Mr. Thakur is the current Chairperson of the ICA-AP Committee on Youth Cooperation. He has been working in co-operatives since 2007 with the Karachi Co-operative Housing Society Union Ltd. He has participated in International Conferences on various topics related to Co-operatives as a youth representative of Pakistan in ICA. He has also worked with the NGO STEP as a facilitator/ Trainer and event organizer for British Council, Active Citizenship Programs. He has conduct various training sessions on Introduction to Co-operatives. He has taken a keen interest in volunteer services and has trained the students of Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad Campus on Team Work and Creativity.

Ly is one of the co-founders of the model “Sinh Duoc Ecosystem”. She received a B.A of English for Scientific Purposes from Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Born in a rural area, Ly can understand the farmers’ needs, desire when taking part in production, and developing a Cooperative. In addition, she has gained practical experience from her participation in community activities, events for the youth in her university and her village, so that she has the suitable methods of operating the model of community tourism to maintain a healthy interaction between local people and tourists in the “Sinh Duoc Ecosystem”.

Kanupriya is a former journalist turned agriculture professional who has been associated with the farming sector since 2012. She feels most at home in the rural hinterland and has visited some of the remotest villages of India as a part of her work. Her close association with agriculture helped her realize some of the biggest challenges in the sector. She realized that if the economic situation in the villages has to be improved the rural women have to be empowered and trained in income generating activities so that they too can contribute to the GDP of the country. Since these women lived in areas where there was an abundance of natural resources Kanupriya decided to train them in beekeeping because beekeeping is a virtual goldmine! Kanupriya organized these trainings through her socially sustainable start-up BeePositive++ which she set-up in 2016. BeePositive++ was handpicked by the India’s premiere Institute-The Indian Institute of Technology(IIT)-Delhi for an exclusive mentorship program and was given a grant and an award of excellence by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Mark Villarin is a technology entrepreneur, founding member and chairperson of RedRoot Artists Cooperative. His recent project on Pag-IBIG Fund Video has won the "Award of Excellence" in the 16th Philippine Quill Awards. He was also given an award by the Local Government of Quezon City in recognition of his contribution to the community as the cooperative chairperson. He is the project lead of the modernization of 7 national museums in the Philippines and counting.

Growing up in difficult circumstances, Raquel’s memories of her grandmother making chocolate tablea (pure chocolate) and her stories about the legend of Maria Cacao greatly influenced Raquel Choa’s later life. Unable to complete her education, she earned a meagre living, married at 16, and subsequently had eight children to care for. Despite the difficulties, she re-discovered her passion for chocolate and was able to overcome many obstacles. She became a successful entrepreneur and known as the Chocolate Queen of Cebu.

Mr. Dorji is the Chairperson of the Shamo Zhimpo Production Youth Cooperative which is a registered group under the Cooperative Act of Bhutan. The main objectives of the Cooperative are to substitute imports of mushrooms in Bhutan, to generate youth employment opportunities and to enhance sustainability and food sufficiency. Mr. Dorji has received specialized training in the cultivation of mushrooms and hopes to expand the membership pf his cooperative to include more youth and provide them with gainful employment, and contribute to sustainable agriculture