Senior leaders from the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) and its members joined a high-level gathering of cooperative and mutual leaders in Madrid (Spain) last week to discuss bold new strategies for growing the global cooperative and mutual sector. The meeting, held on 21–22 May 2025, brought together the Cooperative and Mutuals 50 (CM50) leadership circle as part of the United Nations-designated International Year of Cooperatives.
Organised by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)—the global network representing cooperatives across all industries—the CM50 meeting focused on strengthening a shared vision for the movement, shaping advocacy ahead of the upcoming UN World Social Summit, and finalising a strategic roadmap for growth through to 2030 and beyond.
As the insurance arm of the ICA, ICMIF was proud to see strong representation from the mutual and cooperative insurance sector at this influential meeting. ICMIF’s current and former CEOs participated alongside 15 CEOs from ICMIF member organisations who are also CM50 members.
Liz Green, ICMIF Chief Executive, attended the meeting and commented: “The CM50 meeting in Madrid gathered a dynamic group of cooperative and mutual leaders, all committed to advancing the future of our movement. Among them were 15 CEOs from ICMIF member organizations, contributing to an atmosphere rich in collaboration and shared purpose. The event offered a meaningful platform for exchanging ideas and building connections with leaders from other cooperative and member-owned enterprises—highlighting the value of aligning with organizations across diverse sectors that share common values and missions. We trust that our ICMIF member leaders, representing the mutual and cooperative insurance sector, found the experience both valuable and inspiring as they engaged with peers from across the global cooperative community.”
The CM50 group used the Madrid meeting to co-create a commitment plan for 2025 and the 2026–2030 strategic period, as well as to align its advocacy efforts with emerging global policy priorities. Key topics included advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), influencing outcomes at the UN World Social Summit in Doha this November, and positioning cooperatives and mutuals as essential players in addressing global social, environmental, and economic challenges.
Shaun Tarbuck, former CEO of ICMIF, co-initiator of the CM50 and Chair for the Madrid CM50 meeting, said: “I was delighted that nearly 50 of the CM50 leaders had attended and that they were inspired by the opportunities that we can create together. We now have a commitment plan that focuses on advocacy both in the short term towards Doha, the World Social Summit (WSS) in November, and long-term to promote cooperative and mutual businesses as solution providers for governments’ challenges. We also agreed that increasing business-to-business between cooperatives and mutuals was crucial and committed to facilitating this through enabling solutions. In summary, the first face-to-face meeting of the CM50 has created huge momentum for our sector to do more together and to inspire other leaders in our sector.”
Jeroen Douglas, ICA Director General, also highlighted the power of cooperatives to respond to crisis and drive sustainable development, saying: “Through the CM50 we are not only showcasing our ability to advance a more sustainable future, but highlighting how our organisations, as models of good business, are able to impact and transform society, and increase the market share for cooperatives which in turn will help to build a better world.”
The meeting was supported by Fundación Espriu, Assistència Sanitària, and ASISA Group, and was closed by the Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz.
As the world prepares for the World Social Summit and looks ahead to a new era of cooperative growth, ICMIF remains committed to championing the unique role of mutual and cooperative insurers within the broader cooperative movement—and to working with CM50 peers to shape a stronger, fairer, and more resilient global economy.
