Press

Early Bird Deadline Approaching for World Credit Union Conference

Attendees from more than 50 countries already registered

MADISON, WI — Time is running out to take advantage of the early bird deadline for World Council of Credit Unions’ 2013 World Credit Union Conference in Ottawa, Canada, July 14–17, 2013. The registration fee will increase US$200 per attendee after May 9.

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to connect with peers from around the world and to hear from leading business minds. Keynote speakers include Simon Sinek, corporate leadership strategist; Charlene Li, social media and technologies expert; and Ian Shelley, IT and mobile payments guru, who are driving change within and outside the credit union industry. Attendees also have the opportunity to take in historical sites and award-winning destinations with sightseeing tours in conjunction with the conference.

“We have focused on creating a high caliber education program for this year’s conference,” said World Council President and CEO Brian Branch. “As we gather in Canada’s capital, this event will equip, connect and champion the global credit union community.”

This year’s conference also features local credit union visits, breakout sessions packed with field-tested solutions, as well as countless opportunities to build a lasting professional network.

Bonus networking and educational sessions include:

Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions’ charity golf tournament, a fundraising and networking event at the Loch March 18-hole golf course on July 13. Register by May 9 for a discounted registration fee.
Global Women’s Leadership Forum, the annual networking and educational gathering of the Global Women’s Leadership Network, the world’s only peer-to-peer credit union women’s leadership organization. The network will meet prior to the conference on July 14 and will hear from Sheryl WuDunn, Pulitzer Prize winner and co-author of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.
World Council’s Young Credit Union People (WYCUP) program, the annual educational and networking event for credit union professionals age 35 and younger. Five scholarship applicants will receive all-expense-paid scholarships to the 2014 World Credit Union Conference in Australia. The WYCUP program begins July 14 and runs concurrently with the conference.

A companion program and wide variety of sightseeing tours are available for attendees’ guests. Spaces are still available on the Niagara Falls Region pre-tour, July 9–13, and for day tours of Ottawa and Montreal during the conference. Tours are filling quickly, so early registration is recommended.

Register on or before May 9 to take advantage of discounted registration fees. Early registration is encouraged due to limited hotel availability. Visit www.Ottawa2013.org for more information about the conference and to register for the event.

World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions’ financial performance and increase their outreach.

World Council has implemented more than 290 technical assistance programs in 71 countries. Worldwide, 51,000 credit unions in 100 countries serve 196 million people. Learn more about World Council’s impact around the world at www.woccu.org.