In these turbulent times of growing inequalities, and climate change, we celebrate the global reach and influence of Robert Owen, as a Pioneering social reformer, who has inspired our imagination, understanding and practical role of co-operatives in building a fairer society for all.

We focus upon Robert Owen’s ideals as the founder of the co-operative movement and the five principles of the Community Wealth Building movement: Plural ownership of the economy; Making financial power work for local places, Fair employment and just labour markets, Progressive procurement of goods and services, Socially productive use of time, land, and propertyProgramme

09.55 -10.00: Welcome: Cllr. Richard Williams, Mayor, Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Council

10.00 -10.30: Robert Owen: the Community Wealth Building Pioneer

Exploring key themes of Owen’s co-operative approach that have relevance for the present day: Liz McIvor, Gillian Lonergan, & Chris Williams. Facilitated by Cilla Ross.

10.30 -11.05: Building on Owen’s Foundations: Creating Sustainable Communities.

• Neil McInroy, Innovative International and UK perspectives.
• Michael Brown, Sustainable Development from a grassroots perspectives
• Julie James, Labour & Co-operative MS, Swansea West, Welsh Government Minister for Climate Change

11.05 - 11.10: Comfort break

11.10-12.05: Reflections & Response from the audience with the Panel.

Facilitated by Cilla Ross. Honorary Professor in Co-operative Education, University of Nottingham. Founder of two education co-ops

Promoting an Annual Robert Owen Day

Organised by our members

Presenting:

• Michael Brown is a director of 'Open Newtown', a Development Trust managing a 140-acre asset transfer, and is director of Banc Cambria, a new mutual bank for Wales.
• Julie James Labour-Co-op MS. Until elected as Member of the Senedd for Swansea West, Julie was a leading environmental and constitutional lawyer. Julie was appointed Minister for Climate Change on 13 May 2021. https://gov.wales/julie-james-ms
• Gillian Lonergan – retired in 2019 after a career as a librarian for the Co-operative Union (now Co-operatives UK), the Co-operative College and the Co-operative Heritage Trust. Gillian is a chartered librarian, qualified archivist, and Fellow of the Society of Indexers.
• Neil McInroy - Senior Fellow for the Global Advancement of Community Wealth Building at the Democracy Collaborative. Former Chief Executive of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) - the UK national organisation for local economies. Neil is a Community Wealth Building Adviser to the Scottish Government.
• Dr. Liz McIvor is Trust Manager and lead at Co-operative Heritage Trust CIO and Social Historian based in the North West of England https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-mcivor-4b80a643/?originalSubdomain=uk
• Dr Cilla Ross is working with others to develop trade union co-ops for the ‘future of work’, co-creating alternative co-operative education models, & recasting ideas to do with knowledge(s) and co-operatives as sites of learning. In 2009 was a (https://www.centenarycommission.org/) Centenary Commissioner on the Commission on Adult Education. Now Hon Fellow of the Co-operative College.
• Professor Chris Williams Head of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences, & Professor of History at University College Cork, Ireland. His works include ‘Robert Owen and his Legacy’ (ed., with Noel Thompson; 2011) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Williams_(academic)

Organised by Co-ops & Mutuals Wales volunteers

Please note we are also holding the following event:

Saturday 2nd July 2022, 10 am – 12.0

Pioneer Robert Owen’s Impact Learning lessons for co-operation & education

Lecture: Robert Owen & co-operation by Prof. Chris Williams with audience’s contribution to promote his ideals within our national curriculum

See www.cooperativeswales.coop to book.