Between 30 Oct and 2 Nov, I was in Shenzhen with fellow board directors and colleagues from TCC Credit Co-operative Limited for the Annual Co-operative Leaders Conference (ACLC), organised by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF).
140 co-operators from 30 Singapore co-operatives attended – the biggest turnout yet. The conference focused on two issues every co-op in Singapore is dealing with: technology adoption and engaging younger members.
The Technology Question
Artificial intelligence came up in almost every session.
Can co-ops use AI to handle repetitive tasks better? Will it help us serve members faster without adding headcount? How do we compete with banks and commercial entities that are already automating everything?
The answer is probably yes. But the harder question is whether we can do it without turning into the very institutions we’re supposed to be different from. Co-operatives exist because members matter more than profits. That principle doesn’t scale easily with automation.
Many co-op leaders are already experimenting. Customer service chatbots, document processing, and predictive tools for member needs. The technology works.
The question is whether we’re implementing it thoughtfully or just chasing efficiency.
Youth Engagement
The other major issue was youth engagement, or the lack of it.
Gen Z should theoretically love co-operatives. They care about social impact, community, shared ownership – all the things co-ops have been doing for a century.
But most young Singaporeans are unaware of what a co-operative is, much less why they should join one.
Part of the problem is visibility. Co-ops in Singapore operate quietly. We serve our members well, but we don’t make noise about it. Social enterprises and impact startups get attention because they know how to market themselves.
The other part is structure. Co-ops move slowly by design. Democratic decision-making takes time. Younger workers want to see impact quickly, and they want a say in decisions now, not after twenty years. That doesn’t fit easily into how most co-ops operate.
SNCF is working on leadership development programmes to bring younger members into governance roles faster. The real test will be whether co-ops are willing to let younger leaders actually lead, not just sit on committees.
A Century of Service
Singapore’s co-operative movement marks its 100th year in 2025. A century of serving members, building communities, and proving that businesses can operate differently.
But longevity alone doesn’t guarantee relevance. Each generation of co-op leaders has had to adapt the model to changing times while staying true to core principles.
The conferences and programmes SNCF organises matter because they force those honest conversations about what needs to change. Not everything requires an immediate answer, but the questions need to be asked.
More insights from the conference can be found on the SNCF blog.
Helen Campos is Managing Director of HC Consultancy and serves on the Board of Directors at TCC Credit Co-operative Limited.
