Proudly hosted by the Centre for Co-operative Studies at Cork University Business School, University College Cork In collaboration with The Lough Credit Union, Cork.

Co-operatives, including credit unions, are owned and controlled by their members. Meeting the needs of members and the wider community is at the heart of what they do. Good governance in co-operatives and credit unions is important. Drawing on the speaker’s 2025 book, Co-operatives: Linking Practice and Theory, this talk brings out the similarities and differences in the governance of co-operatives compared to investor-owned firms. The talk is informed by co-operative governance theory, but is focused on its practical application. The talk will consider how governance needs can change over different stages of the lifecycle of a co-operative. All those involved in co-operatives and credit unions, or studying them, will find this talk of relevance. 

Ian Adderley is a lawyer, chartered secretary, and Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute. He is widely regarded as an expert on co-operative governance, and is a regular speaker at conferences in the UK and internationally. He is the author of the 2025 book, Co-operatives: Linking Practice and Theory, a primer on co-operatives and co-operation. Alongside his role as a regulator, he’s also a trustee of the UK Society for Co-operative Studies, the Co-operative Heritage Trust, and IUS Cooperativum, an international network of co-operative lawyers.