Iain Macdonald, Director General of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), has been elected to serve as President of Co-operative Congress 2005 in Glasgow.
Mr Macdonald said: "Being elected president of Congress is clearly a great honour not only for me but for the ICA as well. I'm sure it is that link which helped me to be elected, although I think any one of the three candidates would have made a good President."
The other two candidates for Congress President were John Cronan and Sylvia Jones.
Mr Macdonald said his presidentaial speech will reflect co-operatives internationally. "My presidential address will undoubtedly have an international flavour but I hope one which is relevant to the British co-operative movement.
"It will also have some reflective moments but will concentrate on the future and our unique role as co-operative businesses with social purpose," Mr Macdonald commented.
He added that he's looking forward going back to his native country. "I am very pleased that Congress this year will be held in Glasgow, which for nearly 20 years was my co-operative and political base. I don't suppose I imagined when I was appointed as Scottish Sectional Education Officer in 1979 that I would have ended up in this position!
"My experiences as Director General of the International Co-operative Alliance over the last 2 years have convinced me that co-operation is key to progressive change in the world today ? not least in the work towards the elimination of poverty.
Dame Pauline Green, Chief Executive of Co-operatives UK, organiser of Congress, said, "This year's Congress is set to be one of the most innovative and informative for many years and I am sure Iain will bring a interesting, international dimension to this Co-operative Movement event."
Co-operative Congress will be held at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall. Up to a thousand co-operative members, employees and activists will come together for three days of learning, debate and networking over the weekend of May 20-22.
The business programme is now being finalised, and will include over 20 workshops and seminars covering a huge range of topics, from innovations in co-operative housing, employee engagement, and food politics through to responses to climate change, the Co-operative Business and Enterprise Colleges one year on, and co-operative solutions to global poverty.
Plenary sessions will include a report on the implementation of the recommendations from the 2001 Co-operative Commission, the launch of the code of practice on corporate governance in consumer societies, and hopefully a presentation on the proposed new Scottish Co-operative Development Agency.
Social events will include a drinks reception and buffet on the Friday evening, with the main conference dinner taking place on the Saturday night.
Co-operatives UK is also developing a range of activities and events for the Friday, which is expected to include study visits to Scottish co-operatives, a visit to the New Lanark world heritage site, a film screening and a special performance of a play about co-operation.
In this article
- British co-operative movement
- co-operative
- Co-operative Commission
- Co-operative Congress
- Co-operatives UK
- Congress
- Cooperative
- Cooperatives
- Employment Change
- Environmental Issue
- Glasgow
- Iain Macdonald
- International Co-operative Alliance
- John Cronan
- Labor
- Law
- Pauline Green
- president
- Social Issues
- Social systems
- Structure
- Sylvia Jones
- The Co-operative Group
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