Expertise needed for governance expert panel

The Co‑operative Governance Expert Reference Panel is calling for applications from co‑op finance experts following the decision of No1 CopperPot Credit Union’s Caroline Domanski to step down in January 2025. 

The Panel is seeking someone with recent expert experience in leadership and innovation in governance, with a specific focus on financial co-operatives and/or credit unions.  

Caroline said: “It’s been a pleasure to be part of the Co-operative Governance Expert Reference Panel. I have been lucky to work alongside experts in a range of co-operatives to combine our thoughts on best practices providing guidance in key governance areas.”

The Panel is an independent and authoritative voice on governance for the UK co‑operative movement and responds to input from the sector. It is facilitated by Co‑operatives UK and is made up of experts with proven experience in governance leadership and/or innovation, covering businesses of different sizes, complexity and risk profile.

It meets quarterly to enable Co‑operatives UK members to shape strategic priority for governance in the UK co‑op movement and to identify and recommend best practice and innovation. And it sets governance standards for co‑ops, encouraging new ideas, active challenge and debate.

Existing Panel member, Co-operatives UKs’ Emma Laycock, said: “Caroline has been a brilliant member of the Governance Panel. Her expertise and knowledge of credit unions and their governance has been fundamental to its work and the guidance it has created over the last few years. 

“The governance needs of financial co-operatives and credit unions can be different to other types of co-ops due to their different regulatory environment; the Panel needs to consider these differences when developing its guidance and best practice. I would encourage anyone with recent financial co-operative expertise to get in touch to discuss the role.”

How to apply

• If you would like to learn more about the Panel and what sort of candidate the Panel is looking for, please contact [email protected]
• Apply online here. The deadline for applications is midnight, Friday 10 January