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Co-operative Capital Raising Symposium
May 30, 2018 @ 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Show us the Money
“In developing intergenerational self-reliance, co-operatives help to reduce welfare dependency… provide jobs for local people, offer goods and services and use procurement practices that support local business” – McClure Welfare Review report
The recent government welfare report recognised the importance of growing the co-op sector. One barrier that co-ops face, as social enterprises, is capital.
So how can co-operatives raise capital? How can we invest in co-operatives? The Co-op Capital Symposium presents a rare opportunity for expert insight into these questions.
Social impact investors, co-operatives, social enterprise developers and public service officials are invited to learn about investing in co-operatives from practitioners and successful co-operatives through case-study based presentations and small-group breakouts.
This is particularly pertinent at a time when social impact investment is maturing and co-operatives, such as the National Health Co-operative and The Co-operative Life, are some of the fastest growing social enterprises in Australia.
Agenda
- Welcome & introduction: Melina Morrison, CEO BCCM
- Introduction to Co-operative Capital: Robyn Donnelly, Co-op legal specialist
- Accessing debt-finance: Bank Australia
- What are CCUs and how do we use them?: Rohan Clarke – Partner, Co-operative Bonds
- Raising millions with the humble member share: Taryn Lane – General Manager, Hepburn Wind
- Fonterra Case Study: Aaron Jenkins, Syndex
- Green Brick Manufacturing Co-op capital raising exercise: Paul Curtis, Director of Green Brick Manufacturing Co-op
About the Speakers
Robyn Donnelly, Co-op legal specialist: Robyn Donnelly is a co-operative legal specialist who has worked as a solicitor, barrister and academic, as well as in the public service as Legal Manager for the NSW Registrar of Co-operatives and Associations. She is the author of BCCM’s publication, Community investment for Australian co-operatives: A Handbook
Bank Australia: Bank Australia is establishing itself as one of the more important social impact investors in Australia. It has been at the forefront of supporting new and innovative community and disability housing models.
Rohan Clarke – Partner, Co-operative Bonds: Following a career in the financial sector, Rohan Clarke now works as an entrepreneur and consultant, fostering the development of co-operatives particularly where technology and data intersect. Rohan worked extensively with social impact investment co-operative ORICoop on their recent Co-operative Capital Unit (CCU) offer. He will discuss CCUs, how they work and their potential.
Taryn Lane – General Manager, Hepburn Wind: Hepburn Wind Park Co-operative is Australia’s first community-owned wind farm. It is an excellent case study for raising capital for co-operatives, having used debt, grant and equity-based funding.Taryn Lane joined Hepburn Wind at a critical time in the communications phase of the project and delivered industry best standards in community engagement.The co-operative raised $10 million from member-investors using the community shares mechanism.
Aaron Jenkins, Syndex: Aaron Jenkins was one of the designers of the Trading Among Farmers Fonterra share structure. Aaron will present an interactive Q&A style presentation on the Trading Among Farmers (TAF) share structure at the world’s largest dairy company, Fonterra Co-operative Group. TAF successfully facilitates external investment in the co-operative, whilst protecting ownership and control amongst its farmer shareholders.
Paul Curtis, Director of Green Brick Manufacturing Co-op: Green Brick Manufacturing Co-op is licensed to build a new energy and cost efficient building insulation technology, which it will manufacture and market from its base in the Latrobe Valley. It is a social enterprise established to employ, train and mentor Australians who are disadvantaged in the employment marketplace.
Facilitated by Antony McMullen, Co-op Bonds: Antony is an expert in co-operative and social enterprise policy, education and development; and is a qualified practitioner in social impact, and, community development. He is also a former chair of a community legal centre, and former CEO of a church-based community services agency.
