Carol Hunter, Executive Director

Carol Hunter began her career at CCA in 1989 as an Information Officer where she was responsible for managing Canada's largest library of co-operative and credit union research materials. She went on to become Manager of Information Services where she assumed responsibility for corporate communications and publications, and the development of a business plan to cross-promote co-operative products and services. Named Director of Member Services in 2000, she held responsibility for national/provincial association relations, corporate communications, education and training, CCA's co-op sector engagement strategy, and CCA's knowledge area of co-operative governance. Carol was appointed Executive Director in 2005 and has since led the association in its membership growth, a Canadian co-operative development strategy, and a pan-Canadian unity strategy to deepen relations and collaboration between Francophone and Anglophone co-operatives.

Carol is a volunteer board member with the Ottawa Women's Credit Union - Canada's only credit union run by women for women; and past President of the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation.

Before joining CCA, Carol worked as a researcher, editor and writer with the National Library of Canada and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and a graduate degree in Information Science.

Jo-Anne Ferguson, Senior Director, International Development

Jo-Anne Ferguson is the Senior Director, International Development, at the Canadian Co-operative Association, a post she has held for more than 10 years. Ms. Ferguson has over 30 years of professional management experience in the credit union and co-operative sectors, 12 years of which were Canada-based, managing CCA international co-operative development programs and projects funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, International Financial Institutions and with technical and financial support from Canadian co-operatives.

For two years she managed the Credit Union Development Assistance Program in Sri Lanka - strengthening the educational campus of SANASA, Sri Lanka's national credit union system. Ms. Ferguson has conducted missions to provide technical assistance and monitoring services in the transitional economies of China and Mongolia, as well as India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Sierra Leone.

Before her career in international development, Ms. Ferguson held management posts in the Alberta and Saskatchewan credit union sectors. She directed the delivery of education training programs through a national network of regional co-operative councils in Canada.

Ms. Ferguson is married and has two sons. She lives in Manotick, Ontario.

John Anderson is responsible for directing the work of CCA's Government Affairs and Public Policy unit, which is in charge of government relations and relations with all parties at the federal level, as well as public policy development, the social economy, agriculture, housing and homelessness, and other issues.

John was formerly Vice-President, Strategic Partnerships and Alliances and before that, Vice-President of Research with the Canadian Council for Social Development. He developed the Community Social Data Strategy with Statistics Canada, which involves 15 community partnerships across Canada. He is a founding member and on the steering committee of the Make Poverty History Campaign. He is the author and co-author of a number of studies focusing on urban poverty (Poverty by Postal Code), pay equity and employment issues. John is the former Director of Research and senior economist for the Centre for Social Justice, in Toronto, where he was the author and editor of many studies. He co-edited (with Chris Schenk) two volumes of Re-Shaping Work, which looks at technological change and workplace restructuring.

John has a BA in Economics and Political Science and a MA in political science from McGill University, and has undertaken doctoral studies at the London School of Economics. He is a frequent commentator on English and French media. 

Norma Jones, Director, Finance and Administration

Norma Jones has been with CCA since 1987, working for the Co-operative Union of Canada for two days before finding herself working for the newly amalgamated Canadian Co-operative Association.

Originally from England, Norma has a B.A. in geography from the University of Sheffield and was born not far from Rochdale. Her first job was with the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Manchester, in the Eggs and Greengrocery division.

In Canada, Norma studied accountancy when she was home with her first child, and this eventually led to a job at CCA. From the Assistant Accountant role, Norma moved into the position of Comptroller, and then to her current position as Director Finance and Administration, which not only includes responsibility for finances, but also human resources and technology for both CCA and the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada. Together with a team of five highly competent staff, Norma provides the supports that enable delivery of high quality programs both in Canada and internationally.