Empowering Women and Young Professionals in Credit Union Leadership
Nominations are now open for the Second Annual WOCCU Fellowship. Credit union women and young professionals are encouraged to apply.
World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) is inviting emerging credit union leaders under 40 and women of any age to apply for the 2024 WOCCU Fellowship. This fellowship will designate one person from each of those categories to participate in WOCCU Board of Directors’ meetings for a period of one year.
To be considered for the Fellowship, candidates must:
– Be employees, current board directors, or members of other elected governance systems, either with a direct member of WOCCU or a financial cooperative institution affiliated with that direct member.
– Have demonstrated leadership contribution to their community, organization, and credit union system.
Applicants must apply online by June 15, 2024, and include a resume, along with a video and essays that:
– Demonstrate their governance and leadership experience.
– Highlight local initiatives that promote women and emerging leaders in governance.
– Identify strategies to address demographic gaps in governance.
The Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN) and the World Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP) jointly manage the application process across their respective networks.
WOCCU will announce this year’s Fellowship recipients at its 2024 Annual General Meeting on July 22, at the World Credit Union Conference in Boston, USA.
Recipients of the 2024 WOCCU Fellowship will succeed Eleonora Zgonjanin, CEO of FULM Savings House (North Macedonia), and Patrick John Rico, External Affairs Manager at ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative (Philippines), who will complete their one-year tenures as the inaugural Fellows at their third and final WOCCU Board of Directors Meeting in July 2024.
“Involving youth in credit union leadership is vital for their future success. My role as a WOCCU board observer has shown me the challenges they face and the importance of their input in building resilient cooperatives,” said Rico.
2024 WOCCU Fellowship recipients will attend Board of Directors meetings over a one-year period, beginning in October 2024. Their travel expenses, including airfare, hotel, and local transportation, will be covered by WOCCU, including registration to attend the 2025 World Credit Union Conference.
Fellows will receive all material information provided to members of the Board but will not have formal voting rights during the Board of Directors’ meetings. They will also receive mentorship from members of the WOCCU Board or from members of the WOCCU or Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions’ staff.
Launched in 2023, the WOCCU Fellowship is designed to promote the representation of women and emerging leaders in governance roles, which is a shared goal and ongoing challenge among credit unions and financial cooperatives across our global movement.
Apply here 2024 WOCCU Fellowship | World Council of Credit Unions
