The perspectives of women leaders catalyzing opportunities in science, technology, and innovation through global co-ops and collaborative networks, also known as solidarity economies, will be highlighted through a curated panel discussion facilitated by Canadian leaders from Zebras Unite Co-op, a global community of changemakers, entrepreneurs, investors, and allies dedicated to building companies that prioritize people, purpose, planet, and profit.

In his 2021 report, Secretary-General Guterres identified co-ops as a critical economic and social action solution in the global COVID-19 recovery strategy. In February 2022 at the 60th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development, ICA President Guarco highlighted the role of cooperatives in driving an inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19. According to UN data, 12% of the global population are co-operators working through over 3 million co-operatives. Co-ops provide jobs or work opportunities to 10% of all employed population. The 300 largest cooperatives generate $21.5 Trillion USD while delivering the services and infrastructure society needs to thrive.

A panel of SMEs including C-suite executives and leading researchers from the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), Zebras Unite Co-opInternational, academia, public sector and the Impact Arts Co-op and Society of Canada to highlight their work on many different SDG’s to amplify the impact of cooperative leadership in achieving Goal #17, Partnership for Goals.

Extended post-summit learning opportunities will be provided by all panel participants to facilitate access to resources and tech-enabled solutions to empower knowledge, artisan, cultural, and emerging tech workers from historically excluded communities worldwide.

Moderator: Miah Shull Olmsted, ZU Founding Member, Canadian Ambassador and ED Impact Arts Co-op Society (IAC)

Panelist: Kate “Sassy” Sassoon (confirmed), Zebras Unite Co-opU Founding Member and Director of Cooperative Membership, Founder of Sassy Facilitation

Panelist: Dr. Rosalind Warner (confirmed), Zebras Unite Co-opU Member, Teaching Faculty and Research Fellow with the Earth System Governance Project

Panelist: Dr. Macarena Cataldo-Hernandez (confirmed), Zebras Unite Co-opU member, IAC co-founder, CEO Viridis Research and president of Vancouver Radio Co-op (see press here and here)

Panelist: Dr. Bridget Nwagbara, (confirmed), Co-founder VieDial Healthcare, Zebras Unite Co-opU member, IAC co-founder

Panelist: Charlene SanJenko (confirmed), CEO ReGEN and PowHERhouse Impact Media Group (see press)

Panelist: Lindsey Murphy (confirmed), Co-founder Murph Media, Zebras Unite Co-opU Columbia SC Chapter Co-lead, and AMEX 100 Founder of Change (see press links pending)

Panelist: Jessica (Malkin) Mason, Zebras Unite Co-op Founding Member, ED Start.coop

Panelist: Lauren Ruffin (invited and in conversation) Co-Founder @ Crux | Head, Office of Movement Building @ YBCA

Panelist: Elke Leyman (invited) -  Founder Re-story Co-op, Zebras Unite Co-opU Ghent Chapter Lead

Youth Panelist: Maia Wallace (confirmed) UBC Student Representative, IAC Partner

Youth Panelist: Sage Lacerte (invited) Collab Indigenous Leader

Youth Panelist: Yamila Franco (invited) IBPOC/Science/Collab Leadership

Youth Panelist: Dela Hini (invited) ZU member and IAC co-founder

Youth Panelist (back-up): Medha Ramdewar (available) student ZU member and UBCO Co-op student intern

The role women-led global co-op networks perform in addressing gender equality amid COVID-19 and beyond