Jacques Attali, A. Michael Spence, Riccardo Petrella, Dominic Barton, Felice Scalvini and many more prominent figures will be attending the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives

QUEBEC CITY, Feb. 16, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives has revealed the first series of prominent speakers coming from around the world to present their vision and share their expertise at the Summit, taking place from October 8 to 11, 2012 in Quebec City and Lévis, Canada. This initial line-up of speakers sets the tone for the event, which promises to promote "The Amazing Power of Cooperatives."

Jacques Attali, Economist and writer, President of PlaNet Finance (France)

Dominic Barton, Managing Director, McKinsey & Company (Canada)

Jean-Louis Bancel, President, Groupe Crédit Coopératif (France)

Kathy Bardswick, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Co-operators (Canada)

Leonardo Delgado, General Manager, FEDECOVERA (Guatemala)

Dr. Eudes de Freitas Aquino, President, Unimed do Brasil (Brazil)

Fortunatas Dirgincius, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Lithuanian Central Credit Union (Lithuania)

Paul W. Hazen, Executive Director, U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council (United States). Until recently, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA)

Colin Heavyside, Director - Chairman, Capricorn Society Limited (Australia)

Martin Lowery, Executive Vice President, External Affairs, The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (United States)

Peter Marks, Chief Executive, The Co-operative Group (Great Britain)

Alpha Ouédraogo, General Manager, Confédération des institutions financières (CIF) - West Africa (Burkina Faso)

Riccardo Petrella, Economist, political scientist and alter-globalist (Italy)

Antoinette C. Roxas, Youth Sector Representative, MSU-IIT Multi-Purpose Cooperative (The Philippines)

Felice Scalvini, Vice-President (Europe), International Co-operative Alliance (Italy)

A. Michael Spence, Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (2001) (United States)

The names of more leaders from the political, economic and social spheres, as well as other Nobel Prize recipients will be announced shortly. In total, some 130 speakers, renowned for their expertise, accomplishments and leadership, will be participating in the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives. They will show how the cooperative and mutualist approach responds to the issues facing various sectors, including financial services, farm management, retail, insurance and public utilities, both in the most developed countries and in growing economies.

Their participation will help fulfill the mission of the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives, which is to identify the major business issues facing cooperatives and mutuals and offer solutions that will promote their development and performance, while propelling the cooperative and mutualist business model onto the world stage.

For more information on the speakers, visit www.2012intlsummit.coop/site/speakers 

Registration 

Participants can register now by visiting the Summit website at:  www.qvc.qc.ca/sommetinter2012/en

IMAGINE 2012 OFFICIAL PRE-SUMMIT EVENT

World-renowned figures will be appearing at Imagine 2012, the international conference on co-operative economics, the official pre-Summit event

Prelude to the Summit, the Imagine 2012 Conference will also be hosting a group of prominent figures, including:

Thomas Homer-Dixon, holds the Centre for International Governance Innovation Chair of Global Systems at the Balsillie School of International Affairs (Canada)

Manfred Max-Neef, recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, Professor of Economics (Chile)

Elinor Ostrom, Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (2009) (United States)

Richard G. Wilkinson, Professor Emeritus, University of Nottingham Medical School and Honorary Professor, University College London (Great Britain)

Stefano Zamagni, Vice Director, Bologna Center (Italy)

Presented by St. Mary's University, Imagine 2012 is designed to bring together the leadership of the world's major cooperatives and leading economic thinkers and provide a forum in which a new approach to economic thought can be explored thus creating renewed hope for an economy that truly meets people's needs.

For more information on the speakers, visit: www.imagine2012.coop

About the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives

More than 1,500 decision-makers and influential figures from the international cooperative and mutualist community will attend the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec City and Lévis, Canada, from October 8 to 11, 2012. Under the theme "The Amazing Power of Cooperatives," the Summit aims to offer solutions that will promote the development and performance of cooperatives and mutuals so that they are better prepared to meet the economic and financial challenges they face.

Summit site:  www.2012intlsummit.coop
Twitter:  Summitcoop2012
UN's IYC site: 2012 International Year of Cooperatives
Pre-Summit site: Imagine 2012

For further information:

(for journalists only):

Nathalie Genest
514-281-7275 / 1-866-866-7000, ext. 7275 (Canada only)
[email protected]p