The New Economy Network Australia (NENA) is a non-distributing cooperative of individuals and organisations working together to build a fair, sustainable, and democratic economy that serves people and the planet.
NENA brings together community groups, businesses, researchers, practitioners, and citizens who are developing practical, systemic alternatives to the current economic model. Through collaboration, education, and advocacy, NENA connects and supports initiatives that are building a just and regenerative future across Australia.
Founded on cooperative principles, NENA is owned and governed by its members, who participate actively in decision-making, strategy, and collective action. Our structure reflects our values: democratic participation, transparency, mutual support, and care for community and environment.
Our Purpose
NENA’s purpose, as defined in its Constitution, is to:
- Advance social welfare by promoting socially just and ecologically sustainable local and regional economies; and
- Advance education through research, training, and collaboration that supports the development of new economic systems and practices.
NENA exists to connect and amplify the people and organisations driving this transformation — from community energy and cooperative housing, to ethical finance, regenerative food systems, and local circular economies.
Our Vision
NENA envisions an Australia where economic systems are designed for collective wellbeing, ecological health, and democratic participation. We aim to strengthen the connections between movements for social justice, ecological sustainability, and economic transformation — fostering collaboration across sectors, regions, and disciplines.
Our Cooperative Model
As a non-distributing cooperative, NENA reinvests all resources into achieving its mission rather than distributing profits. Membership is open to individuals and organisations who share NENA’s values and actively contribute to its work.
This model ensures that NENA’s direction and resources are determined collectively by members, in line with the Co-operatives National Law (CNL) and international cooperative principles of:
- Voluntary and open membership;
- Democratic member control;
- Member economic participation;
- Autonomy and independence;
- Education, training, and information;
- Cooperation among cooperatives; and
- Concern for community.
How NENA Works
NENA’s work is carried out through sectoral and geographic Hubs — active groups that bring members together around specific themes or regions. As an organisation, NENA operates as a collaborative cooperative structure that connects people, organisations, and initiatives working toward economic systems change. At its centre is a coordinated governance framework that brings together the Board of Directors, the Strategic Directions Group (SDG), the Participatory Budget Group (PBG), and the Coordinating Hub. These bodies provide leadership, accountability, and operational support, while NENA’s Hubs carry out practical and educational activities across different sectors and regions. Information, ideas, and initiatives flow continuously between members, hubs, and governance groups, ensuring that NENA’s work remains democratic, transparent, and responsive to both its members and the broader new economy movement.
NENA’s governance includes the:
- Board of Directors – responsible for cooperative governance, compliance, and organisational strategy;
- Strategic Directions Group (SDG) – guiding NENA’s strategic vision and collective planning;
- Participatory Budget Group (PBG) – overseeing financial transparency and participatory budgeting;
- Coordinating Hub – facilitating day-to-day operations, communications, and member coordination; and
- Co-operative Secretary – ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory obligations.
Together, these bodies ensure that NENA remains a democratic, transparent, and values-driven cooperative dedicated to systemic economic transformation.