Episode 28: Meet the First WOCCU Board Observers

Eleonora Zgonjanin Petrovikj, CEO of FULM Savings House (North Macedonia) and Patrick Rico, External Affairs Manager at ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative (Philippines), join the podcast to discuss being recipients of the inaugural 2023 WOCCU Fellowship. WOCCU in April launched the first Fellowship nominations to encourage credit union leaders under the age of 40 and women of any age to apply to serve as “observers” on the WOCCU Board of Directors. Zgonjanin and Rico were selected from a pool of 52 applicants from 12 countries. They will attend and participate in three WOCCU Board meetings over a one-year period, beginning in fall of 2023. Their travel expenses, including airfare, hotel and local transportation, will be covered by WOCCU, including registration to attend the 2024 World Credit Union Conference. As observers, they will receive all material information provided to members of the Board but will not have formal voting rights during the Board of Directors’ meetings. They will also receive mentorship from members of the WOCCU Board, or from members of the WOCCU or Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions’ staff. Learn what they bring to the table and what they hope to accomplish over the next year as they look to lay the foundation for future WOCCU Board Observers to follow.