldwide. It exists to provide an effective and efficient global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise and coordinated action for and about co-operatives.
ICA raises awareness about co-operatives. It helps individuals, government authorities and regional and international institutions understand the co-operative model of enterprise. It channels specific information to institutions and the media showing the importance of co-operatives to a wide range of economic and social issues.
ICA is the voice of the co-operative movement. The ICA acts as the custodian of cooperative values and principles around the world. It makes the case for co-operatives as businesses that use a distinctive values-based economic model that put people before profit. It also aims to demonstrate how co-operatives give individuals and communities an instrument of self-help and influence over their development.
ICA ensures that the right policy environment exists to enable co-operatives to grow and prosper. It helps its members in their lobbying for new legislation and more appropriate administrative procedures that respect the co-operative model, its values and principles. It provides political support as well as technical expertise to enable co-operatives to compete on a level playing field.
ICA provides its members with key contacts and information on best practice. It facilitates contacts between co-operatives for trading purposes and intelligence sharing in a wide range of areas. It organizes meetings, workshops and individual meetings to address key issues affecting co-operatives and allows discussion among co-operators from around the world.
ICA provides technical assistance to co-operatives. Through its development programs at global and regional levels, ICA promotes capacity building, advice and financial support to the co-operative movement globally.
<< Back to speakers
