Senior Australian co-operative and mutual leaders travelled to London and Brussels this month for a week of meetings focused on how member-owned businesses can grow, compete and deliver greater value for their members.
Mutuo worked with the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) to develop the programme as part of the BCCM International Mutual Leadership Program 2026, bringing together leaders from banking, agriculture, care services and motoring mutuals with leading UK and European mutual businesses, policymakers and sector experts.
Across the week, delegates explored different routes to growth.
Newcastle Building Society, Chief Executive Andrew Haigh discussed the role of place, purpose and community in the Society’s strategy. Coventry Building Society, Group Chief Executive Steve Hughes shared lessons from Coventry’s expansion and acquisition of The Co-operative Bank, while Nationwide CEO Dame Debbie Crosbie discussed leadership, scale and Nationwide’s acquisition of Virgin Money.
The group also visited Arla Foods and Royal London, looking at how mutual and co-operative businesses can combine commercial ambition with long-term value for members.
Public policy formed another important part of the programme. At the House of Commons, delegates met Andrew Pakes MP, members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Mutuals, and representatives from government and regulators to discuss how policy can help member-owned businesses grow.
International exchange continued in Brussels, where the delegation met Nina Schindler, CEO of the European Association of Co-operative Banks, and visited P&V Group to discuss co-operative banking, insurance, social impact and long-term mutual strategy.
The week reinforced a clear theme: growth and mutual purpose can strengthen each other. Stronger businesses can deliver more for their members, employees and communities, while mutual ownership can provide a distinctive foundation for long-term success.
It also showed the value of sharing experience across countries and sectors. Although markets and regulatory systems differ, co-operatives and mutuals around the world face many of the same questions around growth, capital, governance, member engagement and purpose.
Mutuo has worked with BCCM since 2013 on projects designed to strengthen and grow the Australian co-operative and mutual sector.