Credit Union Strategy - Governance

Credit Union Sector Strategy - Terms of Reference

Credit Union Sector Strategy - Governance

• The Project Governance Board provides strategic oversight of the Strategy Project, ensuring alignment with the agreed Terms of Reference, and acts as the final decision-making authority for approval of the Strategy and associated high-level implementation framework, primarily within the existing legislative and regulatory framework.

• The Project Governance Board will comprise four members:
  • Dr Orlaigh Quinn (Chair),
  • Representatives from the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) and the Credit Union Development Association (CUDA),
  • The Chair of the Strategy Committee (Tom Allen).
• Representatives from the Credit Union Advisory Committee (CUAC), the Central Bank of Ireland, and Department of Finance will also attend in a support capacity. The Project Governance Board will provide oversight and final approval of the vision and strategy.

Minutes of Project Governance Board – 30th April 2026

Minutes of the Project Governance Board - 18th June 2026

As part of the development of Ireland’s first Credit Union Sector Strategy, a commitment in the Programme for Government, applications were invited from across the credit union sector to join the Strategy Committee and associated Strategy Workshops.

The Strategy Committee is responsible for developing the draft vision and sector Strategy, providing leadership and building consensus across the sector, and supporting the design of a high-level implementation framework for submission to the Project Governance Board for consideration and approval. The Strategy will be developed in line with the agreed Terms of Reference, and primarily within the existing legislative and regulatory framework.

There was an exceptional level of interest, and a high number of applications were received for the Strategy Committee and Workshops.

In line with the agreed Sector Strategy Governance framework, the selection panel have chosen a balanced representation across credit unions of differing scale, business models and operating contexts, including factors such as gender balance, geography, and rural and urban context.

Chaired by Tom Allen, the Strategy Committee will also include participation from the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU), Credit Union Development Association (CUDA), the Credit Union Managers Association (CUMA), and the National Supervisors Forum (NSF), alongside the selected 11 credit union CEOs and Board Members. The Central Bank of Ireland will also be represented in an Observer capacity. The work of the Strategy Committee will be supported by the Department of Finance and PwC as strategy consultant and facilitator.

The selection panel have selected the following representatives from the sector to be members of the Strategy Committee:

• Abhijeet Arun Harolikar, Chairperson of Progressive Credit Union Limited
• Carmel Butler, CEO of St. Canice’s Kilkenny Credit Union Limited
• Finbarr O'Shea, CEO of Bantry Credit Union Limited
• Grainne Brennan, Chairperson of Member First Credit Union Limited
• Joanne Conaghan, CEO of Donegal (Town) Credit Union Limited
• Joe Busher, CEO of Lisduggan District Credit Union Limited
• Joy Clifford-Vaughan, Member of the Board of Directors of Killarney Credit Union Limited
• Michael McLoughlin, Member of the Board of Directors of Heritage Credit Union Limited
• Mike Cosgrave, CEO of Kilcock-Kilcloon and District Credit Union Limited
• Orla Lee, CEO of North West Credit Union Limited
• Sean Hosford, CEO of Health Services Staffs Credit Union Limited

A number of identical Regional Workshops are scheduled in October. These Workshops are an essential step in the development of the Strategy and will explore the strategic themes identified in the Credit Union Sector Survey. Following review of the outputs of the Regional Workshops, further Deep Dive Workshops will be held on items of key importance that require further discussion.

The applicants for these Strategy Workshops have received details of the planned Workshops.

We would like to thank everyone who has volunteered to participate in this exciting credit union opportunity and look forward to working with you over the coming months.