Former Prime Minister the Hon Julia Gillard AC and globally recognised leadership expert Holly Ransom will headline the World Credit Union Conference 2026 (WCUC) as Australian keynote speakers.
The conference represents the largest international gathering of credit unions and mutual banks, and is co-hosted by the Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) and the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU).
This marks the first time WCUC will be held in Sydney, with more than 2,500 delegates from the global mutual sector expected to attend.
“We are pleased to announce the Hon Julia Gillard AC and Holly Ransom as our first keynote speakers for WCUC 2026. They are both exceptional Australian leaders whose insights on integrity and purpose align perfectly with the values of the customer-owned banking sector,” said COBA CEO and WOCCU Chair Michael Lawrence.
Australia’s 27th Prime Minister and the first woman ever to hold the nation’s highest office will share reflections on leadership that brings people together at a time when trust in institutions is under strain and expectations of leaders are rising. Ms Gillard’s address will explore how values-led organisations can elevate diverse voices, strengthen trust and unite communities around shared purpose.
Globally recognised leadership expert Holly Ransom has spent more than a decade facilitating the conversations that define organisations at their most critical moments, and leading public dialogues with figures such as Malcolm Gladwell and Condoleezza Rice – including a session personally requested by Barack Obama. Her address will draw on that distinctive vantage point to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing leaders today: building and sustaining high-performance teams in a world of constant change.
Closing WCUC 2026 will be globally acclaimed recording artist and producer of Grammy-winning projects Freddie Ravel. He uses the principles of music – rhythm, timing, listening and harmony – to show how leaders can create stronger alignment, connection and performance across their organisations.
The WCUC is the premier international event for the cooperative finance industry, offering delegates four days of high-level networking and global perspectives.
“We look forward to welcoming our international colleagues to Sydney,” said Mr. Lawrence.
“This conference is a great opportunity for our sector to collaborate across borders, address regulatory challenges, and discuss how to meet evolving community needs. Ultimately, it allows us to strengthen our purpose-led banking model and drive global financial innovation,” he added.
Now in its 21st year, the conference is the leading global gathering for credit unions, mutual banks, and cooperative financial institutions. The WCUC 2026 will take place at the International Convention Centre Sydney from 19 – 22 July 2026.
Registrations for WCUC 2026 are now open. To secure your ticket and view the program, head here.
ENDS
For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact media@coba.asn.au.
The Customer Owned Banking Association is the industry body for mutual banks, credit unions and building societies. For almost 180 years our sector has put customers first, returning profits to 5.4 million Australians who put their trust in customer-owned banks.