Jo Bird Curriculum Vitae
Experience
2003 - current: International Co-operative Solutions
Lead Consultant
- Clients include: United Co-operatives, Merci: Centre for Sustainable Living, Together Works CIC: Social Enterprise Manchester, the Co-operative College, Co-operatives UK, Zaytoun Ltd, Palestine Fair Trade Association, Shared Interest, Young Co-operatives, Equal Exchange, Northmoor Community Association.
- Expanding market for Fair Trade Palestinian olive oil and food products.
- Organising strategic study and speaking tours to and from the UK.
- Researched & wrote business plan for 'Social Enterprise Manchester'.
- Increasing clients' trading and grant income, eg from the Co-op Fund.
- Development and delivery of 'Co-ops and the Community' and 'Co-ops and Sustainability' training courses to elected co-op members.
- Face to face promotion of Fair Trade in schools and to co-op members.
- In-country reports and photo-journalism on Fair Trade producers.
- Represent worker co-op interests on Co-operatives UK national committee: Employee Co-operatives Council.
2003 - 2007: Olive Co-operative Ltd
Business Manager
- Walked the talk of co-operative values and principles.
- Founder member and Director of co-op business.
- Managed 200 clients in small study groups to Israel/Palestine.
- Raised £30,000 from 400 donors to plant 7,500 new olive trees in Palestine.
- Import, wholesale and retail of 100+ fairly traded Palestinian products.
- Ongoing development of all systems for growing business.
2001 - 2003: the Co-operative Group (CWS) Ltd Co-op
Strategy Manager & Head of Co-operative Action
- Built and delivered Co-operative Action partnerships. Managed £2m+ grant program plus £1m+ Community Dividend scheme.
- Pioneered Group-wide community investment strategy - benchmarking business in top six most generous UK businesses.
- Forged strong relationships within UK, Israeli, Palestinian and Swedish co-operatives, and across the political spectrum.
- Drove Social Goals agenda with the Head of Co-op Strategy.
1999 - 2001: Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd Membership
Resources Manager
- Championed Co-operative Commission findings on social goals, co-operative advantage and commercial success.
- Developed twenty seven tangible member benefits - generating £74,000 sales within six months.
- Built strong working relationships within merged co-operative businesses at all levels and in all UK Regions.
1996 - 1999: Bully Free Zone
Project Co-ordinator
- Line manager of five-strong staff team with 200+ volunteers.
- Forged borough-wide stakeholder partnerships with sixteen schools to reduce bullying.
- Secured draw-down of £1/2m Dept for Education & Employment funding to combat social exclusion and expand the organisation.
- Devised and delivered training to 200+ teachers and pupils pa.
1993 - 1996: Equinox Housing Co-operative Ltd
Founder Member and Treasurer
- Raised £100,000 investment and loans from Co-op Bank, Radical Routes and private investors to buy 8 bed property.
- Ensured best practice and compliance with IPS legislation.
1990 - 2005: Re-evaluation Co-Counselling
Approved teacher
- Taught peer counselling courses and self development through paired listening and group work.
- Organised and took part in local play days, family workshops, national weekend retreats and international conferences.
1990 - 1995: Underground Power Co-ordinator
- Founder and activist in young people's rights voluntary organisation.
- Led residential and weekly activities with teenagers and young adults.
- Forged partnerships with others to campaign for UN Convention on Rights of the Child, particularly Article 12 - young people's right to have their opinion counted on matters that affect them.
1992 - 1993: Manchester University Student Union
Academic Affairs Officer, Executive Committee
- Won contested election to sabbatical position.
- Represented student body to politicians, media and university.
- Collective accountability for all aspects of Student Union, including income generation.
Qualifications
1989 - 1992: Manchester University: B.Soc.Sci. Sociology Degree IIi
Training
Recent training courses and conferences have included small business management, co-operative governance, money laundering law, the international co-op movement, project management, strategies for impact and influence, media, performance review, employment law, fostering, first aid, fire marshal training.
Languages
Good everyday understanding of Arabic, French and Spanish.
References
Heather
Masoud, former Director of Olive Co-operative and current Director
of Zaytoun Ltd - a regular freelance client of International Co-operative
Solutions heather[at]zaytoun.org- Iain Macdonald, former Head of Co-operative Strategy, the Co-operative Group. Now Director General, International Co-operative Alliance, 15 Route des Morillons, 1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland. Fax: +41 (0)22 798 4122. Iain.Macdonald[at]ica.coop
- Helen Seymour, former chair of Co-operative Action management group, Co-operatives UK, Holyoake House, Hanover Street, Manchester M60 0AS. helen.seymour[at]cooperatives-uk.coop
