Now in its fourth year, the Employee Ownership Foundation has proudly brought together global thought leaders at the Oxford Symposium on Employee Ownership, creating a powerful hub of ideas and collaboration in the United Kingdom.
In 2025, the Oxford Symposium once again underscored its importance as a gathering place for the exchange of ideas, meaningful international connections, and insightful discussions that are shaping the future of employee ownership worldwide. The event not only strengthened the foundation of a growing global community but also contributed to the development of an international federation of employee ownership.
Now in its fourth year, the Oxford Symposium has served as a platform for dialogue among elected officials, NGOs, and organizations such as The ESOP Association. Through open exchange of fresh ideas and best practices, the event has gained momentum as a catalyst for growth across borders. This year’s symposium welcomed delegates from 22 countries, including returning members from Canada, Japan, Slovenia, the U.K., and the U.S., which are also the founding nations of the international federation. For the first time, representatives from Belgium, Finland, Serbia, and Ukraine joined the conversation.
The program began with a day in London before transitioning to the historic grounds of Oxford University. Among the attendees was a U.S. Congressional delegation of eight staff from key committees in both the House and Senate.
The Symposium opened with remarks from Jim Bonham, President & CEO of The ESOP Association, and Jaspal Pachu, partner at CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP. Their welcome set the tone for two days of international collaboration and forward-looking dialogue. Participants explored the current state of employee ownership worldwide, learning about recent successes, ongoing barriers, and progress since the 2024 Symposium.
Throughout the discussions a consistent theme emerged, that in today’s rapidly evolving economic landscape international collaboration is more necessary than ever. Attendees emphasized that employee ownership, when implemented in other countries, strengthens local economies and creates resilient communities. Examples included peer-to-peer collaboration among European countries working to resist foreign investors, the progress of ESOP legislation in Slovenia, and Canada’s advancement of Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs).
The Symposium highlighted the diverse stages of development among participating countries. While the U.S. has a long-established ESOP framework, others such as Canada, Denmark, and Slovenia are at pivotal moments, making significant breakthroughs in legislation. These nations are learning from the Oxford Symposium and adapting policies to fit their unique economic and cultural landscapes.
One of the most anticipated moments of the program was the formal introduction of the International Federation of Employee Ownership. Led by Jim Bonham, the presentation outlined the Federation’s mission, vision, and goals, as well as its strategy to strengthen advocacy, expand education, and provide resources to the global employee ownership community. Delegates left the symposium with an exciting new platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing to accelerate adoption of employee ownership in their home countries.
Discussions also centered on the barriers and opportunities that lie ahead. Among the most pressing concerns was the issue of economic sovereignty. In the U.S., private equity pressures continue to challenge ESOPs, while in Europe, nations are grappling with the need to limit foreign investment to preserve local ownership and ensure that employee owners fully benefit from their companies’ success.
The success of the Oxford Symposium would not have been possible without the dedication of the volunteer leaders and members, The ESOP Association and the Employee Ownership Foundation. Special thanks go to Barbara Clough of Blue Ridge Associates, Becky Streff of Holden Industries, Ian Macfarlane of EA Engineering, Science, and Technology Inc., PBC, David Fitz-Gerald of Carris Reels, Jade Palermo of Empire Valuation Consultants, and former TEA Chair Ali Jamshidi of CTL Engineering, Inc., all of whom took the time to travel to Oxford and share their unique perspectives as speakers and panelists. Gratitude is also extended to EOF Chair Peter Ney for his leadership.
Finally, the EOF thanks our longstanding partner, John Hoffmire of the Center on Business and Poverty. His ongoing efforts were instrumental in organizing this premier event and advancing the vision of a stronger, more connected global movement for employee ownership.
