My personal practice is as a mediator, facilitator, trainer and communicator. As well as this, I work as an adviser to companies and governments on social sustainability and conflict resolution issues. Information on this work can be found at
I practice as a mediator and facilitator because I enjoy working with groups of people to resolve difficult issues, I think I do it well, and "hands on" experience adds a lot of depth to my advisory work.
Where I work best, and have forged my reputation, is in resolving difficult and complex public conflicts over environmental and social issues. Resource extraction, wind farms, water resource sharing, waste disposal, new highways, high-rise developments; those things that get members of the public upset, and where strong, brave mediation and facilitation can steer a path to resolution.
After spending 15 years dabbling in veterinary science, ecology and managing not-for-profit organisations, I trained in conflict resolution in 1995 at the University of Melbourne’s International Conflict Resolution Centre. This set me on a path that brought together my natural tendencies as a mediator and my broad knowledge of the natural world. Three years on the panel of the Victorian Department of Justice’s Dispute Settlement Centre mediating neighbourhood disputes helped to consolidate my experience.
Over the past 14 years, I have designed, mediated and facilitated many large, multi-party processes both in Australia and overseas, involving challenging participants and tackling tough issues.
My major areas of mediation and facilitation practice are natural resources, built environment, transport infrastructure and general disputes involving the community.
My inspiration has been drawn from many sources. I am particularly indebted to the vast experience in interest-based negotiation developed through the and the ‘mutual gains’ approach to resolving public disputes pioneered by Laurence Susskind and others of the These core approaches provide a foundation for continuing innovation as I develop fresh approaches to new challenges.
I am an active participant in the not-for-profit sector and have held governance and advisory roles with catalytic charity, Pilotlight Australia, the Water and Environment Committee of The Myer Foundation, legal advocacy group the Environment Defenders’ Office and the Victorian Association for Dispute Resolution.
