Co-operatives as policy tools for economic and social transformation
Date: Thursday the 13th November 2025
Time: 09.30 to 13:00 (GMT)
Venue: Long Gallery, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3XX
A conference in Belfast with national and international experts on how co-operatives can reshape economic and social systems.
The event will opened by the Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald and addressed by speakers including Dr Jerome Warren (University of Cologne), Ian Adderley (FCA and UKSCS) and Professor Mo Moulton (University of Birmingham).
The programme features a range of speakers and interactive panel sessions designed to inspire policy innovation and practical action. Drawing on the speakers' expertise, conference participants will hear about policy and legislative frameworks from around the world that best support the start-up and growth of alternative business models as well as the impacts co-operatives have in economic and social terms across their historical development in different nations.
The conference is also designed as forum to discuss the future of economic development across Ireland with particular reference to the use of co-operatives. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions on the barriers and opportunities for growing the co-operative sector in Northern Ireland.
The conference is organised by Co-operative Alternatives in collaboration with Dr Partick Doyle (University of Limerick) and funded by the National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland
