Organised by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF), the Annual Co-operative Leaders’ Conference (ACLC) 2024 is set to take place at Penang, Malaysia from 6 to 9 November.  

This year’s theme “Doing the Right Things, Doing Things Right” is an apt reminder on how co-operatives, with the right leadership and prescience, can scale the right mountains and attain new heights.  

Ahead of the centennial anniversary of the Singapore Co-operative Movement next year, not only can participants glean relevant insights from different thought leaders and industry experts at this year’s conference, they can also leverage the opportunity to mingle with different co-operative leaders and stakeholders to explore collaborations for the celebrations ahead.    

Prior to ACLC 2024, SNCF spoke with one of the conference’s speakers, Dr Wilson Chew of Singapore Institute of Directors, on the value of institutionalisation.  

Read the exclusive below.  

In one sentence, tell us who you are? And why you do what you do? 

Dr Wilson Chew: On who I am professionally, I am a finance-trained economist and a graduating law student, and I deploy my competencies in finance, economics and law in the service of my clients to help them design strategies for growth. 

On why I do what I do, (it’s that) deep love that I have for the sense of fulfilment of seeing my clients experience and enjoy such growth is the ONLY reason why I do what I do. 

We are excited to hear you speak at our conference. Could you perhaps offer a teaser of what you might be sharing? 

Dr Chew: Continuity is a challenge that many co-operatives face – co-operatives may neither prepare themselves for leadership renewal nor build the institutional capabilities needed to manage themselves over time. Institutionalisation helps address this challenge, and is a crucial process that cements the longevity and sustainability of a co-operative.  

In my session "Institutionalisation: Three Ways to Take it Forward", we will delve into what it means to institutionalise a co-operative. This will entail a discussion on how institutionalisation builds resilience that endures beyond individual leaders. We will also explore the essential elements of institutionalisation—ranging from frameworks to standardised practices—and identify the key stakeholders to engage throughout the journey.  

Lastly, we will highlight the critical junctures when a co-operative should begin considering institutionalisation and explore the key strategies and initiatives to undergo transformation into a sustainable entity.  

What do you wish participants can take home from your segment in ACLC 2024? 

Dr Chew: I hope participants would take away the following points: 

- Institutionalisation is a crucial process that addresses co-operatives' challenge in managing themselves in a sustainable way over time, beyond individual leaders.

- All co-operatives should seriously consider institutionalisation at some point.

- All co-operatives can undergo institutionalisation successfully and effectively if they approach it methodologically. 

Complete this sentence: leadership is ...  

Dr Chew: … the process where one or more person/s selects, equips, trains, and influences one or more follower(s) who have diverse gifts, abilities, and skills and focuses the follower(s) to the organisation’s mission and objectives causing the follower(s) to willingly and enthusiastically expend spiritual, emotional, and physical energy in a concerted coordinated effort to achieve the organisational mission and objectives. 

By Sng Ler Jun 

Interviews have been edited for clarity.