Australian Dispute Resolution Association Inc.

Val Sinclair has stood down from her role as an ADRA Board member after many years of service, including time spent as President of ADRA. Fortunately, she has agreed to continue to share her experince and expertise as a Consultant to the Board. Mary Reheby has also stepped down, but has offered to continue to assist as and when required. Many thanks to Val and Mary for their service. Their decisions made way for a new Board member - Sally Lord - and a returning Board member - Paula Castile. We welcome them both.

Members were not disapointed last Wednesday evening when we gathered for our Annual General Meeting and dinner. The highlights of the early part of evening included the President's report covering the activities of the past year and some lively discussion from the floor of the meeting about mediation being included in Codes of Conduct and about raising the profile of mediation generally. The President's report will be on the website shortly. Once past the formalities, the food, drinks and service offered by Silks encouraged much conversation.

ADRA's AGM will be held on 24 August and nominations have been called for members of the Board. We will have our annual dinner on the same evening following the AGM, and you are welcome to come to either or both events. Put the date in your diary now. Details will be posted soon.

From Linda Fisher

I’m honoured to have been asked by ADRA to write about an amazing woman – Stella Cornelius - who was, in the true sense of the Hebrew words, an Eishat Chayil, a ‘woman of worth’.

The Changing Face of Family Dispute Resolution was an apt title for the conference on 12 March. Our brilliant presenters were entertaining and engaging, as well as being thoroughly in command of their topics. Some participants rated all five speakers as excellent! Many thanks to Professor the Hon Jennifer Boland, Commissioner Hilary Astor, Dr Jonathan Toussaint, Bill Hewlett and Sally Lord.

Ian Bailey SC speaking on

"The Role of Mediation in the International Arbitration Arena"

Many changes are about to impact the Mediation world
as a result of movement in arbitration and Ian will be giving us
a taste of some of those changes.

16 February 5:30pm for 6:00pm

St James, Hall, Level 1, 169 Phillip St Sydney

$25 members, $30 non-members, payable by cash or cheque at the door

RSVP required by reply email for organisational and catering purposes to

Janice McLeay [j.mcleay@bigpond.com] or Emma Matthews [emma.catherine.matthews@gmail.com]

Saturday 12 March 2011
The Changing Face of Family Dispute Resolution

With speakers:
• The Hon Justice Jennifer Boland, Family Court of Australia
• Commissioner Hilary Astor, NSW Law Reform Commission
• Bill Hewlett, Relationship Australia
• Sally Lord, Legal Aid NSW
• Dr Jonathan Toussaint, Interrelate Family Centres

At the Grace Hotel, 77 York Street, SYDNEY
Hosted by ADRA: http://www.adra.net.au and LEADR: http://www.leadr.com.au

Click on attachment below or this link for registration and payment details.

(Contributed by Peter Irving)
A group of friends, family and former colleagues assembled in LEADR's Sydney offices on 9 November for an informal gathering to honour the Illustrious career of John Pollard who recently retired.

The National Mediation Conference in Adelaide was a great success, with almost 500 participants. The opening address by Dr Albie Sachs displayed so well the combination of theory and practice, setting the scene for the rest of the 3 days. The Adelaide team were very welcoming, as were their volunteers. The program provided a wide range of material, with many learning opportunities. The evaluation survey gave lots of positive reports, and will form a valuable resource in the preparation for Sydney in 2012.

The Law Society of NSW presented a very popular seminar on Ethics and Alternate Dispute Resolution, with a full house at the Federal Court. Congratulations to all involved, including ADRA members Julieanne Cox of Baker & McKenzie who introduced the evening, Lorraine Lopich on the organising committee and Steve Lancken on the committee and also on the panel in the role of the Mediator. I noticed many ADRA members amongst the audience including three of our Life Members - Sir Laurence Street, Micheline Dewdney and Ruth Charlton.