Beth puts East Renfrewshire on the world stage

A Barrhead woman has been awarded one of four Global Women's Scholarships from the Global Women's Leadership Network.
Beth (middle row, fourth left) with representitives from the other 57 countries.Beth (middle row, fourth left) with representitives from the other 57 countries.
Beth (middle row, fourth left) with representitives from the other 57 countries.

Beth Welsh, Pioneer Mutual Credit Union’s business development manager, was given the opportunity to attend the World Credit Union Conference (WCCU) in Singapore in July as part of her scholarship.

More than 1,400 credit union board members, CEOs and senior staff were in attendance from 58 countries. Beth was honoured to represent the UK Credit Movement, and carry flag at the conference opening ceremony alongside representatives from the other 57 countries.

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Beth said: “Attending WCCU as part of my Global Women’s Leaders Network scholarship was an amazing, inspirational and motivational experience; to have the opportunity to network and learn from the credit union leaders of today and tomorrow was priceless.

“It was empowering to see the global movement in action and the social impact credit unions have across the world, through people helping people. “The peer to peer learning from credit unions across the globe was invaluable and the connections made will have a positive impact within Pioneer Mutual, and hopefully beyond in the British movement, to enable us to flourish and grow.

“One of the key messages that I have taken away from WCCU is that our similarities are greater than our differences; regardless of size or location ethical finance is at the heart of everything we do and we all have the same mission to help our members and communities.”

Beth continued: “As part of the scholarship I had the opportunity to partake in the Global Women’s Diversity & Inclusion Conference Track, which is dedicated to empowering and advancing women and young leaders within the credit union movement through professional development and networking.

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“The key theme that I took from this was that we must embrace our differences and embed equality within our culture through attitude and not just through policy alone.

“Spending time with the other three scholarship winners from Cameroon, Malawi and Canada was a great chance to gain a detailed insight into how the sector operates in these countries.”

East Renfrewshire MP, Paul Masterton commented: “Beth has put East Renfrewshire on the World stage. Scholarships like these are by no means easy to get on, and Beth has clearly impressed.

“It is great to hear of the success she had over in Singapore and I am sure her new found expertise will come to benefit the constituency. I would also like to wish the Global Woman’s Leadership Network well as it continues to go from strength to strength.”