Alison Lamond

Occupation: Socio-Economic Consultant

Co-operative Businesses traded with in last 12 months Food

Skills and experience

Live in the Scottish Borders. Organisational Trustee on the Cooperative College Board. Attend the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Co-operatives on behalf of the College and wider Co-op movement. Worked for the Co-op in membership in the former Scotland and North Region. Served on the former Lothian and Borders Area Committee and Scotland and NI Values and Principles Committee until 2015. Part of workers’ co-operative providing socio-economic research. Committed to equality and democratic participation.

Additional information

I have a background in working for The Co-operative Group in membership in Scotland and the North of England, latterly as Regional Co-operative Membership Manager in North Region. When I returned to Scotland, I was elected to one of the former Area Committees in the Scottish Borders. I now work in a workers’ co-operative undertaking socio-economic research at a local, national, and international level. In 2017 I was elected as Trustee to the Co-operative College Board representing the College's organisation members. I attend the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Co-operatives, representing the College. I am a member of Co-operative Energy.

Our National Members’ Council needs members who are capable of playing a positive role in championing our values and principles, there is a need to embrace these structures and make them work in the interests of our consumer members. To do this, we need forward looking, well informed, Council members with an excellent understanding of, and commitment to, our businesses and the wider co-operative movement.

Our democratic system has to evolve in a co-operative, yet robust manner, with the Council working effectively to carry out its five key roles, not the least of which is holding our Board to account in the interests of our membership, and our values and principles. This will only be achieved through active and focused Council members, who pay attention not only to their role in relationship to the business, but also look outwards connecting with our members and their communities.

The Co-operative is a primary food retailer in Scotland with a presence in every postcode and expanding. It is therefore important to understand the significance of our presence in communities as a key service, provider of employment, and supporter of local activities. This emphasises the importance of our businesses not only trading fairly, but treating all of our employees fairly, supporting their families and contributing to local economies.

We need to ensure that our businesses focus on member need, recognising differences across the UK. We also need to ensure that our democratic structures are representative of our membership, recognising the fact, that the majority of our consumer members are women. It is therefore important that we continue to address achieving gender equity on our Board and on our Council and Senate.

I recognise that the Council, meeting four times a year, will have its work cut out in carrying out its roles effectively. I believe that I have the commitment, understanding, and skills to make a contribution in promoting the interests of our members in line with the Co-operative’s purpose - “Championing a better way of doing business for you and your communities”.