Nick Hislop representing Australian co-ops in Fiji

Nick Hislop, BCCM Advisor and Care Together Program Manager, has been representing the BCCM and Australian co-ops and mutuals in Fiji this week at the “UNDESA Capacity Building Workshop: Empowering Cooperatives for Inclusive Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in the Pacific”.

The workshop kicked off with an inspiring opening address by Shaheen Ali, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives, who highlighted the need for establishing a Pacific network of co-operatives.

Oleg Serezhin, Head of Technical Cooperation at UNDESA, emphasised the crucial role co-operatives must play in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Nick delivered a compelling presentation on lessons learned from activities in Australia, like the Care Together program, and how the BCCM can support co-operatives in the Pacific.

Additionally, Nick had the pleasure of catching up with Haydee Bernal from the Federation of Peoples Sustainable Development Cooperative in the Philippines, and Australia’s Ann Apps, a legal expert and member of the ICA Global Law Committee.

Together, we’re building a more inclusive and sustainable future through the power of co-operatives!

Nick Hislop and Shaheen Ali were featured in an article in The Fiji Times: Fijian “Government has urged the private sector, in particular tourism and export sectors, to include co-operatives in its value chains.”