The workshops have been presented by Chris Cooper, Director of Learning and Development, UK Co-operative College.

It all began in 2005 when the Deputy Chairman of the Co-operative Federation of Victoria Ltd, Graeme Charles, began discussing co-operative education with the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the UK Co-operative College, Mervyn Wilson.

In September 2005 Mervyn Wilson came to Australia made financially possible by Co-operatives WA inviting him to address their annual conference. After the annual conference, Mervyn Wilson came to Victoria and between 26 - 28 September 2005 was involved in a series of meetings with the Co-operative Federation of Victoria Ltd.

The first Co-operative Identity Workshops were held in August and September 2006 for Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co Ltd (Victoria) and Capricorn Society Limited (WA). The workshops were also presented by Chris Cooper, Director of Learning and Development at the UK Co-operative College.

The Co-operative Identity workshops have introduced a new and significant dynamic to Australia's co-operative movement and a number of individuals have been critical to this development - Graeme Charles (CFV), Peter Wells (Co-operatives WA), Trent Bartlett (Co-operatives WA and the Capricorn Society Ltd) and Chris Cooper and Mervyn Wilson (UK Co-operative College).

Australia's Co-operative Identity Program
http://www.australia.coop/artman2/publish/Co-op_Education_20/Australia_s_Co-operative_Identity_Program.php

Co-operative Workshop Success
http://www.australia.coop/artman2/publish/Co-op_Education_20/Co-operative_Workshop_Success_343.php

Aussie Co-ops Pioneer Education Program
http://www.australia.coop/artman2/publish/Co-op_Education_20/Aussie_Co-ops_Pioneer_Education_Program_335.php

For a detailed report on Mervyn Wilson's visit to Victoria:
http://www.australia.coop/publish/article_134.php

For a brief profile of Mervyn Wilson:
http://www.australia.coop/publish/article_50.php