International Year of Cooperatives 2025 – A message from Melina Morrison

17 February 2025

Melina Morrison, CEO BCCM:

“Hello. Greetings co-operators. 2025 is an important and exciting year for co-operatives and mutual. It’s the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives, designated with the theme “Cooperatives build a better world”. Cooperatives and mutual are an important part of the Australian economy and community life. Almost 2,000 business are co-operatives and mutuals, and collectively, they have combined turnover of more than $40 billion. Eight in ten Australians are members of at least one co-operative or mutually owned organisation. Globally, more than a billion people are members of an estimated three million co-operatives world wide.

Wherever they operative, co-operatives and mutuals hold true to the same seven international Cooperative Principles, including open and voluntary membership, democratic governance, education, training and awareness, concern for the community and co-operation amongst co-operatives. So in this second United Nations International Year of Cooperatives, let’s take a moment to shine a light on our amazing business model that keeps us true to our purpose, putting people and planet before profit.

Please join us in sharing your story of co-operation in the BCCM Icons campaign.

Thank you.”