The ICA’s Gender Equality Committee (GEC) has elected Xiomara Nuñez de Cespedes from the Dominican Republic as its Chair, at its annual plenary on 14 June. A new Executive Committee with two Vice-Chairs has also been elected.
Ms Nuñez de Cespedes comes from Cooperativa de servicios multiples de profesionales de enfermeria (COOPROENF), a cooperative of nurses in the Dominican Republic and has served as Vice President of the GEC and President of the Regional GEC of ICA Americas.
As Chair of the GEC, she plans to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality, promoting best practices from around the world.
She said: “Without a doubt, we have a long program to develop, but I am convinced that with all our efforts, we will achieve our goals of improving the quality and exercise of leadership of all cooperative women and men in the world.”
She takes over from María Eugenia Pérez Zea from ASCOOP in Colombia, who has served as Chair of the Committee since 2011.
Ms Pérez Zea was elected Vice President of the GEC along with Marjaana Saarikoski from SOK Corporation in Finland.
The GEC has also elected its Executive Committee as follows:
Xiomara Nuñez de Cespedes (chair)
María Eugenia Pérez Zea (Vicepresident)
Marjaana Saarikoski (Vicepresident)
Hilit Ben Zvi
Alessandra Brogliatto
Vanya Boyuklieva
The committee also approved three new members:
- Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM), Australia, with CEO Melina Morrison as GEC representative
- Federación de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito (FECOAC), Paraguay, with Gloria María Miño as GEC representative.
- Kibbutz Movement, Israel, with Director of Gender Department Hilit Ben Zvi as GEC representative
