New professional development courses for NZ co-op directors

14 August 2014

New professional development courses for NZ co-op directors

A new suite of professional development courses for cooperative company directors, designed by the best in the business looks set to benefit the boardrooms of co-ops throughout New Zealand.

Cooperative Business NZ and the Institute of Directors have this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement to jointly develop a programme tailor-made to meet the governance requirements of Kiwi co-ops.

The organisations outlined their new strategic partnership in a joint statement released following today’s [August 14] Annual General Meeting of Cooperative Business held in Auckland.

Cooperative Business Chief Executive Ian Macintosh says the programme will deliver additional benefits to his organisation’s membership.

“One of our key roles is the professional development of directors and senior executives of co-ops, and those interested in the sector.

“We’re continually looking to offer innovative programmes that provide the latest and best in co-operative education. By partnering with the Institute of Directors we’re confident that we will develop training specifically for cooperatives’ chairs and directors with varying levels of experience and expertise,” he says.

Institute of Directors Chief Executive Dr William Whittaker says the cooperative sector is important to the New Zealand economy and is an area where good governance can add real value.

“There’s a direct correlation between governance and performance. Good governance leads to optimal business decision making, which drives best economic outcomes. This also has flow on impacts on society, so it’s important that organisations really understand governance,” Dr Whittaker says.

It is expected that the first course developed by the partnership will be offered to Cooperative Business members by the end of the year.

Cooperative Business NZ represents the interests of this country’s cooperatives - or ‘co-ops’ as they are sometimes known - which account for more than three percent of New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP), employ 43,000 people and turn over $41 billion a year.

Bringing together the country's cooperative businesses in a not-for-profit incorporated society, Cooperative Business New Zealand:
• promotes the cooperative business model;
• encourages and supports New Zealand cooperative enterprise;
• acts as a representative society for those engaged as cooperatives;
• promotes discussion and cooperation with decision-makers at all levels of government designed to further the interests of cooperatives;
• facilitates and coordinates services, expertise and research in support of the cooperative business model;
• collects, verifies and publishes relevant and useful information relating to cooperative enterprise.

The Institute of Directors promotes excellence in corporate governance, represents directors’ interests and facilitates their professional development through education and training.

It is a membership organisation of over 6,500 individuals representing the spectrum of New Zealand enterprise, from the public and private sectors.

ENDS

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