Michael Lawrence has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), succeeding Diana Dysktra. Lawrence, who has been a member of WOCCU’s Board of Directors since 2018, is the CEO of Australia’s Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA). He brings with him over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.
George Ombado, African Confederation of Cooperative Savings & Credit Associations (ACCOSCA) CEO, was reelected to the WOCCU Board of Directors to represent Africa.
The Board also appointed Jim Morell, CEO of Peninsula Community Federal Credit Union, to serve out the remainder of Dykstra’s term. Current Directors Dallas Bergl, Joe Thomas, and Jeff Guthrie were reappointed alongside new appointments, including Manfred Dasenbrock, Helene McManus, and Joseph Remy.
WOCCU Board committee officers for 2024-25 are:
- Michael Lawrence (Australia), Chair.
- Joe Thomas (USA), Vice Chair/Secretary.
- Dallas Bergl (USA), Treasurer/Chair of Audit and Risk Committee.
- Linda Bowyer (Canada), Chair of Governance and Elections Committee.
- Rafal Matusiak (Poland), Chair of Refugees, Relief and Rebuilding Committee.
“There is certainly a common thread that links us all. It doesn’t matter what part of the globe you’re from, but it’s rather about our values. It’s the purpose that we have to help people and the communities in which we operate. It’s the need for collaboration. And it’s also the power of our collective endeavors. As I connect with people more and more globally, and have conversations, the one thing I realize is that we all face very similar challenges, but equally we also face opportunities. And we need to front into these in a collective manner.” ~ New WOCCU Board Chair, Michael Lawrence
