LEADR - Association of Dispute Resolvers

LEADR - Association of Dispute Resolvers
mediators • adjudicators • conflict coaches • facilitators

LEADR is an Australasian, not-for-profit membership organisation that promotes alternative dispute resolution including mediation. LEADR has members in Australia, New Zealand and throughout the Asia Pacific region. More about LEADR >>

Professor Laurence Boulle from Bond University is now the Chair of the Mediator Standards Board. Professor Boulle has returned from South Africa where he was Director of the Mandela Institute at Wits University.

Relationships Australia Family Relationship Centre in Alice Springs has developed a model of practice to help achieve better mediation processes and outcomes for Aboriginal people.

To order the report >>

This three day master class introduces practitioners to the award-winning Dialogue, Deliberation & Public Engagement (DDPE) program.

Hosted by the University of Western Sydney on 11-13 March in Sydney, the class will be co-lead by Dr Jan Elliott (right) and Professor Lyn Carson both from the DDPE Collaborative, an international group of exceptional scholars and practitioners committed to building capacity in public engagement.

There is a 10% discount for LEADR members. Register by 10 February.

Provided by LEADR in collaboration wtih Neuroawareness® Consulting Services, this training is an opportunity to learn techniques based on neurobiology and cognitive science to improve your mediation processes.

The online program consists of 14 modules followed by three personal coaching sessions to help you apply your learning in your practice.

Runs for 14 weeks starting Monday 27 February 2012 with two optional time slots.

More information for Australian participants >>

For NZ participants >>

Internationally renowned and highly skilled mediator, facilitator and trainer, Peter Adler returns to Australia. He'll be offering two workshops with LEADR:

Engaging the public controversy, Sydney, 24-25 November 2011 >>

Mastery in mediation, Melbourne, 5-6 December 2011 >>

Peter is known for his engaging, entertaining and interactive training style. Take this opportunity to train with a master mediator.

Member of the LEADR NSW Chapter executive, Dr Paul Gibson has become Australia’s first European Union (EU) qualified mediator having completed the European Mediation Training for Practitioners of Justice (EMTPJ) in October. The 12 day theoretical and practical training is a special project of the European Commission and was conducted by the Association for International Arbitration based in Brussels.

This qualification enables Paul to mediate cross-border civil and commercial disputes in the EU. Additionally, the qualification is recognised for mediations in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Romania, Slovenia, Ukraine, Portugal, Spain, Egypt and China.

LEADR congratulates Paul on this certification

‘kon gres 2011 was a great success. Many left physically and socially exhausted while being professionally energised – surely the sign of a successful ‘assembly for promoting matters of common interest’.

Again, the conference provided a wonderful opportunity for networking, for learning from one another, for being inspired and for invigorating mediator practice. It was jam-packed with thought-provoking (and thought-stilling) sessions and presenters and participants all engaged with great enthusiasm in ‘the conversations’. Click here >>

'kon gres 2011 got off to an energetic start on Wednesday 7 Sept with one participant describing it as 'brilliant". She appreciated the atmosphere, the mix of tasks in the groups, the friendliness, and that the topics were spot on.

Mr Jeremy Gormly SC (left), Chair of NADRAC, opened the conference noting the enormous growth of ADR in recent times.

During the first day participants grappled with the complex nature of justice and its relationship with ADR. In this context, Mr Gormly noted that it is the parties that provide the justice in a mediation.

Go to 'kon gres website >>

Members, go to the Conversations website. (The username and password has been sent in an email to you.) Click here >>

Listen to interviews with international speakers at ‘kon gres:

Associate Professor Joel Lee from the National University of Singapore on the inappropriateness of the interest-based model for Asia and how it has been ‘re-tooled’ or adapted without throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Click here >>

Professor Ellen Waldman, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego on the tension that can exist in attempting to serve a range of ethical values in a mediation and the importance of being clear about one's own value systems and ideological commitments. Click here >>

‘kon gres 2011, LEADR’s international ADR conference, will be held 7-9 September at the Novotel, Brisbane.

LEADR trainer, Anne Sutherland-Kelly will lead a continuing professional development event on Tuesday 30 August. You will leave this session with tools and tips you can immediately use in your mediation practice and in any people management role.

For more info >>

The recently appointed LEADR Fellow, Tom Howe QC will be one of the plenary speakers at 'kon gres 2011. Mr Howe is Chief Counsel, Dispute Resolution at the Australian Government Solicitor, where he has been employed for the past 24 years. He has appeared in many key cases as Counsel for the Commonwealth before the High Court and other Australian courts and tribunals.

At 'kon gres 2011 to be held in Brisbane, 7-9 September, he is joined by some 60 other presenters. Click here >>

Mr Howe is also speaking at a WA Chapter event on Tuesday 16 August in Perth on how to make strategic selections from the range of dispute resolution processes when Government is a party in a dispute. Click here >>

Facilitated by Linda Fisher, this three hour workshop is being offered in Parramatta and regional centres of NSW in conjunction with Community Justice Centres (CJC).

Venues include: Campbelltown, Port Kembla, Broadmeadow, Lismore, Dubbo, Gosford, Wagga Wagga as well as Parramatta.

An essential part of the mediator’s toolkit is the ability to respond appropriately to the expression of emotions. This workshop will provide attendees the opportunity to review and explore a range of strategies for both focussing inwards on self and outwards on participants. For more infomation and to register, click here >>

The conference program for 'kɒŋ grɛs 2011 is now available on the 'kɒŋ grɛs website at: www.leadr.com.au/kongres2011 >>

'kon gres will once again be distinguished by how participants are actively engaged. Its key ingredients are innovation, interactivity, challenging sessions and acknowledgement of the wealth of experience and knowledge of the practitioners who attend. We have over 60 sessions across diverse topics ranging from neuroscience to confidentiality in mediation; from horror mediations and how to handle them to issues in international dispute resolution. Take a look at the program and see for yourself, here >>

We hope you will stay at the Novotel, our conference venue, which has recently refurbished its accommodation rooms. The early bird conference accommodation rate is available until Friday 15 July. Check details, here >>

To register, complete the form and return to LEADR. The early bird ends on 31 July.
Download the registration form >>

Registration is open for LEADR's conference in Brisbane, 7-9 September.

“The three day LEADR community of practice will provide us with experiences that will sharpen our skills and understandings as well as stimulate and encourage us to reflect and refine our practice to meet the exciting challenges offered by the changing landscape of ADR in Australia”, said Margaret Halsmith, LEADR Chair.

For more information, click here >>
To register, click here >>

This skills extender workshop led by Franca Petrone will expand your skills in providing an effective intake process for mediation. In Sydney on 1 August; Adelaide on 2 September.

For the flyer, click here >>

Assoc Prof Lee from the Faculty of Law at the National University of Singapore will be a keynote speaker at 'kon gres 2011. Assoc Prof Lee has extensive experience as a teacher of negotiation and mediation and is a consultant with CMPartners (USA) and a principal mediator with and Training Director for the Singapore Mediation Centre.

He is a member of the ADR Advisory Council of the Subordinate Courts of Singapore, the co-editor and co-author of the book An Asian Perspective on Mediation and an Associate Editor for the Asian Journal on Mediation. Joel is also a member of the IMI Independent Standards Commission and of its Intercultural Taskforce.

Listen to Assoc Prof Lee talk with LEADR CEO, Fiona Hollier at the 2nd Asian Mediation Association Conference (14 mins). Click here >>

As a result of Thailand's election being scheduled for July 2011, the APMF has postponed the Asia Pacific Mediation Leadership Summit: From Talk to Action in Bangkok from 6-8 July to 2-4 December 2011. Early bird registration is now closing on 1 July 2011.

APMF apologises for any inconvenience caused. To transform this challenge into an opportunity a Thailand-focused mediation, conflict transformation and peace building resource page has been added to the Summit website. Delegates will be able to access up-to-date information on the election process in Thailand and the associated mediation and reconciliation activities.

Summit website: www.mediation-leadership.com

LEADR Fellow Geoff Sharp presented to the Tasmanian and South Australian Chapters in May:

Hobart, 11 May at 5.15pm on Trial or therapy: interests and positions. Find out more >>

Adelaide, 12 May at 6.30pm, A working model for commercial mediation and on Friday morning, 13 May a Mediator opening statement clinic. Find out more >>

On 11 May in Perth, NADRAC member and LEADR Chair, Margaret Halsmith outlined the essential aspects of the Civil Dispute Resolution Act 2011 (Cth) highlighting the changes the Act will bring to dispute resolution. An expert panel of His Hon Judge Christopher Stevenson, Registrar Rainer Gilich, and Associate Professor Jill Howieson contributed to the discussion. Find out more >>

Ellen Waldman, Professor of Law at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego will be one of the keynote speakers at 'kon gres 2011. She'll be presenting on her specialty area of interest: ethics.

Podcast: Listen to LEADR CEO, Fiona Hollier talking with Ellen Waldman (14 mins) >>

Call for contributions at 'kon gres 2011 >>

Federal Parliament has passed the Civil Dispute Resolution Bill 2010 aimed at encouraging people to take genuine steps to resolve disputes before going to court. The Bill implements key recommendations of the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council (NADRAC) in its 2009 Report ‘The Resolve to Resolve – Embracing ADR to improve access to justice in the federal jurisdiction’.

For the Attorney-General’s press release, click here >>
For information on the Bill, click here >>

The first Asia Pacific Mediation Leadership Summit: 'From Talk to Action' will be held 6-8 July in Bangkok, Thailand. The Summit's collaborative design aims to advance mediation, other conflict transformation and peacebuilding processes in culturally fluent ways across the Asia Pacific region.

LEADR trainer and member, Professor Tania Sourdin is the Director and Foundation Chair of Monash University's new Centre for Court and Justice System Innovation (ACCJSI).

The ACCJSI webpage >>

NADRAC has provided the Attorney-General with its report, Maintaining and enhancing the integrity of ADR processes: From principles to practice through people. The Report canvasses how the issues of conduct obligations, confidentiality, inadmissibility and practitioner immunity affect the integrity of ADR processes and considers whether legislative changes are required to enhance the integrity of ADR in Australia.

LEADR member Professor Nadja Alexander has won the 2010 CPR Institute's Award for Outstanding Book for her book International and Comparative Mediation: Legal Perspectives, published by Wolters Kluwer Law and Business, The Netherlands (2009). The award recognizes a published book that advances understanding in the field of ADR.

This workshop led by Franca Petrone will expand your skills in providing an effective intake process for mediation. Melbourne, Thursday 19 May.

For the flyer, click here >>

LEADR invites you to submit an abstract for a research or practice paper, or a workshop session for 'kɒŋ grɛs 2011. LEADR is seeking presentations which contribute to excellence in the practice and delivery of ADR in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region. To download, click here >>

The Malaysian Mediation Centre is host to the 2nd Asian Mediation Association Conference to be held on 24-25 February 2011 at the
Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The theme of the Conference is "Rediscovering mediation in the 21st century".

For the program and registration form >>

Commissioner Hilary Astor of the NSW Law Reform Commission is part of the line up at The Changing Face of Family Dispute Resolution conference to be held Saturday 12 March 2011 in Sydney.

The Conference is a collaboration between ADRA and LEADR.

For more info and registration flyer, click here >>

Michael Leathes encourages us to invent the mediation future we want, exploring professionalisation, acquiring mediation knowledge and skills, and how mediation is practised and promoted.

Click here for the article >>

Submit your comments to IMI at 2020Vision@IMImediation.org

The new Constitution, adopted at the AGM on 29 November, will mean more opportunities for members to participate in LEADR activities.

To view the new Constitution, click here >>

LEADR's inaugural Chair, Gerald Raftesath was awarded Honorary membership of LEADR in recognition of his great contribution to the organisation.

In announcing the Board's decision, LEADR Chair, Margaret Halsmith acknowledged the many ways Gerald has supported LEADR including serving on the Board for over 10 years and most recently his assistance with the new Constitution.

Outlining LEADR's achievements and activities over the past year, LEADR's Report 2010 is now available, click here. >>

Podcast: Listen to LEADR Chair, Margaret Halsmith and CEO, Fiona Hollier highlight and explore some of LEADR's achievements at the Newcastle Chapter meeting. (31 mins) Click here >>

LEADR's State Chapters have held their AGMs and elected their executives for 2011. See the relevant Chapter page.

The schedule of LEADR's 5 day mediation workshops for 2011 is now available. Click here >>

LEADR's biennial conference will be held at the Novotel in Brisbane from 7-9 September 2011. We look forward to creating another special gathering with you.

At its AGM on 21 October 2010, the Newcastle Conflict Resolution Inc passed a motion to become a Newcastle Chapter of LEADR. This has since been ratified by the LEADR Board.

The first event, held on 30 November was: The future of ADR – a conversation with LEADR Chair, Margaret Halsmith and LEADR CEO, Fiona Hollier.

The new Mediator Standards Board (MSB) was launched at the National Mediation Conference on 7 September by the Hon Justice Murray Kellam AO, Chairman of NADRAC.

"The launching of the MSB reflects positively on the willingness of the mediation profession in Australia to achieve self regulation and to collaborate to establish a body of standards, notwithstanding the diversity of the field and its respective differences," said Mr Kellam.

The MSB's website is: www.msb.org.au

For a copy of the launch speech, click here >>

With the right approach, conflict can provide an opportunity to build understanding, bring about change, and promote innovation, says LEADR NZ CEO, Gabrielle O’Brien. Click here >>

For information on conflict coaching workshops, click here >>

In its continued efforts to ensure quality ADR providers, LEADR has introduced an accreditation process for CINERGY® conflict coaches. Click here >>

As a Recognised Mediator Accreditation Body (RMAB), LEADR is empowered to accredit mediators under the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS) which came into effect on 1 January 2008.

Telephone: 02 9251 3366
Freecall: 1800 651 650
E-mail: leadr@leadr.com.au