Dr Monique Williams

Dr Monique Williams, CEO of Cure Violence Global, is an accomplished public health researcher and practitioner. She has worked in local government, leading the development and execution of a city’s strategic plan for addressing violence. She spent many years in academia, with research focused on improving health outcomes within marginalised populations – using community health development, equity, and violence prevention strategies. 

She led a CDC-designated centre for youth violence prevention research, where she oversaw the engagement of academic and community expertise in integrating practice, research, and teaching to advance health equity, racial justice, and build capacity for violence prevention within communities.

Anne Sutherland

Anne is the founding Director of Sutherland Kelly Mediation. Formerly, Anne was in legal practice and then worked in human rights law reform. 

Sutherland Kelly Mediation specialises in resolving complex multi-pary disputes, including those involving community groups, public entities and commercial interests; conflict within and between organisations; commercial; and human rights matters.

Anne consults to private & public sector clients in the areas of conflict, communication, leadership, culture and community decision making. Anne’s approach is grounded in restorative practice. 

Anne mediates at the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal. Anne is a facilitator for a number of redress schemes at both the federal and state level. Anne has held various appointments as mediator, conciliator and arbitrator in Victoria and New South Wales. 

Anne is an adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Law School, University of Melbourne. Prior to her appointment at Melbourne Law School, she was a Senior Fellow, Faculty of Law, Monash University for 14 years. Anne is a lead faculty member of the Resolution Institute training team.

Corrina Faulkner

Corrina Faulkner is a solicitor and family dispute resolution practitioner at Legal Aid NSW. Her background is predominately in Family Law and Child Protection, mostly in NSW and previously in the NT. Representing adults as well as children in both the Family Law Courts and the Children’s Court. Corrina now specialises in Dispute Resolution, looking after the Care and Protection program within FDR Services, Legal Aid NSW.

Natascha Boehm

An accredited mediator and experienced workplace trainer, presenter and negotiator; Natascha delivers strategic advice, training and coaching on workplace and industrial relations matters. She believes in a Conscious Workplace. A qualified lawyer, Natascha is a past President of the Industrial Relations Society of Victoria and Past Secretary of the Australian Labour and Employment Relations Association. She has vast experience in holding board positions including being past Secretary of the Executive of the Victorian Chapter of LEADR - Association of Dispute Resolvers. Natascha is also a mediation coach, academic researcher and has lectured/tutored in various business/employment law subjects.

Jeremy Culshaw

Jeremy has been worked as a specialist family lawyer for 40 years and is still known to occasionally smile.

Eloise Riches

Eloise is the Co-Manager of the Family Dispute Resolution Unit at Legal Aid NSW. Along with Gabriela Nitsolas-Pirc, Eloise manages a team of approximately 35 staff and 60 panel mediators who facilitate over 3000 mediations a year. The mediations include children and property issues both as early intervention mediations and litigation intervention. Eloise is an accredited specialist in Family Law with more than 30 years’ experience in family law in private practice and at Legal Aid NSW and with experience in acting for parents and as an Independent Children’s Lawyer. Eloise became a Registered FDRP in 2009 having mediated since 1993. Eloise is passionate about FDR development, systems, and evidence-based learning.

Nina Harding

Nina has worked as a commercial mediator for over 30 years. She has mediated thousands of complex disputes and is accredited under the AMDRAS. 

Nina is on numerous mediator panels including the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (National Franchising Panel), the NSW Personal Injury Commission, The Commonwealth Ombudsman and the NSW and Qld Farm Debt Mediation panels. 

Nina is the Australian Film Code Conciliator, resolving disputes between movie distributors and cinema exhibitors. 

Nina has mediated hundreds of workplace disputes involving a multitude of complex issues. She has facilitated numerous complex conversations with large groups within a variety of workplaces and other sites. Nina has been a Facilitator of Restorative Engagement processes since 2014. 

In 2022 Nina was named Australian Mediator of the Year at the Australasian Law Awards. She became interested in mediation when working for a law firm in London. Nina is a visiting Senior Lecturer at Hong Kong University and a casual Lecturer at UTS. Nina is a Lead Trainer for the Resolution Institute and has trained thousands of people to mediate and resolve conflict more effectively. 

Nina helps people to have safe conversations about complex and difficult issues.

Dr Joseph Hongoh

Joseph holds a PhD in Governance and Conflict Management from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Joseph is a Principal Dispute Resolution Officer with the Queensland Human Rights Commission and a sessional lecturer at T.C. Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland. Prior to this, he was a sessional lecturer, Peace and Conflict studies at the School of Political Science and International Studes, University of Queensland.

Joseph is an established facilitator, mediator, trainer, and monitoring and evaluation consultant in the area of conflict resolution, peacebuilding and international development. 

Joseph is also an interdisciplinary researcher in: State-Society relations in conflict management and resolution, state-building as conflict management, community-based approaches to managing conflicts, and peacebuilding.

Joseph was born and raised in Kenya and has had extensive work experience in Africa, Asia and the Pacific including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Rwanda, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Mary-Jo Anagnos

Mary-Jo is a social worker and in-house senior family dispute resolution practitioner at Victoria Legal Aid. Her background spans work in the community legal centre sector, community and government services, and university teaching. She has worked in family violence, elder abuse, disability support, and homelessness. A family dispute resolution practitioner since 2020, Mary-Jo joined Victoria Legal Aid in 2023, where she now facilitates conferences, oversees clinical placements, and offers peer support and staff supervision.

Nikki Venter

Nikki has a Bachelor of Social Work and a Graduate Certificate in Developmental Trauma. She has worked at Relationships Australia South Australia for 13 years in Post Separation Services, in the SCaSP program as a Counsellor and Child Consultant and as the Practice Leader of Children's Contact Services.

Glenys Rikard-Bell

Glenys has a diverse professional background. She commenced her career as a health clinician working with children with neurological disorders for over a decade. She then channelled her professional development into pure science medical research completing a PhD in neuroanatomy at the UNSW that resulted in peer reviewed published neuroanatomical papers. Glenys was involved in teaching medical and health students in the Faculty of Medicine UNSW during her PhD. Moving into public health research Glenys gained a Master of Public Health and worked in the Central Sydney Health Area as a senior research practitioner for a further decade authoring/co-authoring peer-reviewed Public Health published papers. Glenys then completed a law degree and has worked as an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner for over 10 years. She remains passionately committed to evidence based best clinical and legal practice and dispute resolution.

Linda Kochanski AM

Linda has been a practising mediator since 1992, primarily in family mediation but also in other forms of relationship mediation. Since 2015, Linda has held the position Senior Practice Leader: Dispute Resolution Programs (College of Law) responsible for delivery of FDR and Mediation programs and courses across Australia. 

Linda was an AMDRAS Board Director (2016 -2024 ). 

In 2024 , Linda was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for her work in the law, particularly dispute resolution and tertiary education. In 2025, she co-authored with Mieke Brandon the 5th edition of ‘Mediating with Families’.

Catherine Ellis

Catherine has over 20 years' experience across the public, corporate and consulting sectors. 

Prior to her work at the Commission, Catherine has worked as Executive Director, Enterprise Risk and Enablement at Service NSW, where she played a major role in delivering services across NSW to customers impacted by Covid-19, natural disasters and cost of living challenges. 

Catherine has extensive experience in advocacy and engagement, partnerships, dispute resolution and complex issues management. She brings these skills to the table in assisting NSW small businesses, ensuring they have ready access to advice and solutions, and in ensuring that the voice of small business is heard by government agencies when making regulatory changes. 

She actively contributes to her local community and sits on the Housing Trust Board and the Access Care Network Australia Client and Service Quality Advisory Committee.

Dr Joseph Hongoh

Joseph holds a PhD in Governance and Conflict Management from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Jospeh is a Principal Dispute Resolution Officer with the Queensland Human Rights Commission and a sessional lecturer at T.C. Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland. Prior to this, he was a sessional lecturer, Peace and Conflict studies at the School of Political Science and International Studes, University of Queensland Joseph is an established facilitator, mediator, trainer, and monitoring and evaluation consultant in the area of conflict resolution, peacebuilding and international development. Joseph is also an interdisciplinary researcher in: State-Society relations in conflict management and resolution, state-building as conflict management, community-based approaches to managing conflicts, and peacebuilding. He was born and raised in Kenya and has had extensive work experience in Africa, Asia and the Pacific including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Rwanda, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Belinda Taranto

Belinda is a registered FDRP and Child Consultant. She is the team leader of the Macquarie Park, Access Mediation and Blacktown Family Relationship Centre’s with Relationship Australia. She offers clinical supervision to her team of Family Advisors, Mediators and Child Consultants. With a child-focus and therapeutic style, she is confident in working with all families across both parenting and property. 

Belinda has extensive experience in presenting group work for both adults and children such as Circle of Security, Kids in Focus and My changing Family and me, but also therapeutic psycho-educational course such as mental health training, conflict resolution, self-care and accidental Counsellor. 

Belinda also regularly coaches the graduated diploma in FDRP.

Mieke Brandon AM RIF

Mieke has been involved in mediation and dispute resolution since the 1990s , she is a co - author of one of the leading FDR texts "Meidiating with Families" and has authored and co authored numerous articles on a range of topics. 

In 2021 Mieke was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. 

Mieke is now a retired Director from the Resolution Institute Board

Elke Pitkethley

Elke is a Practice Lead at Uniting Counselling & Mediation, where she ensures the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based practice models in Family Law Services. She is deeply committed to enhancing service excellence and driving continuous improvement to ensure separated families receive accessible, inclusive, and effective support. 

With over 20 years of experience in government and non-profit sectors as a legal practitioner, mediator, and operations lead, Elke brings a wealth of expertise to her work. A Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP), Accredited Mediator under the Australian National Mediator Standards (AMDRAS), and Family Group Conference Facilitator, she is passionate about innovating practices that uphold social justice and accessibility for vulnerable communities. 

Elke successfully led the transition to effective online service delivery at Uniting and contributed to a research project amplifying young people’s voices in family dispute resolution services. She also serves as a director on the board of a youth centre, supporting initiatives that empower young people and foster community well-being. 

Her leadership reflects a dedication to delivering high-quality, client-centred services that respond to the diverse needs of families and communities.

Gabriela Nitsolas-Pirc

Gabriela is the Co-Manager of the Family Dispute Resolution unit and the Manager of Strategy, Policy and Projects for the Family Law Division at Legal Aid NSW. Along with Eloise Riches, Gabriela manages a team of approximately 35 staff and 60 panel mediators who facilitate over 3000 mediations a year. The areas of mediation include children, property and care and protection. Gabriela is a solicitor and FDRP with over 20 years’ experience who specialises in Dispute Resolution and has worked primarily in Care and Protection and Family Law in both Government and private practice. Prior to commencing at Legal Aid, Gabriela worked at the Department of Justice for 10 years where she held various management, policy and legal positions including Operations Manager of the Adult Restorative Justice Program and Director and Policy Manager at the Community Justice Centres. Gabriela is passionate about dispute resolution and working with vulnerable families and children to achieve the best outcomes.

Naomi Doyle

Naomi is a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, nationally accredited mediator, and elder mediator. She leads the Penrith Family Relationship Centre at Relationships Australia NSW, where she also provides clinical supervision. 

Alongside her practice, she coaches on the Graduate Certificate in FDR with both Relationships Australia and the College of Law, supporting the next generation of practitioners. 

Holding a law degree and drawing on a career spanning law, policy, aviation finance, publishing, fashion, and freelance writing, Naomi brings breadth, adaptability, and insight to her mediation work. 

She is passionate about helping families and individuals navigate change with dignity and is committed to advancing the practice of dispute resolution through both education and leadership.

Dr Lorri Yasenik

Lorri is in private practice and provides child and Play Therapy, Family Mediation and Parenting Coordination. Lorri is the Co-Director of the International Centre for Children and Family Law, a centre established for the training and development of family law professionals in engaging with children of separation and divorce in a safe and authentic manner. Lorri is a regular presenter at national and international conferences and training events on the voice of children and youth in family law. Lorri is also the Director of Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute which delivers approved training for those seeking registration in Play Therapy.

Dr Anne Purcell

Anne is a dispute resolution specialist focusing on the psychology of interpersonal communication and the neuroscience of conflict. She practises as a mediator, family dispute resolution practitioner, communication and family professional in the collaborative law process, a parenting co-ordinator, and is an international speaker and trainer. Anne has trained professionals around the world in alternatives to traditional dispute resolution and litigation processes. Her focus is on healthy children after divorce, and on-going respectful relationships between separated couples, families and colleagues. Anne holds a PhD in Developmental Psycholinguistics and a Master's of Education, Human Development and Psychology. She was also three times the Australian Mediator of the year in the Australian Law Awards

Professor Joel Lee

Joel is a Professor at the Faculty of Law, the National University of Singapore. Joel co-pioneered the teaching of Negotiation and Mediation in the Singapore Universities and has played a significant role in furthering the development of mediation in Singapore, not just in education but in practice. A graduate of Victoria University of Wellington and Harvard Law Schools, Joel is a principal mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre and a Master Trainer with Peacemakers. 

Joel was a member of the International Mediation Institute's Independent Standards Commission and Intercultural Taskforce and was also a key member of the Ministry of Law’s Working Group on International Commercial Mediation. Joel is presently the founding Chair of the Board of the Singapore International Mediation Institute. He is also a Certified Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). 

Joel has taught overseas at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), University of Law, Economics and Science of Aix-Marseille (Aix-en-Provence France) and Anglia Law School (UK) and is the co-editor and co- author of the book "An Asian Perspective on Mediation" and the “Singapore Mediation Handbook”, and the General Editor for the Asian Journal on Mediation. In 2011, Joel was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award which is the National University of Singapore's highest teaching award. Joel was also awarded the Singapore’s Public Service Medal in 2023 for his work in promoting mediation.

Dr Katherine Johnson

Katherine, PhD (Law), is a barrister, psychologist, and nationally and internationally accredited mediator with extensive experience across courts, tribunals, and government panels. She is the longest-serving President of the Australian Dispute Resolution Association (ADRA) and a Fellow of both ADRA and the Resolution Institute. A pioneer in mediation, Katherine authored Mediation Quest: Making Sense of Loss and developed the Re-Constructionist model of mediation, widely published and presented internationally. She co-founded the Dispute Resolution and Psychology Interest Group of the Australian Psychological Society and established Pave the Way to Peace, an initiative hosted at NSW Parliament House since 1996. Katherine has trained mediators for decades, delivering education programs globally, including her ongoing work in Mongolia where she serves as Chief Consultant for the Erdenet Private University Family Law Research Department, training judges, psychologists, and social workers. Her expertise also spans workplace dispute resolution, organisational change management, and restorative engagement processes. With dual qualifications in law and psychology, Katherine brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to mediation, dedicated to advancing peaceful and democratic approaches to conflict resolution worldwide.

Nakita Allen

Nakita is a proud Barkindji woman and is currently working as a criminal and family violence lawyer in Warrnambool. Nakita has worked at the Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service at Djirra, the County Court as an Associate, and has recently returned to Victoria Legal Aid as a lawyer, having previously worked with VLA for several years in administrative roles. She has worked in both criminal and family law, with a focus on family violence, First Nations families and clients, and mediation with the Family Dispute Resolution Service at Victoria Legal Aid.

Danielle Jaku-Greenfield

Danielle previously worked for several years in print journalism, then began a career in law and mediation, initially practicing as a solicitor in both private practice and a community legal centre, and later working in mediation across both the private and community sectors. She has also written and published books for children of separating families. 

In 2007, Danielle completed a Master of Laws by research thesis and has since lectured in undergraduate family law at Macquarie University and the University of Technology Sydney, and, from 2010 onwards, in postgraduate family law at The College of Law. Since 2014, she has trained future mediators and provided both group and individual supervision. 

In recent years, Danielle has been instrumental in establishing for Relationships Australia an exclusively online, subsidised mediation service for separated parents in regional and remote Australia, as well as for the disability community. She also contributes to negotiation and mediation training for the UNSW Practical Legal Training program and co-presents webinars for solicitors seeking to upskill in legally assisted mediation and advanced soft skills, including Continuing Professional Development and programs for solicitors at AHPRA. 

Danielle sits on the Australian Mediation and Dispute Resolution Accreditation Standards (AMDRAS) Board of Directors, supporting the mediation industry and practice standards.

Norwahidah Zinalibdin

Norwahidah is Director of the Unity Management Division at Malaysia’s Department of National Unity and Integration (DNUI), with over 17 years of experience in community mediation, conflict resolution, and national unity policy. She has represented Malaysia at international platforms including the BRI Seminar in Beijing (2025), Strong Cities Workshop in Manila (2023), and conferences in Kyoto and Makassar. A certified mediator, she leads initiatives to strengthen grassroots cohesion and inclusive nation-building.

Amber Williams

Amber is the CEO of Resolution Institute, the largest professional membership, training and accreditation organisation for dispute resolvers across Australia and New Zealand. She has held this role since November 2019. A strategic leader with a diverse background in both the private and public sectors, Amber was the CEO of the New South Wales Law Enforcement Conduct Commission and Chief Human Resources Officer for the New South Wales Department of Justice prior to her appointment as CEO of Resolution Institute. 

Amber’s current role as CEO of Resolution Institute is to work with the Board in setting and delivering the strategic direction of Resolution Institute, and to work in the interests of members to grow services and expand the profile of Resolution Institute and dispute resolution within the community. Amber is currently serving as a Director on the AMDRAS Board (since 2022). 

Amber holds a Master of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations from University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from Macquarie University. She is a certified member of the Australian Human Resources Institute and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Miriam Ziegler

Miriam and Danielle Jaku-Greenfield are two mediators and FDRPs who have worked together for a very long time in clinical practice and teaching. We work across private and community sectors. We coach in national mediation accreditation courses and family dispute resolution practice courses. We are both law lecturers with a passion for ADR.

Melvin Loh

Melvin is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Law, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), where he teaches conflict resolution, mediation, and criminal law. His work bridges theory with reform, focusing on restorative justice, legal education, and access to justice. 

He has been recognised with multiple awards, including SUSS’s Excellence in Teaching and Staff Service Awards (2023), the Outstanding Court Volunteer Award and Long Service Award from the State Courts of Singapore, and the SMC Faculty Award from the Singapore Mediation Centre (2024). In 2025, he became the first author from an Asian journal to win the CPR Outstanding Professional Short Article Award. That same year, Pro Bono SG honoured him with the Top Volunteer Award and Bronze Supporter recognition. 

Melvin speaks internationally, including engagements at Harvard, Oxford, and major dispute resolution forums. He advocates for justice systems that are inclusive, psychologically attuned, and socially responsive. 

He serves on the Executive Committees of CLAS, the Community Legal Clinics and is active on the Law Society’s Mediation Committee and Foreign Bar Liaison Committee – China Chapter. He is a certified and court-appointed mediator, Faculty Leader at Sage Mediation Institute, and Counsel at Peter Low Chambers LLC, offering pro bono representation.

Terrie Toner

Terrie is an experienced child consultant with RANSW, and is dedicated to ensuring children have a supported voice in post-separation families. Terrie is the Practice Lead for CIP, contributing extensively to the RANSW team of child consultants and FDRPs.

Sala Sihombing

Sala works full-time as a mediator focusing on families in Hong Kong. She is an accredited mediator (Australia NMAS) (USA FINRA) (Hong Kong HKMAAL/HKIAC) (UK CEDR) and Family Mediation Supervisor (HKMAAL). Since 2013, she teaches as an adjunct lecturer at HKU in the LLM ADR Programme. 

Having originally qualified as a solicitor in the UK (1995); she returned to Hong Kong, qualified as a solicitor (1996) and worked as a criminal and civil litigator. In 1997, she left private practice to work as in-house counsel at Peregrine Management Limited and at Credit Agricole Indosuez. 

Sala moved to Morgan Stanley Hong Kong in 2000 to run the Asian Equity Documentation Group for the Institutional Equity Division. In 2004, as an Executive Director she left the group to manage Asian Product Development. 

In 2011, Sala resigned and attended the Straus Institute (Pepperdine University, USA) to receive her LLM in Dispute Resolution. Her LLB (Hons) is from the University of Bristol, UK.

Dr Özlem Süsler

Özlem is a senior lecturer at La Trobe Law School with a particular interest in appropriate dispute resolution practice and processes. Her teaching focuses on ADR including mediation and arbitration, with her recent research focusing on the experience of Autistic individuals in ADR. She is an accredited AMDRAS mediator and holds a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Özlem has a long history of coaching law students for various national and international ADR competitions. She is passionate about instilling ADR skills into law students to equip the next generation of lawyers.

Zack Smith

Zack is a Palawa man, a family lawyer and a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. Having been at Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) since 2017, he has worked in several offices and regions, practising predominantly in the areas of family law, family violence and child protection. In 2024 he was accredited as an FDRP and started as an in-house mediator for VLA’s Family Dispute Resolution Service (FDRS), giving First Nations families more ability to have an Aboriginal mediator assist in their matters. He has a particular interest in seeing First Nations families achieve quick, fair and culturally appropriate outcomes and as much as possible, avoid the need to journey through the family court system.

Erica Nicholls

Erica Nicholls has been a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Nationally Accredited Mediator since 2018, and a solicitor working primarily in Family Law since 2000. Erica has participated in various forms of family dispute resolution over the past two and half decades, including: as Child Advocate in Family Conferencing in child protection matters in the Youth Court of South Australia; and as a solicitor in FDR Conferencing through the Legal Services Commission, Court Ordered Conciliation Conferences and Judicial Conferences. 

More recently, Erica has worked as an FDRP in community based mediation, first at Relationships Australia South Australia and now at Uniting Communities in the southern suburbs of Adelaide. Through the years, Erica has seen first hand the benefits and challenges of various models of family dispute processes and the variety of roles and supports which can assist the parties through the process.

Milan Nitopi

Milan is an accredited lawyer and mediator with a Master of Laws in Family Dispute Resolution (LLM FDR). Milan has a passion concerning people, law, and resolution and he strives to equip people with skills for better communication and dialogue to address all kinds of conflict.

Bianca Roche-Bolger

Bianca has a background in clinical Social Work and over 25 years of experience helping Australian families navigate crisis and change. She is a highly experienced Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Nationally Accredited Mediator (NMAS), Child Consultant, Family Therapist, Collaborative Coach, and Clinical Supervisor. 

After working in community mediation and leading a team of mediators, family advisors and child consultants, Bianca now runs her private practice full-time. She holds a Master’s in Clinical Family Therapy from La Trobe University and co-founded The Mediation Collective, a specialist family mediation service in Sydney. 

Bianca specializes in child-inclusive mediation and complex cases involving mental health and family violence. She is an active Board member of Collaborative Professionals NSW and has been recognized as a Leading Family Mediator by Doyle’s Guide for the past five years.

Pip Rae

Pip Rae is a leading expert in tech-enabled abuse, online coercion, and digital safety, with a strong background in investigations, media, and advocacy. As a former police officer (1994–2011), she specialised in domestic violence and protective security, later transitioning into media and content production to drive awareness on tech-facilitated abuse. 

Pip is a key educator and consultant on coercive control, digital stalking, and financial abuse, working with law enforcement, policymakers, and advocacy groups to combat emerging threats in the online space. She has contributed to legislative inquiries, produced podcasts such as All About AVOs, and co-designed digital safety training resources for Australian police forces. A sought-after keynote speaker, Pip leads workshops on online safety, gendered cyber abuse, and digital ID protection. Recognised for her contributions, she was named Woman of the Year 2024 – Hughes NSW and continues to shape policies and protections for vulnerable communities in the digital age.

Sandra Opoku

Sandra is Senior Manager of Evaluation and Social Impact at Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV), where she leads the organization’s efforts in evidence-based practices, impact measurement, and innovation. Sandra specializes in applying evaluation and social impact measurement to tackle complex social challenges and improve outcomes for individuals, families and communities. Under her leadership, RAV received the 2024 Excellence in Social Impact Measurement Award, recognizing her commitment to meaningful, measurable change. Sandra holds dual degrees in Science and Arts, with Honours in International Health Politics, reflecting her multidisciplinary approach to understanding and solving societal issues.

Franca Petrone

Franca is a dispute management consultant and tribunal member with the Administrative Review Tribunal and South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. She has extensive experience in all types of disputes developed over almost 30 years of working as a consultant; conflict management coach; trainer and facilitator of mediation, conciliation and restorative engagement processes. 

Together with others, Franca played a significant role in the development of mediator standards in Australia being one of the founding directors and the inaugural secretary of the Mediator Standards Board. She has chaired and been involved with many advisory boards and committees related to alternative dispute resolution and has consulted with a number of large companies and government organisations establishing dispute management systems. 

Franca works in areas including workplace; personal injury; commercial; regulatory; privacy; community; estates and family. She is a member of several court, tribunal, government department and institutional panels. Franca loves walking and swimming in nature. 

Franca, Anne and Nicole hiked the Queen Charlotte Track in NZ following NMC 2023. The discussions had whilst walking inspired them to develop the Connect & Reflect Walking Workshop.

Dr Genevieve Heard

Genevieve is Manager Research at Relationships Australia Victoria. Her work has investigated outcomes of post-separation dispute resolution services, and technology use in post-separation parenting. Genevieve’s earlier research concerned patterns of family formation and dissolution. She has authored numerous journal articles and edited Family Formation in 21st Century Australia (2015).

Dianne Loveday

Dianne has 40 years’ experience working with people. With a background in sales and marketing she has spent many years as the owner operator of successful small businesses. Dianne has degrees in both Psychology and Sociology, Graduate Diplomas in Psychotherapy, Counselling and Family Dispute Resolution. She is a Nationally Accredited NMAS Mediator and is registered with the Attorney General’s Office of Australia as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.

In her capacity as an FDR Mediator she is uniquely placed to be able to support, guild and advise her clients, through the entire process of separation and divorce; including children's matters and property settlements. Dianne’s clients benefit from her knowledge and training in Family Law as well as her Behavioural Science training, offering a non-adversarial alternative to our legal system. She is able to help her clients make sense of the processes and procedures within the Family Law Act and she can clarify the choices available to couples at this difficult time. FDR Mediation provides an opportunity for couples to come to negotiated settlements that both parties can live with and in a time frame that is not determined by the courts. Dianne’s aim is to minimise the distress and confusion experienced by her clients and to support them to negotiate agreements that are fair and just. Dianne’s business, Bayside Mediation is a Child Focused service offering families an opportunity to focus on what is most important as parents separate and divorce, their children.

Amiel Nubaha

Amiel is an experienced mediator and peace-building specialist with a proven track record in conflict resolution, prevention and restorative justice practices. As a passionate advocate for multiculturalism, he brings a wealth of cross-cultural expertise and a deep understanding of justice systems in addition to his fluency in over five languages, he is skilled in program management, leading complex teams and navigating politically sensitive issues. Amiels' experience includes fostering constructive dialogue, promoting reconciliation and implementing sustainable solutions in challenging environments. With a strong academic background in Law, Criminology, Criminal Justice and Family Dispute Resolution, he is dedicated to creating lasting peace and understanding in the communities and businesses he serves.

Valerie Norton

Valerie has worked with a multitude of separating families since 2011 to support them during this critical time of change and uncertainty. Her understanding of the complex psychological issues associated with separation helps Valerie support parents to be empowered with their post-separation parenting alliance. She is passionate about reducing the stress and conflict within a family and firmly believes that Child Inclusive Practice (CIP) can provide a wealth of information to parents that assist their new family structure. 

Valerie and has been in private practice since 2011 following her management of complex cases as a senior FDRP at Relationships Australia. She also assesses candidates for National Meditation Accreditation and FDR at the College of Law and Relationships Australia and provides clinical supervision/mentoring to recent graduates in FDR. 

She has been consistently rated by the Doyle’s Guide as a “Leading Family Law Mediator” since 2020.

Karis Nafte

Karis is the founder and owner of Who Keeps the Dog, Pet Custody Mediation. A Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant & Accredited Family Mediator, she brings 25 years professional experience as a dog behaviour expert into the world of dogs and divorce. A global thought leader and published author on pet custody, Karis has developed, and teaches, the first accredited pet guardianship education course for divorce professionals to learn best practice for a dogs (and other pets) best interest during divorce. 

Her book, book Who Keeps the Dog, Navigating Pet Custody During Divorce was published in 2024 and her work has been featured in Associated Press, The Washington Post, Scripps News, The New York Post, VICE News, ABC News and Australian Dog Lover Magazine.

Dr Grant Morris

Dr Grant Morris is Associate Professor of Law at Victoria University of Wellington. Grant is an accredited mediator and has worked as a facilitator and negotiator over the past two decades. Dr Morris’s research areas include mediation, interest-based negotiation and New Zealand legal history. He has published several books and numerous articles on these subjects, including Mediation in New Zealand (Thomson Reuters, 2018).

Peter Johnstone

Peter has been a conflict management specialist and senior public sector manager for over 30 years. Commencing his career with the Dispute Resolution Branch (DRB) within the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Peter has worked as a mediator, conflict management/mediation trainer, policy officer and state manager of conflict management services. Following his career at the DRB, Peter worked as the Executive Manager of Complaints at the former Health Quality and Complaints Commission (HQCC) where he oversaw the early resolution of complaints about health services and the conciliation of complex medical negligence matters. 

Peter has also worked as QCAT’s Dispute Resolution Manager – overseeing a panel of mediators resolving commercial disputes, neighbourhood disputes and tenancy disputes. In recent years Peter has overseen the establishment of a conflict management program within the Department of Education (Qld). This program includes capability development, conflict coaching and mediation. Peter holds a Bachelor of Commerce, a Masters of Business Administration, a Graduate Diploma in Family Dispute Resolution and a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management.

Bianca Keys

Bianca is a highly experienced mediator, facilitator, conflict management coach and educator. 

She has been working exclusively in the conflict resolution/ADR space since 2004. Bianca is passionate about high-quality mediation and conflict resolution services, evidenced by her long-standing practice as a mediator, mediation trainer, and Director on the Mediator Standards Board now AMDRAS Board) between 2014-2022 (as Chair 2019-2021).

Fiona Kirkman

Fiona is the Principal of Kirkman Family Law, a firm specialising in family dispute resolution. She is also the Head of Legal Innovation & Engagement at CORTO, which provides AI-powered productivity solutions for legal professionals. 

With over 20 years of experience as a Principal Specialist Family Lawyer Mediator, Fiona is a recognised leader in family law and legal technology. She is passionate about harnessing AI and automation to enhance efficiencies in family law and dispute resolution, while also being a staunch advocate for family violence training and trauma-informed practices. 

A Women in Law Awards – Thought Leader of the Year Winner (2023), Fiona is at the forefront of innovation in the legal sector. As an educator and global speaker, she regularly presents on the intersection of technology, AI, and family law, shaping the future of legal practice through thought leadership and cutting-edge solutions.

Tara Houseman

Tara is a legally trained FDRP, Trainer and Clinical Supervisor. Her current role is Practice Specialist for Family Law Services at Relationships Australia NSW where she oversees practice quality and leads initiatives to drive service innovation. Her primary focus is supporting Team Leaders and Practitioners to deliver high quality property and parenting mediation services to post separation families through the Family Relationship Centres and other Family Law programs.

Danielle Hutchinson

Danielle is a cross-disciplinary innovator and pioneer in neuroinclusive practices. She has worked globally with organisations such as the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (USA), the Association of Mediators Ukraine, The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), the UN International Labor Office, and the International Mediation Institute on projects related to practice standards, neuroinclusive practices and/or quality assurance. Locally, she has been a trusted advisor to Australia's Fair Work Commission, the Department of Justice Victoria, and with Emma-May Litchfield, the Mediator Standards Board, where they led NMAS Review 2020-22, creating the world's first empirically derived professional practice standards for mediators. Danielle currently teaches at Melbourne Law School and UNSW. Before training as a lawyer and mediator, Danielle spent almost a decade at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. She has authored publications in education and dispute resolution, and in 2023, was granted a 25-year patent for her AI-augmented dispute triage system.

Fiona Hollier

Fiona has over 12 years experience in organisational and interpersonal communications, as a workplace educator and facilitator. As a facilitator, Fiona is highly skilled in creating environments in which participants are able to reflect, analyse and contribute in meaningful and honest ways. She leads participants to probe beneath the surface of their reflex reactions, to uncover the mental models from which they are operating. She uses her interpersonal competencies and conflict resolution skills to negotiate agreements between different stakeholder and factional groups, to resolve issues on which future cooperation is required. 

Fiona was CEO of Resolution Institute, the major professional organisation for dispute resolvers, and has previously served as Vice Chair of the LEADR national Board, and on the Executive of the NSW Chapter, including as Chapter Chair. Her previous experience includes 12 years consultancy in interpersonal and organisational communications, teaching Social Interaction in the Bachelor of Communications degree at the University of Western Sydney and co-authoring the Conflict Resolution Network Trainers' Manual. 

She has been a member of Mediators Beyond Borders, and was a delegate to the UNFCCC climate change conference, in Copenhagen Dec 2010.

Athena Harris Ingall

Athena is currently is appointed as a part-time legal member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal (NSW) and a part-time senior legal member of NCAT. She is a nationally accredited mediator and fellow of the Resolution Institute. In the past Athena has held a range of positions and appointments. She was a member of Impaired Nurses Panels, Midwives and Nurses Registration Board of NSW, the inaugural Learning and Development Manager of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and Conference Registrar of the AAT and the legal member of the Physiotherapy Council of NSW. 

She also has significant experience in health care in management, policy and planning and research as well as in her work in acute care nursing. Athena completed post graduate studies in law at Melbourne University and education at Macquarie University and has led and advised on several projects in tribunals involving professional standards and professional development programs, including for the Council of Australasian Tribunals. She is also an indigo dyer and eco printer who has developed her art practice through workshops with internationally renowned master dyers.

Rory Gowers

Rory is a Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR), a Master of Education (MEd), an intercultural mediator, and a business strategist with extensive international experience as a visionary business problem solver, and certified results coach. Rory’s mission is to facilitate a more respectful world by inspiring people to transform business ecosystems with practical, sustainable solutions to facilitate a place for peace in our time.

Jon Graham

Jon has worked as a Family Mediator, Mediation Trainer and Clinical Supervisor of practice for nearly 30 years. As part of that work Jon trained and presented to professionals across Australia, USA, Canada, Singapore, UK and Hong Kong. His main area of interest in Family Law work has been family safety, risk assessment and safety planning. Since 2014, Jon has worked with Lorri Yasenik in developing models of practice for the safe inclusion of the child voice in family law cases.

Jodie Grant

Jodie has foundational experience as a Social Worker and has worked for over 20 years in Dispute Resolution. She has accreditations as a FDR practitioner (AAGD), a Nationally accredited mediator (under the NMAS now AMDRAS), and a Restorative Engagement Facilitator with the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce (DART). For 20 years, Jodie has worked concurrently in dispute resolution practice and training/education/professional development. She continues to provide FDR (parenting and property matters), family mediations, parent-adolescent mediations, elder mediations and workplace mediations. She spent ten years as a Restorative Engagement Facilitator with DART (now the Commonwealth Ombudsman - Defence), and continues this work contracting with Defence as well as through many Redress Schemes providing Facilitated Direct Personal Responses for those who have experienced harm and abuse in institutions. 

Jodie provides bespoke training, as well as supervision and reflective practice, for individuals and organisations, while focusing on her private practice, Shifting Sands, and contracts with many organisations and institutions.

Prof Rachael Field

Rachael is a Professor of Law in the Bond University Faculty of Law, and Co-Director of the Bond Centre for Dispute Resolution and Bond’s Centre for Professional Legal Education. Her areas of teaching and research expertise include dispute resolution, family law and domestic violence, lawyer and law student well-being and legal education. 

Rachael has published widely in the dispute resolution field and completed a PhD on mediation ethics in 2011. Amongst other works, she is the author of Australian Dispute Resolution (2022) and co-author with Laurence Boulle of Mediation in Australia (2018). Rachael founded the Australian Wellness Network for Law and co-founded the ADR Research Network. She has been involved with Women’s Legal Service, Brisbane since 1993 and is now an Ambassador for the Service. In 2013 Rachael was named Queensland Woman Lawyer of the Year and in 2020 she was elected to be a life-long Honorary Academic Bencher of the Inner Temple (one of the four Inns of Court) in London.

Lynn Davie

Lynn has more than 30 years of senior management experience across the public sector, including Department of Justice, Juvenile Justice, Inspector of Custodial Services, Community Justice Centres (NSW & NT) and the Aboriginal Mediation Service in WA. Lynn’s interest in alternative dispute resolution began in her university days and led to a career that has taken Lynn to several states and territories around Australia. Her interest became an increasing passion as she watched firsthand how self determination and resolving conflict away from the court system can be so empowering for people. In her semi-retirement, Lynn continues to work as a nationally accredited mediator. She has worked in remote Aboriginal communities in the NT and WA and also with many different nationalities and cultures and people from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Dr Esther Erlings

Esther is a Senior Lecturer in Law at Macquarie Law School where she teaches Family Law, Health Law and Applied Legal Ethics. Esther's (comparative and socio-legal) research centres on the first two areas. She has a particular interest in parent-child mediation, and the division of power between parents and children in respect of decisions that concern children. Esther is a member of Macquarie's Human Research Ethics Committee, and the current President of the Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand.

Jon Everest

Jon is an advanced accredited mediator, trainer, facilitator, and conflict coach who specialises in restorative approaches. He provided an independent conflict resolution service to Victoria University of Wellington between 2003 and 2021, as well as a mediator to many other organisations. He is an accredited restorative justice facilitator, endorsed to facilitate both family violence and sexual violence matters and has facilitated restorative justice processes in criminal, workplace, education, and family matters since 2003 and acted as a subject matter expert during the development of the 2005 New Zealand Ministry of Justice training programme. Between 2008 and 2023 Jon led the training of restorative justice facilitators for the NZ Ministry of Justice and was also an assessor. He formerly served as an Inspector in the Royal Hong Kong Police and is a Justice of the Peace.

Mandy Drommer

Mandy is an Accredited and Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner; AMDRAS Mediator; Hague Convention Cross Border Mediator; Trainer and Assessor. Mandy is passionate about the promotion of facilitative mediation. She worked for 26 years with a large not-for-profit organization, during which time she coordinated the establishment of two Family Relationship Centres in WA and led multidisciplinary teams. 

In 2017 Mandy opened her own clinical practice mediating family law matters, relationship mediation and workplace mediation. Mandy enjoys opportunities to work collaboratively with other professionals to provide multidisciplinary mediation; provides supervision for mediators and is an active member of Resolution Institute. Mandy’s approach is grounded in a strength based, resilience building and sustainability principles. Mandy works alongside people in a manner which empowers them to vision their desired future, challenges them to identify practical and realistic goals and leaves parties with a sense of personal ownership of their accomplishments.

Prof Lola Akin Ojelabi

Lola is an Academic, Australian Lawyer and Mediator. Her ADR research focuses on access to justice, ethics, cultural appropriateness, ADR in the law curriculum and social justice.

Debbie Dunn

Debbie is a member of the Resolution Institute and has been an accredited mediator in Australia since the mid- nineties and under the national standards since their inception. 

She gained a Graduate Diploma in Narrative Therapy at the Dulwich Centre, Adelaide involving two years study with Michael White, following which she introduced the practices of narrative into her mediation work which continue to inform how she works.

She has undertaken several hundred mediations where workplace bullying has been alleged and presented at two international conferences including the 7th International Conference on Workplace Bullying & Harassment in 2010 held in Cardiff, Wales. Following this she was invited to write a chapter on her presentation in “Workplace Bullying Symptoms & Solutions” published in 2012.

While doing this work continues to be seen as taboo Debbie is keen to offer some different proposals based on the learnings from these many mediations.

Carmel Cumberbatch

Carmel Cumberbatch became an Accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner in 2012. Currently, she works as a family lawyer and Chairperson on Victoria Legal Aid’s Family Dispute Resolution Service Chairperson Panel. Prior to this Carmel was a Principal Partner at Cumberbatch and Williams Lawyers. In her years of practice as a family lawyer and Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Carmel has acted in complex property and litigation matters involving trust and corporate structures. She has supported many families to navigate the process of separation with a focus on improving post-separation co-parenting and creating enduring agreements.

Michele Brooks

Michele is a Barrister and Mediator at the Victorian Bar. She has more than 28 years’ experience in family law including as a solicitor in private practice for 10 years prior to coming to the Bar. Michele is a Nationally Accredited Mediator, Victorian Bar Advanced Mediator and Family Law Arbitrator. Michele is frequently appointed as a Court-ordered mediator, particularly in complex property and high-conflict cases. She also assists as a coach and assessor in the AIFLAM mediation course. Michele is an adjunct Lecturer at the College of Law in the Master of Applied Laws (Family Law).

Kathy Cullen

Kathy is a Koori woman from Wiradjuri Country, a lawyer and a nationally accredited mediator and member of the Tarwirri Indigenous Lawyers Association. With more than 20 years’ experience working in and with Aboriginal communities, she has worked as a lawyer in family, criminal, family violence, and youth law, and established her own family law practice. 

Kathy has worked for the Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Aboriginal Legal Service of New South Wales, Katherine Women’s Information and Legal Service, and the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria as well as in private practice. She has also taught Aboriginal history and culture at the University of Wollongong and has undertaken additional training in applied family law and psychology. She provides advice to the service on delivering dispute resolution services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, as Aboriginal consultant chairperson. Kathy has been a member of the FDRS Chairperson panel since 2012.

Freia Carlton

Freia is Associate Director, Mediation at Victoria Legal Aid and leads the state-wide Family Dispute Resolution Service. A Nationally Accredited mediator and family dispute resolution practitioner, she has also trained in mediating international parental child abduction cases in both Australia and Japan. She is a children’s law specialist, with experience as an Independent Children’s Lawyer, is a current steering committee member of the Greater Melbourne Family Law Pathways Network and has served as chair of the first Law Institute of Victoria children’s law specialisation advisory committee as well as being a past board member of International Social Service Australia. She values collaboration across courts and services. Freia’s current areas of focus include restorative practice and supporting First Nations-led practice.

Judge Sharon Burchell

Sharon was appointed to the bench in June 2021, having also been a Judicial Registrar in the County Court of Victoria’s Commercial Division since May 2015. Her Honour holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Economics from Murdoch University, Western Australia. Judge Burchell signed the Victorian Bar Roll in 2004 and has extensive experience in commercial law, judicial review and administrative law. In 2014, Judge Burchell represented the Hazelwood mine operators at the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry. 

In the same year, her Honour was also the recipient of the Lawyers Weekly Women in the Law Junior Counsel Award, which recognises the outstanding contributions to the legal profession of female barristers within their first 10 years of practice at the Bar. Judge Burchell is currently the Head of the Commercial Division and Head of the Self Represented Litigants' Program and a Vice President of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. She sits on the on the eCourt Judicial Working Group, Optimising Respect Sexual Harassment Pilot Program and the ADR committee.

Nicole Arendsen

Nicole is the founding director of Cullaborate and she specialises in workplace conflict resolution and corporate problem solving. Bringing a legal background and deep expertise in root cause analysis, Nicole works with corporate clients to identify and prevent the root causes of the problem. 

In her roles as Deputy Chairperson of the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal and Manager of the Financial Services Complaints Resolution Scheme, Nicole developed expertise in complaint system design, complaint management and issue prevention. Cullaborate provides a range of dispute resolution services including mediation, facilitation, training and consulting. Clients include the Professional Standards Authority, the EPA, the Dept of Health & Human Services, Domaine Chandon, Sephora, SOCAP and the Institute of Internal Auditors to name a few.

Sonia Boersig

Sonia has been a Commonwealth public servant for more than 25 years, working in Indigenous affairs policy and programs. Sonia was involved in the design and delivery of the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme. She currently leads the team that has the honour and privilege of with working with Stolen Generations survivors to plan and deliver the Personal Acknowledgment of the harm and trauma experienced as a result of their removal from their family or community as a child.

Dr Laurence Boulle AM

Laurence has been a DR practitioner for three decades and runs mediation and conflict management courses. 

His books on dispute resolution are on many unread shelves around the globe. He plays west African djembes on Monday evenings and conducts DR walkshops around the country. He is known globally as not being a thought leader in the field. Latest book: Mediation and Conciliation in Australia – Principles, Process, Practice (LexisNexis, 2023) Work in progress: Australia's African Australians (2025)

Marney Bowden

Marney is an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, an NMAS Accredited mediator, and is legally trained. Marney is a Director of 60I Mediation and has extensive experience in mediating parenting and property matters. Working in both the private and public sectors, Marney enjoys applying her dispute resolution skills in different settings to improve communication, restore relationships, and coach parties with the skills to effectively manage and resolve their own conflict.

Rachael Brady

Rachael is a Workplace Coach, Consultant and a nationally accredited mediator. Working across the modalities of coaching, training, facilitation, conflict resolution and mindfulness teaching, Rachael’s work draws on her experience in management roles in diverse industries, her keen insight into the operation of large, complex organisations and a deep knowledge of, and care for, complex people issues. Rachael has worked with individuals, teams and leaders across a range of sectors, including not-for-profit, transport and logistics, electricity, FMCG, healthcare, Local Government and Universities.

Stephen Dickinson

Stephen has been an active member of several AMDRAS committees along with holding the position of AMDRAS Deputy Chair since 2022. He has served as a Director since 2019 and has played a key role supporting the recent NMAS review and working with AMDRAS (previously known as MSB) to strengthen industry connections. 

Stephen is a full-time practising mediator, Founder and Principal of dispute resolution firm, Ansr. and has been appointed to numerous South Australian and interstate mediation panels. He also brings more than 20+ years experience as a practising lawyer specialising in commercial litigation, governance and risk management. Stephen is currently recognised as one of Australia’s leading dispute resolution practitioners in both Best Lawyers and the Doyles Guide for his work in the areas of Mediation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Trusts and Estates, and Family Law. 

In addition to his role on the AMDRAS Board, Stephen contributes to various industry committees including as a member of The Law Society of South Australia ADR Committee since 2016 and Chair of that Committee since 2022. Stephen is also passionate about promoting mediation and dispute resolution, primarily to the legal profession, including by delivering presentations, contributing to publications, and in training and supervising under- and post-graduate law students and more recently trained and accredited mediators.

Dominique Lamb

Dominique assumed the role of Small Business Commissioner in December 2022. With a robust background in industrial relations and employment law, she brings a unique blend of legal expertise and advocacy skills to her position. Dominique's primary objective is to enhance the operating environment for small businesses in Queensland and to reduce the time and costs associated with resolving disputes involving small business. 

In her capacity as Commissioner, Dominique has embarked on a proactive engagement strategy, collaborating closely with governmental bodies, industry organisations, and regional stakeholders. One of Dominique's notable achievements has been the significant expansion of the Small Business Friendly (SBF) Program, which now boasts participation from 51 Councils. Additionally, she has taken proactive steps to establish three new roundtables, providing platforms for industry representatives and regional stakeholders to voice their concerns and contribute to policy discussions. Beyond her professional endeavours, Dominique is deeply committed to social causes, particularly those addressing domestic and family violence.

Joelene Nel

Joelene moonlights as a dispute resolver, specifically in the family law mediation space, when she is not actively encouraging dispute resolution as a family lawyer. She is intrigued to explore how DR processes can become more human, flexible and positive, especially in a framework that can be complex and traumatic. She practises resilience, empowerment and vulnerability, not only with within the world of DR but also as part of her blended family, where she attempts to juggle life as a mum, friend, daughter and trusted advisor. 

 Joelene is the Associate Director at McLaughlins Lawyers on the Gold Coast in Queensland and committee member of the Gold Coast District Law Association

Dr Mark Seton

Mark is an Honorary Research Associate in Theatre and Performance Studies at The University of Sydney, Australia. He is an Educator and Consultant for Sense Connexion, which he established to teach empowering vulnerability to actors and other professionals, such as lawyers and health practitioners, whose capacity for empathy and sensitivity is crucial to their effectiveness and success. 

Alongside membership of the Editorial Board of the “Journal of Applied Arts and Health”, Mark is Chair of the Human Research Ethics Committee for the Australian University off Theology and is a founding member of the Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare. 

He has been an advocate for the Law Wellness Network over the past 11years and has been published in several edited publications of papers on wellness in the legal profession. He attended last year’s NMC Conference in Wellington, New Zealand, as a co-presenter of a workshop on resilience.

Mary Walker OAM

Mary Walker OAM has been a leading figure in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in Australia for over 30 years. As a barrister, she has arbitrated, mediated, facilitated complex multi-party disputes, and designed dispute resolution systems across thousands of domestic and international cases. She has mediated over 4,000 matters and serves on panels including the Supreme Court of NSW, the Singapore International Mediation Centre, and the Supreme Court of the ACT. 

Mary is a certified Investor-State Mediator (CEDR, London), IMI Mediator and Advocate, and a member of several international ethics and appraisal committees. She has lectured at institutions including Harvard, Stanford, Sydney Law School, and Tilburg University. 

A prolific author, Mary wrote the ADR chapters in The Laws of Australia and No Mere Mouthpiece. She has held leadership roles in the NSW Bar Association, Law Council of Australia, and the International Bar Association. Among numerous accolades, she received the Australian Mediator of the Year Award (2016–2018), the International Mediator of the Year Award (2018–2019), and was inducted into the ADR Awards Hall of Fame (2019). Mary was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to the law in 2021.

Cherise Hairston

Cherise has 26 years of experience in community mediation and currently serves at the Dayton Mediation Center in Dayton, Ohio. She played a key role in launching the Mediation Response Unit (MRU), a program offering mediation-based responses to conflict-related 911 calls. 

Cherise is an “Elder” with the National Association for Community Mediation Board of Directors. She also teaches conflict coaching as part of the graduate certificate in Contemporary Dispute Resolution at George Mason University's Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter School of Peace and Conflict Resolution. She has contributed to several published works, including chapters in Beyond Equity and Inclusion in Conflict Resolution (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022), Re-Centering Culture and Knowledge in Conflict Resolution Practice (Syracuse University Press, 2008), and is a forthcoming contributor to Transformative Dialogue: Co-creating Conversations (Rowman & Littlefield, 2025)..

John Steele

John is a retired community lawyer and lecturer, with almost two decades' experience working as a community mediator.

Stuart Wesley

Stuart is Principal Consultant at Oasis – People & Culture, where he helps leaders and organisations achieve commercial outcomes through improved human interaction. With a background in pastoral leadership, governance, and family business, Stuart brings a unique blend of relational insight and strategic clarity to his work. 

He specialises in culture development, leadership coaching, conflict resolution, and family enterprise consulting—drawing on decades of experience across sectors. Stuart’s approach is grounded, empathetic, and results-oriented, making him a trusted advisor to executive teams and family business leaders navigating complexity and change.

Sarah Merritt

Sarah is a proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung weaver and artist, who teaches traditional Aboriginal weaving techniques and history.

Weaving is a culturally, and socially important skill - Sarah's workshop will give you the opportunity to have a yarn while you create and learn.

Michelle Zaremba

Michelle is the Dayton Mediation Center Division Manager and has led the community mediation center since 2009. She co-developed and implemented the Mediation Response Unit (MRU) program, the first in the nation program where mediators respond to non-violent, non-criminal 911 calls for service in lieu of police. Michelle also developed other critical innovations in community mediation practice including creating the City of Dayton, Ohio’s police complaint program, the Bosnian Youth Leadership program, a joint partnership with the Dayton Mediation Center and United States State Department, and led the team who designed and implemented a workplace mediation program for a large public entity in the State of Ohio.

Dr Jeanne Felicity Zimmer

Jeanne is an adjunct professor at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, where she developed and teaches three graduate-level courses as part of the Contemporary Dispute Resolution Certificate. Jeanne completed a doctorate in evaluation studies at the University of Minnesota, with the supporting field of conflict management. Her research explores the collective impacts of community mediation programs and includes program evaluation and theory and the intersection of conflict resolution and evaluation practice. Jeanne has broad experience in the field, having served as the Executive Director of the Dispute Resolution Center (DRC), the oldest community mediation program in Minnesota, for over 17 years. Jeanne is a practitioner, trainer, and consultant in program evaluation, mediation, facilitation, and restorative practices.

Dr Nav Sedaghati

Nav brings 22 years of litigation and dispute resolution experience from different perspectives when conducting mediations, litigations, expert determinations and arbitrations. Having for a portion of his legal career worked as a Solicitor and another portion as a Barrister. As a Mediator he was awarded Mediator of the year in the 2025 Australian Alternative Dispute Resolution Awards. His skills and experience have been acquired from supporting startups through to some of the world’s largest multinational corporations, Tier 1 construction companies, top tier law and as a senior consultant to Government. His qualifications including degrees in law, building and construction, economics, finance, compliance, management, and a quantitative Doctorate in Business Administration.

Commissioner Lynda McAlary-Smith

Lynda commenced her role as the Victorian Small Business Commissioner in August 2021. Lynda is a qualified lawyer and accomplished senior executive with extensive experience working with businesses across every sector within Victoria and nationally. Lynda has two decades of experience working as regulator with 20 years of experience in multiple jurisdictions including the Commonwealth and Victoria and in workplace relations, building and construction and business regulation more generally. 

Lynda is also a board director of The Australian Ballet School and an Ambassador for the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation. Lynda and the team at the Victorian Small Business Commission are dedicated to providing much needed support to Victorian small businesses.

Commissioner Elizabeth Espinosa

The Hon Kevin Lindgren AM KC

Kevin served as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1994 until his retirement in 2010. Before his appointment, he was a Queen’s Counsel at the Sydney Bar, practising mainly in commercial law. Earlier, he was a solicitor (1962–1969), then an academic at the University of Newcastle (1969–1984), becoming Professor and Foundation Head of the Department of Law, before joining the Bar in 1984 and taking silk in 1991.

Post-retirement, Dr Lindgren has maintained an active practice in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including over 25 arbitrations (domestic and international), hundreds of mediations, and numerous expert determinations. Much of his work involves complex contractual matters across industries such as construction, energy, transport, sport, and technology.

He served as President of the Copyright Tribunal of Australia (2000–2007) and was an Acting Judge of Appeal in the NSW Court of Appeal in 2010. He is a Fellow of ACICA, sits on its NSW State Committee, and contributes to several legal journals. He is also the author of key works on arbitration and dispute resolution, including contributions to Business Law of Australia and The Future of Dispute Resolution (LexisNexis).

Justin Toohey

Justin Toohey is a highly experienced conciliator, mediator, lawyer and manager. Justin has developed his dispute management skills in senior government roles for over 20 years. Justin was first accredited as a mediator in 2002. His key qualifications include Masters of Law, Bachelors of Law and Environmental Science (Hons), Graduate Certificate in Management and Certificates IV in Training and Assessment and Community Mediation.

Justin was the Director of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for a decade before being appointed as a Member in the NDIS Division in 2024.

Justin has been contributing to leadership in the ADR community as a director of the Resolution Institute since 2023. 

 Along with Shiv Martin, Justin has been delivering the Resolution Institute's Advanced Conciliation program and a dedicated conciliation CPD series.

Lea-anne Meehan

Lea-anne is currently the Head of Virtual Services for Relationship Australia Queensland, where she leads a team providing a number of both National and State Helplines. A Social Worker with 30 years’ experience, Lea-anne has worked across a range of sectors including Child Protection, Child and Family, Domestic and Family Violence and Post Separation Program areas across frontline, senior practitioner and management roles. Roles that have included operations, service delivery, risk assessment and mitigation, training and policy areas. Lea-anne has supervised and supported a wide range of teams from a variety of clinical backgrounds and is passionate about working with clients and staff to build skills to support their growth and enhance development and specifically working to address service gaps for those in need.