Meet the membership team
Our friendly team are here to help with your enquiries.
Belinda Roach
Belinda joined Co-operatives UK as Membership Manager in May 2023 after spending over 20 years working in welfare-to-work, managing projects across the country. From 2019, she managed the development and delivery of Our Pass in Greater Manchester, a membership scheme that encouraged over 250,000 young people to try new experiences across the region and to use public transport to get there. This provided an introduction to co-operatives in Greater Manchester and a whole new, equitable world of opportunities. Outside of work, family takes up her every waking moment!
Leoni Merrifield
Leoni has been planning training courses, gala dinners and conferences for nearly 10 years, since graduating from Liverpool John Moores University with an Events Management Degree. Since joining Co-operatives UK in 2016, she's co-ordinated an events programme of 60+ events per year, including flagship events; Co-operative Retail Conference, Worker Co-op Weekend, Congress and Practitioners Forum. When not planning a Co-operatives UK or personal event, Leoni enjoys long walks, online fitness classes and spending time with her cats, Simba and Mylo.
Irena Pistun
Irena comes from a media, PR and large stadium events background. She has handled big budgets and international stories before being mic dropped on the bigger values of cooperatives. After years in the corporate sector and having run her own business, Irena is a firm believer in co-operative principles. A committed Christian and treasurer for her local church and community centre, she is passionate about diversifying the co-op sector, simplifying the language and helping members achieve organisational success by shouting about their co-op difference.
Richard Self
Our Agriculture Manager, Richard Self, boasts more than 30 years of experience within the farming, food and land-based industries. Richard heads up the £2m EDGE Apprenticeships scheme at Anglia Farmers and was formerly Regional Manager and national lead on training development at European Farming and Food Partnerships (EFFP). Rural Business Manager at Business Link Suffolk and a Manager at FMTS, a subsidiary of Fram Farmers.
Gareth Wright
Gareth has been finding solutions to common business needs for almost 20 years. He’s worked with clients from a range of sectors in the UK and across Europe. Since joining Co-operatives UK in 2012, he’s been working directly with our members to ensure they have access to practical advice and guidance. He also delivers training and hosts local networking events. Gareth is never too far from co-ops, as he’s an active member of his local credit union, a co-op pub and a brewery. In his spare time, you’ll find him walking in the hills or riding one of his bikes.