Natalie Browning makes history as the first Australian on the International Co-operative Alliance board

CBH’s first female grower director Natalie Browning is continuing to smash glass ceilings after becoming the first Australian elected to the International Co-operative Alliance’s Asia Pacific Board. Ms Browning was appointed to the 11-person board for a four-year term this month after a vote of its Asia-Pacific members. The Kondinin farmer made history when she became the first female grower director appointed to the CBH board in February 2018. Then aged 34, Ms Browning is also believed to be the youngest grower director in the co-operative’s now 88-year history. She added to her string of accolades when she was appointed deputy chair in April 2020 and was that year also selected to complete the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals Co-operative Farming program. Ms Browning said she hoped to use her role to promote Australian co-operatives, including CBH, on the global stage. “I am excited to have this opportunity to play a role in increasing awareness and recognition of Australia’s co-ops and mutuals and the important contribution they make to the economy and community in the Asia-Pacific region,” she said. “CBH has long-standing trading relationships in the Asia-Pacific region and valuable insights and experience that I look forward to contributing to.” The International Co-operative Alliance represents co-operatives from across the world, with 318 organisations from 112 countries representing a wide range of sectors — from agriculture to banking, fisheries, health, and housing. The ICA has four regional offices — in Asia Pacific, Africa, Americas and Europe — which all work to implement the group’s activities of supporting, promoting and uniting the global co-operative movement. Ms Browning has been involved with the 6400ha grain property at Kondinin since the age of 17, growing wheat, barley, canola, lupins and field peas. Born and raised in Kondinin, Ms Browning was a “townie” until she started farming with her now-husband, Karl. She had been a member of CBH’s Grower Advisory Council since 2016 but stepped down to take on the board position at CBH. Ms Browning said she believed the co-operative model could “drive further economic growth” in the Asia Pacific region because it delivered members “value in many forms” and not just profit. “Co-operatives look after communities, social values and the environment in which they operate, and I am looking forward to further contributing to the success of the co-operative model,” she said. Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals chief executive officer Melina Morrison said she was delighted to hear Ms Browning was the first Australian appointed to the ICA board. “Ms Browning not only represents Australia’s largest co-operative on the Board, her successful election means the voice of Australia’s more than 2000 co-operatives will be represented regionally,” Ms Morrison said. “Australia’s presence on the Board is an opportunity to explore research, education and trade collaboration with the region’s thousands of co-operatives active in agriculture, fishing, food processing, banking and insurance.”