Tony Gill has over the past 25 years gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in forming and running co-operatives. He has facilitated the formation of early 70 co-operatives in the Australian state of Victoria, and has been a director and secretary of 15 and 4 co-operatives respectively.

Tony has also held a number of co-operative development positions in government and peak co-operative bodies in Australia:

• A director of the Co-operatives Council of Australia, 1994-1999. Tony was actively involved in achieving reform to Australia's co-operatives legislation and a fair deal for co-operatives from business tax reform arising from the Ralph Review of Business Taxation.
• The first co-operative development officer employed by the Victorian Registrar of Co-operatives, 1985-1988.
• Victorian Executive Officer, Australian Association of Co-operatives Ltd, 1989-1993.
• Secretary, Co-operative Federation of Victoria Ltd, 1993-1999.
• A founding director of Co-operative Federation of Victoria Ltd, 1981-1983.
• Member, Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committee on Co-operation, 1989-1992, Secretary, 1988.

• Facilitated the formation of 69 co-operatives in the Australian state of Victoria.
• Prepared policy for and assisted in drafting the Victorian Co-operatives Act 1996 .
• The adoption by the state, territory and federal governments of the Victorian Co-operatives Act as the base act for co-operatives legislation around Australia, 1996.
• Successfully lobbied all political parties (Labor, Liberal and National) in the Victorian parliament to support the Co-operatives Bill, without amendment, 1996.
• The Victorian Co-operatives Act being recognised by the Canadian Government as one of the two best co-operatives' acts in the world in 1997. The government benchmarked their proposed national Co-operatives Act against the Victorian Act and the U.S. Colorado Co-operatives Act.
• Assisted in organising a national co-operative policy conference in Canberra for the
  Co-operatives Council of Australia, 1998.
• Helped research and draft the Co-operative Council of Australia's submission to the Ralph Review of Business Taxation, 1998. Click here for background to submission.
• Assisted in organising an International Co-operative Alliance Co-operative Minister's Conference, Sydney, 1990, where ministers and co-operative officials from 17 countries in Asia and the Middle East attended the 4 day event.

• Director
  Co-operative Development Services Ltd, 1999 -
  
• Secretary
  Co-operative Federation of Victoria Ltd, 1993-99.
  
• Victorian Executive Officer
  Australian Association of Co-operatives Ltd, 1989-93.
• Co-operative Development Officer
  Victorian Registrar of Co-operatives, 1985-88.
• Co-operative Policy and Programs Officer
  Victorian Ministry of Employment and Training, 1983-84.
• Manager
  Ballarat Employment Co-operative Ltd, 1980-83.

• Centre for Sustainable Futures Co-operative Ltd 2005 -
• National Agricultural Data Co-operative Ltd, 2001-
• Co-operative Development Services Ltd 1999 -
• Ballarat Community Development Centre Co-operative Ltd , 1998 -
• Co-operative Purchasing Services Ltd , 1998 -

• Master Mechanics Co-operative Ltd, 2000-02.
• Southern Agricultural Producers Co-operative Ltd, 1999-2000.
• Purchasing Victoria Co-operative Ltd, 1997-98.
• Co-operatives Council of Australia Inc., 1994-99.
• Co-operative Energy Ltd, 1994-98.
• Ballarat Community FM Radio Co-operative Ltd, 1993-95, Chairman 1995.
• Central Victorian Tree Planting Service Co-operative Ltd, 1982-83.
• Ballarat Trading Co-operative Ltd, 1982-83.
• Ballarat Employment Co-operative Ltd, 1981-83.
• Co-operative Federation of Victoria Ltd, 1981-83.

• Compiled and maintains Australian Co-operative Links , CDS, 2002.
• Project Manager, Rural Communities Fuel Co-operative Feasibility Study , ARCC, 2001.
• Initiated and organised the promotion and sale of the UK Plunkett Foundation publications in Australia and New Zealand, CFV, 1995-99.
• Initiated and organised two co-operative features in The Weekly Times rural newspaper, AAC, 16/12/92 (7 pages), CFV, 18/10/95 (5 pages).
• Organised itineraries in Victoria for co-operative delegations from Britain, China, India, Iran, Japan, Russia, Slovak Republic and Thailand. ICA, AAC, CFV, 1990-98.
• Conducted feasibility study, prepared business plan and secured funding for the establishment and operation of the Ballarat Employment Co-operative Ltd (BEC), a business incubator for the unemployed, Ballarat YMCA, 1980.
• Established and managed Australia's first tree planting contracting and nursery business organised as a worker owned and operated co-operative, BEC, 1982.

• Co-operative Opportunities in the 1990's Conference, AAC, Melbourne, 1989.
• Co-operative Principles Review Conference, AAC, Melbourne, 1992.
• Retail Co-operative Seminar, AAC, Geelong, 1992.
• People Centred Businesses Seminar, lead by Edgar Parnell, CFV, Melbourne, 1994.
• Introduction to Management of Co-operatives for Directors Seminar, CFV, Melbourne, 1995.
• Eleven information and consultation seminars on the Co-operatives Act for co-operatives in regional Victoria and Melbourne. CFV, 1995,96.
• Director training workshops for over 20 Victorian co-operatives, CDS, 2000 -

Tony has also assisted in organising the following conferences, seminars and workshops.

• National Policy Conference , CCA, Canberra, 1998.
• New Opportunities for Co-operatives Workshop, CFV, Melbourne 1998.
• Developing Best Practice for Agricultural Co-operatives Seminar, CFV, Melbourne, 1996.
• ICA Co-operative Minister's Conference , ICA, AAC, Sydney, 1990.
• Community Employment Co-operative Workshop, MEAT, Ballarat 1981.

• Australian Co-operative Glossary , CDS, 2002.
• Co-operative Director's Handbook , CDS, 2000.
• Fuel Co-operatives in Victoria Research Report , DSRD, 2000.
• Treegrowers Co-operatives - The Key To The Future Of Farm Forestry , CFFP, 1997.
• Starter Kit for a Treegrowers Co-operative , AFG, 1999.
• Victorian Co-operative News , Editor - 14 editions, CFV, 1994 - 1998.
• Post Registration Guide for Co-operatives, VRC, 1987.
• General Guide for Co-operatives, VRC, 1986.
• Legal Structures for Undertaking Business Activities in Victoria, MEAT, 1984.

Tony has also contributed to the following publications. The acronyms denote the publishers.

• National Co-op Update , WIT, 1995-2001.
• Building Rural Futures Through Co-operation Study Circle Kit, CRC, 1997.
• Australian Farm Journal, APL, December 1997.
• Commercial Law Newsletter, LIV, April 1997.
• Information Sheets on the Victorian Co-operatives Act 1996 x 15, CFV, 1997.
• Australian Dairy Co-operatives, Planning for the future, DRDC, 1996.
• Interfirm Collaboration Guide, MCC, 1991.
• The Co-operative Way, Victoria's Third Sector, MACC, 1986.
• The Development of the Co-operative Movement in Victoria, MACC, 1984.

• Interfirm Collaboration Steering Committee, MCC, 1991.
• Ministerial Advisory Committee of Co-operation (Vic), 1989-92, Secretary, 1988.
• Rental Housing Co-operative Funding Committee, MOH, 1985-88.
• Co-operative Education & Training Advisory Committee, MEAT, 1982-83.
• Co-operative Development Program Funding Committee, MEAT, 1981-83.
• Ballarat Regional Employment Committee, 1981-83.

• While a student, Tony established and managed a takeaway health food kiosk on the campus of the Ballarat College of Advanced Education (now University of Ballarat ), 1978-79. The student owned and operated business, now known as Relax Inn, is still operating.
• Organised and co-ordinated a six month agricultural/horticultural course for the long term unemployed in the Creswick district of Victoria, Council of Adult Education, 1993.
• Secured Victorian government funding for, organised and managed a project comprising 7 long term unemployed people to create the 8 hectare Yarrawee River Flora Reserve within the City of Ballarat, in collaboration with the Ballarat City Council, Victorian Lands Department, and Ballarat Employment Co-operative Ltd, 1982.
• Home and Community Care (HACC) Co-ordinator for the Bendigo Dja Dja Wrung Aboriginal Association Inc., 2001-2002.