p6 keynote 2026

Doug O’Brien

President & CEO, National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) 

We’re thrilled to welcome Doug O’Brien, President and CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association, as our keynote speaker for the 2026 Principle 6 Conference. Doug brings a deep commitment to cooperative values and a long track record of championing co-ops as engines for community strength and economic resilience.

Doug O’Brien works with the cooperative community, both domestically and internationally, to deepen their impact and influence. NCBA is the primary voice for cooperatives in the United States for using the cooperative business model to empower people in their businesses and communities. Doug has been with NCBA since 2016 and became president and CEO in January 2018. 

Before coming to NCBA CLUSA, Doug led the work of the White House Rural Council and served in top positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Doug has also worked in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House and for two Governors. O’Brien’s experience in academia includes teaching and writing at the University of Arkansas and Drake University Law School. 

O’Brien was raised on a diversified farm in Dubuque County, Iowa, and holds degrees from Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa), the University of Iowa Law School, and the University of Arkansas Masters in Agricultural and Food Law Program. O’Brien lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife, Alisa and three children. He enjoys biking, travel, his memberships in a number of consumer co-ops and credit unions. 

📌 Learn about Doug’s work:
🎧 Podcast: Everything Co-op, Jan 18, 2024
📖 Statement: Address to the UN Commission of Social Development.

P6 Keynote Session:

Doug O’Brien will explore how cooperatives build resilience across interconnected ecosystems, from local communities to national and global movements.

Drawing on examples from Maine and beyond, he will examine how cooperative ecosystems strengthen impact, how Maine’s co-ops contribute to the broader U.S. cooperative landscape, and where opportunities exist for leadership and advocacy.

With Maine’s motto, Dirigo (“I lead”) in mind, this keynote will highlight how cooperatives lead social, economic, and community change to build resilient communities.