MEDIATION TODAY

In today’s episode I am talking with David PURNELL, a mediator and doyen in the area of alternative dispute resolution in Canberra and wider.

David has practised mediation for several decades and has been involved in a number of national and international organisations that took leadership in looking and finding peaceful solutions to World problems.

David is an experienced writer and researcher; member of community groups including UN Association, Quakers, University of the Third Age, Social Developers Network, Committee on Racial Equality. His notable capacity for ‘neutrality’ when mediating and good listening skills are some of the key skills he brings to his work as a mediation trainer, coach and assessor. David is strongly committed to supporting Canberra as a place of innovation and harmony.

David has been awarded the Medal of Order of Australia (1998) for peace activities.

this episode is PART 2 of my interview with Michael KLUG AM.

Michael Klug AM is one of Australia’s pioneering lawyers in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and was a founding member of LEADR (Lawyers Engaged in Alternative Dispute Resolution). Michael was also an original Director of the Australasian Disputes Centre and has served on numerous ADR committees and organisations nationwide.

Michael has practised law for over 40 years and is a former managing partner of Clayton Utz' Queensland office. Consistently voted by peers as one of Australia's Best ADR Lawyers, Michael has advised large corporate and government clients in significant public disputes and matters.

Michael is also recognised as one of Australia's best-known teachers in negotiation skills, conflict management and ADR. The Golden Rules of Negotiation, which have been written, observed and extracted by Michael, form the basis of his training program which he presents throughout Australia and overseas.

He's a former Adjunct Professor of the Queensland University of Technology Law School where he has taught generations of students, and has lectured at Bond University and the Griffith University International Negotiation Program. Michael is also on the academic faculty of Lex Mundi, the world's leading association of independent law firms.

Both as an academic and a practitioner, Michael has been recognised as -

- Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia: for significant service to the law in the field of alternative dispute resolution, and to the community (2014)

- Best Lawyers Australia: named Alternative Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year, Brisbane (2013)

-  Best Lawyers Australia: voted by peers as one of Australia's Best Lawyers in Alternative Dispute Resolution (2008-2014).

Michael Klug AM is one of Australia’s pioneering lawyers in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and was a founding member of LEADR (Lawyers Engaged in Alternative Dispute Resolution). Michael was also an original Director of the Australasian Disputes Centre and has served on numerous ADR committees and organisations nationwide.

Michael has practised law for over 40 years and is a former managing partner of Clayton Utz' Queensland office. Consistently voted by peers as one of Australia's Best ADR Lawyers, Michael has advised large corporate and government clients in significant public disputes and matters.

Michael is also recognised as one of Australia's best-known teachers in negotiation skills, conflict management and ADR. The Golden Rules of Negotiation, which have been written, observed and extracted by Michael, form the basis of his training program which he presents throughout Australia and overseas.

He's a former Adjunct Professor of the Queensland University of Technology Law School where he has taught generations of students, and has lectured at Bond University and the Griffith University International Negotiation Program. Michael is also on the academic faculty of Lex Mundi, the world's leading association of independent law firms.

Both as an academic and a practitioner, Michael has been recognised as -

- Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia: for significant service to the law in the field of alternative dispute resolution, and to the community (2014)

- Best Lawyers Australia: named Alternative Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year, Brisbane (2013)

-  Best Lawyers Australia: voted by peers as one of Australia's Best Lawyers in Alternative Dispute Resolution (2008-2014).

Shirli Kirschner is an experienced mediator and alternative dispute resolution practitioner from Sydney, with a gentle, friendly personality. I loved interviewing Shirli as her rich experience comes through every word she utters. 

In this, second interview with Shirli, we explore cultural aspects of mediation practice. Shirli talks about the role ethnicity plays in today's society and how it reflects on her approach to mediation. 

Listen to this fantastic interview at your convenience.

Enjoy!

Rhian Williams provides a variety of services through her firm based in Canberra and they include:

- Mediation

- Facilitation

- Dispute system design

- Thought partnering, and

- Research Services

Rhian's website is designed to take the visitor through an outline of her specialty service areas: provision of direct client services, workshops delivery, blog about ‘travels with a triangle’ as well as an outline of recent projects, notably focusing on leadership and cultural safety.

As a Life coach in Canberra, ACT, Fiona McIlroy has over twenty-five years of experience teaching and working in the community sector with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. This gives her the ability to respond to a range of learning styles and group or individual settings. Fiona is passionate about supporting others to make changes that reflect their true values and abilities through her life coaching and workshops in the Canberra area.

In the past, Fiona was involved with the early beginnings of the Conflict Resolution Service (CRS), Canberra’s distinguished mediation and conflict resolution organisation.

Enjoy!

Today’s guest in my series of podcasts about all things mediation is Dr Hanna Jaireth, a long-term mediator and board member of several non-government environmental law organisations and law journals for many years, a volunteer with ACT ParkCare since 2001 and is a panel member with the Canberra Conflict Resolution Service, CRS.

Hanna was the 2020 recipient of the prestigious Michael Klug Award, awarded by the Resolution Institute.

Hanna’s contribution to the areas of dispute resolution and mediation is enormous. I would like to start with the words that the Resolution Institute placed on their website -

'Hanna contributed significantly towards providing the NZ Government with a comprehensive range of information to support their review of the proposed NZ Farm Debt Mediation scheme, leading to the adoption of the Farm Debt Mediation Act (NSW) in NZ. Through the adoption of this Act, Hanna's efforts have aided the peaceful settlement of conflicts between farmers and their creditors, offering a measure of relief to an economy burdened by the challenges of COVID-19.'

Enjoy this enlightening interview.

Fiona KIRKMAN is the founder of an IT product, 'Family Property', and an Accredited Specialist in Family Law. She is a mediator, a FDR Practitioner and a Collaborative Coach and runs her own practice, Kirkman Family Law, which is focused on 'resolution without court'.

Venita DIMOS is a mediator and a Conflict Coach. To manage conflict is not something most people have ever received education and training for. Most people have learned to deal with conflict ‘on the job’, through trial and error, through stress and damaged relationships.

As a result, many people choose to avoid or fear conflict. Avoiding conflict resolves nothing.

Being able to effectively resolve disputes is an invaluable life skill that can help you restore relationships, whether in your workplace or your personal life.

By working with a trained Conflict Coach or attending a Conflict Workshop, you can privately explore your own personal conflict patterns and better understand the dynamics of conflict with the important people in your life.

Hear important messages about conflict management and resolution from this insightful interview with Venita.

Enjoy!

Dr Richard WHITWELL is a lawyer and a mediator, a professional who has worked right across Australia in his various roles, working as a high-ranked Government official as well as a private practitioner mediator in Canberra.

Right up to 2019 Richard worked in Port Hedland, Pilbara Region, Western Australia.

He was a Senior Lecturer, School of Business and Law, Central Queensland University, up to 2010 and for a number of years prior to that was a Director in the Federal Government's Australian Customs Service.

Dr Whitwell is talking about his practice as a mediator, as well as about the Singapore Convention on Mediation, which came to force in September 202, with Australian Government still considering the outcomes of public consultations on the issue (as of March 2021).

Enjoy!