Global customer-owned banking gathering comes to Sydney for first time
Former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard (pictured, left) and leadership expert Holly Ransom (pictured, right) have been announced as keynote speakers at the upcoming World Credit Union Conference (WCUC) in Sydney.
It’s set to be the first time WCUC, which is being co-hosted by the Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) and the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), will be held in Sydney. More than 2,500 delegates from the global mutual sector expected to attend.
"We are pleased to announce the Hon Julia Gillard AC and Holly Ransom as our first keynote speakers for WCUC 2026. They are both exceptional Australian leaders whose insights on integrity and purpose align perfectly with the values of the customer-owned banking sector," said COBA chief executive and WOCCU Chair Michael Lawrence.
Gillard, who became Australia’s 27th prime minister and first woman to hold the job in 2010 following a leadership spill, will discuss the rising expectations of leadership at a time of record-low trust in institutions.
Ransom will draw on more than a decade spent steering high‑stakes conversations with figures such as Malcolm Gladwell, Condoleezza Rice and Barack Obama to discuss how to build and sustain high‑performing teams in a world of constant change.
Acclaimed recording artist and producer Freddie Ravel will close the event.
"We look forward to welcoming our international colleagues to Sydney," said Lawrence. “This conference is a great opportunity for our sector to collaborate across borders, address regulatory challenges, and discuss how to meet evolving community needs. Ultimately, it allows us to strengthen our purpose-led banking model and drive global financial innovation.”
The WCUC 2026 will take place at the International Convention Centre Sydney between 19 and 22 July.
