International Advocacy

Resource Center

 

Advocacy in Action 

Learn about the potential regulatory changes our team is tracking on behalf of the global credit union movement, the issues they are proactively raising to the international standard setting bodies and the ways they are connecting with our members around the world to ensure a level playing field for all credit unions and financial cooperatives.

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Advocacy Named Top Priority

WOCCU Board Chair Michael Lawrence (Australia) promoted International Advocacy as job one for the organization in a July 14 speech that detailed a new three-year strategy for the organization at the 2025 World Credit Union Conference in Stockholm, Sweden. WCUC 2025 also included seven breakout sessions focused on International Advocacy.

WCUC Advocacy Sessions

The 2025 World Credit Union Conference featured a record seven International Advocacy breakout sessions in Stockholm, Sweden, July 14-16. Paul Andrews and Erin O'Hern spoke with dozens of experts on a wide-ranging list of topics. You can read about what they discussed on the WCUC 2025 Blog.

Webinar

WOCCU hosted a June 11 virtual event that offered practical insights for credit union leaders seeking to strengthen their advocacy impact through the strategic alignment of global principles with national implementation strategies. David Malone, CEO of the Irish League of Credit Unions, joined our International Advocacy team for a panel discussion.

Thought Leadership

See how WOCCU and its partners are proactively setting the tone for international financial standards by getting in front of the key regulatory issues credit unions are facing today and in the future.

Why WOCCU is Focused on Advocacy

Paul Andrews, WOCCU Vice President of International Advocacy, explains why we are taking a more proactive approach to our advocacy work moving forward, and why engaging with our membership is key to that effort, in an article for CU Insight.

The Global Credit Union Difference: Stronger Together

Our credit union industry is at its strongest when we harness the strength of our global movement. That's what Steven Stapp, President and CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union and a former WOCCU Board Chair, writes in this recent op-ed for CU Insight. 

Why International Development Work Must Continue for Credit Unions

Credit unions are powering change around the world, but global development work is under threat. Cutting this work doesn’t just hurt communities abroad, it weakens U.S. influence and global stability. WOCCU Board Vice Chair Joe Thomas makes the case for why we must keep going in this opinion editorial for CU Insight.

 

Where We're Going

The WOCCU International Advocacy team is always on the road advocating on behalf of credit unions in front of international standard setters or collaborating with members to find solutions to regulatory issues. Here's a look at where they are headed next. 

Advocacy in the EU

Paul and Erin are gearing up to join the European Network of Credit Unions (ENCU) for a trip to Brussels this fall, where they will engage with representatives of the European Union to push for more proportional regulations for EU credit union systems.

Where We've Been

It has been a busy 2025 for our International Advocacy team. See where we've been out advocating on behalf of credit unions so far this year.

WCUC 2025

Our WOCCU International Advocacy team hosted a record seven breakout sessions on advocacy and regulatory policy at the 2025 World Credit Union Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, July 14-16. Paul Andrews also conducted a video interview with Tom Neylan, Head of Policy for the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), that was shown in the July 15 general session.

Caribbean Convention

Paul Andrews in June traveled to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, for the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions' 2025 International Convention. He hosted a breakout session for Caribbean credit union professionals on Advocacy and Influence: Strengthening the Voice of Credit Union Leagues in Policy and Regulation.

CCUA Annual Conference

Paul Andrews (second from left) in May traveled to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the 2025 Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA) Conference. He participated in a session that brought together industry leaders for a critical discussion on how evolving international, federal and provincial regulations are shaping the future of the sector.

Guides and Manuals

Protecting the Credit Union and Cooperative Model in a Year of Uncertainty

With a vast amount of regulatory uncertainty resulting from an unprecedented number of newly elected officials across the globe—2025 will be a critical year for credit union advocacy worldwide. That is the overriding theme of WOCCU International Advocacy's 2025 Global Regulatory Update.

Model Law on Credit Unions

The Model Law for Credit Unions provides a sample legislative framework to movement leaders, legislators, regulators and others in preparing and seeking approval of laws that will strengthen the safety and soundness of credit unions without imposing unreasonable regulatory burdens.