The Open Co-op Team

Founders

Dr. Gary Alexander - ICT Department, Technology Faculty, Open University

Pioneer of on-line collaborative learning, author of eGaia, Growing a peaceful, sustainable Earth through communications . Currently working on setting up local food co-operatives as first steps towards Open Co-op 'community support providers.

Josef Davies-Coates - Uniteddiversity LLP

Josef is a former trustee of the Chaordic Commons and founded united diversity whilst in his final year at LSE studying Social Policy and Government. During his time at nef he worked on BizFizz, Plugging the Leaks and Time Banks UK. He is currently working on the Commons Creation project.

Tom Salfield - Uniteddiversity LLP

Tom studied Economics and Philosophy at LSE before working at AccountAbility, nef, and as Web Development Manager for Via3. Tom has recently completed a masters in Computer Science at Imperial. He is currently working on an online accounting, booking and social networking system for The Hub.

Oliver Sylvester Bradley - Uniteddiversity LLP

Oli studied Product Design at St. Martins and an MSC at CAT in Environmental Architecture and Energy Studies. He wrote his thesis on Encouraging ERB and ran his own sustainable design consultancy before joining united diversity. He is currently Marketing Manager at http://www.solarcentury.com/solarcentury and volunteers for SolarAid.

Advisers and Consultants

Dr. Stephen Peake - Design Department, Technology Faculty, Open University

Expert on climate change and energy.

Dr. Angela Espinosa - Hull University Business School, Scarborough Management Centre

Expert on co-operative development. Former colleague of Stafford Beer, and consultant on the application of his Viable Systems Model to organisational development. Currently developing a related project creating an infrastructure to link organic food producers and consumers.

Dr. Jon Walker - Out of this World (organics supermarket and distributor)

Author of The Viable Systems Model, a guide for co-operatives and federations (see background docs. Expert on co-operative development and working on Dr. Espinosa's food project.

Francesca R. Giordano' Sustainable Society Directory

Expert on environmental and social networking and initiator of the Sustainable Society Directory and Earth Emergency

Dr. Mikael Nordfors - Vivarto Collaborative, Nornia

Mikael Nordfors is the main innovator of the open coop democracy system, which has been developed and marketed by the Open Coop member, the Vivarto Collaborative. He is also the main founder of the virtual country of Nornia. Besides these interests, he is also a medical doctor, composer/musician, lecturer and author of several books about democracy and alternative health.

Registered Users

Click here to see a list of users of The Open Co-op site (you need to be logged-in)