Happy New Year! As we welcome another year of excellence and innovation, I am delighted to share highlights from the Australian Disputes Centre’s dynamic calendar of events, training opportunities, and thought leadership initiatives.

The Annual ADR Awards are the cornerstone of Australia’s celebration of dispute resolution excellence. Nominations for 2025 are Now Open!

I encourage you to reflect on your professional achievements and those of your colleagues in the field and get involved in these 9th annual ADR Awards. There are 27 Award Categories for Australia-based practitioners. Click on the Awards’ list below to find out more.

Please mark your calendar for the Australian ADR Awards Conference and Gala Dinner on 1 & 2 May 2025. As always, these events promise inspiring sessions, unparalleled networking opportunities, and an unforgettable celebration of achievements.

Celebrating our 9th annual ADR Awards, this year’s theme – Oceans Nine: Powering the Surge in Global Dispute Resolution. Through this international ADR conference, ADC builds on the stellar success of last year’s ‘Pure Gold’ events. Join us for insightful sessions tailored for all dispute resolution practitioners, engaging workshops, and a matchless networking opportunity.

Celebrating past Australian ADR Award winners, we are delighted to hear from two of last year’s recipients in this Bulletin - the Queensland Small Business Commissioner and Anne-Marie Cade. Their inspiring reflections underscore the transformative impact of the Australian ADR Awards in driving positive change across industries and communities.

ADC also continues to empower professionals with our renowned Mediation Training & Accreditation Programme. Start the year with a laser focus of your professional development. Thank you to our Special Guest Speaker on the upcoming January Course - Her Honour Sylvia Emmett AM - who brings enormous mediation and curial experience.

During March 2025, ADC is thrilled to host the NSW Supreme Court ADR Address, featuring The Hon. John Sackar KC, and a 1-Day Expert Determiner Masterclass with The Hon. Tom Bathurst AC, KC FRSN as special guest. This Masterclass is designed to enhance your expertise in a growing field. These events are not to be missed!

ADC’s Interns continue to shine across the globe. From flourishing careers as lawyers, to contributions in other fields, we are thrilled to celebrate their successes across multiple sectors. In this Bulletin we profile Gonzalo Vial - an alumnus of Stanford University and the University of Cambridge - who reflects on how ADC shaped his career, fostering a sense of internationality and commitment that has propelled his career in dispute resolution, arbitration, and academia across Chile and beyond.

Thank you for continuing to be a vital part of the ADC community in 2025. I look forward to connecting with you at our upcoming events and celebrating the achievements of our vibrant dispute resolution community with Oceans Nine on 
1 & 2 May 2025!

Warm Regards,

Deborah

The Australian ADR Awards celebrate the remarkable achievements and contributions of dispute resolution professionals who help de-escalate conflict, promote access to justice, and enhance productivity across industries. The ADR Awards provide an opportunity to recognise these leaders and trailblazers within the ADR community who make a meaningful difference in Australian civil society and international trade.

Why Your Nominations Matter

Recognition in the Australian ADR Awards signifies excellence and dedication to the principles of alternative dispute resolution. Nominees embody the commitment to saving time, money, and reputations while reducing stress for clients and stakeholders. This recognition resonates with colleagues, clients, and the broader community, showcasing the value of ADR in promoting community cohesion.

Key Dates

Nominations Open: 9 January 2025

Nominations Close: 9 March 2025

Plan ahead! Each nomination submission requires two written references, so reach out to your referees early to secure their support, and inspiration!

If you are nominating others and prefer to nominate anonymously, please contact ADC, and we can notify your nominee directly.

How to Nominate

Nominate yourself, a colleague, or a group in the Australian ADR Awards 2025. Submissions are OPEN across 27 CATEGORIES that celebrate excellence in the field. Click on the categories below to access nomination forms and guidelines.

The Australian ADR Awards are your opportunity to reflect on and showcase the outstanding contributions made by you and your peers in advancing dispute resolution. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the 9th Annual ADR Awards!

Sign up for Updates on the Conference and Awards

Who are the Australian ADR Award Winners and how did they achieve this recognition for excellence?

Anne-Marie Cade won a staggering three Australian ADR Awards in 2024. Her dedication in advocating for innovation - not just for her clients but across the family law sector - shines through her practice. With expertise in divorce and conflict coaching, Anne-Marie provides tailored and holistic support to her clients. In this short profile piece, find out more about her award-winning short-term resolution and long-term capacity-building perspectives.

Read Anne-Marie’s full profile here

The Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) was established as a response to COVID-19. As such, gaining this recognition in last year's ADR Awards demonstrates their skill and dedication to alternate dispute resolution - not just for small business owners, but for other key stakeholders. Find out how the QSBC went from ‘zero to hero’ in just a few short years of advocacy for effective and accessible ADR that benefits the Queensland community.

Read QSBC’s full profile here

It is ADC’s 9th annual Australian ADR Awards in 2025. Do not miss these unforgettable 2 days to engage with leaders and innovators in the dispute resolution community.

May 1, Day 1 – Pier One Sydney Harbour - the annual Australian ADR Awards Conference. This year’s theme is ‘Oceans Nine: Powering the Surge in Global Dispute Resolution’. It follows the stellar success of last year’s ‘Pure Gold ‘ conference and again promises to be the ADR Conference of the year! Mark your calendar for 1 May 2025 and join us on Sydney Harbour, under the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, for an inspiring 1-Day conference filled with insightful and engaging sessions for all dispute resolution practitioners and splice the main brace at the Cocktail Reception.

May 2, Day 2 (AM) – Lockhart Chambers, Coffee and Connections - Ease the sails and kick back at the ADC’s sensational premises at Lockhart Chambers in the heartland of Sydney’s dispute resolution district, where we boast signature works from the unparalleled Ken Hinds Collection.

May 2, Day 2 (PM) - The renowned and not-to-be missed ADR Awards Gala Dinner celebrates excellence in the field at the prestigious National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour.

If you haven't already signed up for email notifications about the ‘Oceans Nine’ International Conference and Australian ADR Awards CLICK HERE

"Absolutely brilliant learning experience. I was particularly impressed by the process of providing feedback on our performance from several experienced coaches. The real-time live assessment was extremely valuable." – Prasuna

The ADR Address brings together a diverse audience, including members of the judiciary, legal professionals, academics, government officials, and students. This Address is part of the Supreme Court ADR Address Series, which celebrates the evolving importance of ADR in managing civil disputes across Australia.

Seating for the ADR Address is free but limited.

REGISTER HERE TODAY!

With the increasing use of Expert Determinations in commercial Australia, there are new appointments awaiting those who are prepared. Join expert determiners John Rundell and Greg Laughton SC for this ever-practical Masterclass on how to excel in conducting Expert Determinations. Register Today!

Full Details and Registration HERE –>

Over many years ADC has created a rich and vibrant culture for students and young legal practitioners to volunteer their time and contribute to our work, network with ADR Practitioners, and learn more about the raft of resolution processes available to disputing parties. Our Interns remain part of the ADC family, and we delight in watching their career progression. In this Bulletin we introduce you to Mr Gonzalo Vial who interned with ADC directly following his Fulbright Scholarship to Stanford.

I arrived at the ADC in 2015 after completing my LLM at Stanford University. Previously, I had devoted my career to dispute resolution, so such a decision seemed a logical step. There, I had the chance to work with notable persons and to observe how a top-notch dispute centre gets things done. After my experience in Sydney, I returned to Chile, my home country, and resumed my work as the partner of a local law firm. During that time, I also conducted research and taught civil procedure and arbitration at Universidad Católica.

Now, I am coming back to Chile again. This time after three years as a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, eager to resume my career in arbitration. Thus, it seems to be the right time to reflect on what ADC meant for me. In this regard, I would say that, beyond the aforementioned perks (working with a great group of people in a highly professional environment) the ADC allowed me to dress my career with a sense of commitment and internationality that distinguished myself from other applicants in varied selection processes. That is why I mentioned before my career milestones: because I am convinced that, at least in part, the ADC is responsible for them. Also, and more importantly, having the chance to work at the centre left me with a strong bond with dispute resolution: a topic I learned to cherish there, and that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Read about our wonderful Class of 2024 Interns here

The ADC Book Club features a reading list designed to deepen your dispute resolution knowledge and expertise. Stay current, add CPD points for your AMDRAS Accreditation and expand your professional connections in a relaxed online setting (from wherever you are!).

ADC Book Club is curated by ADC’s stellar training faculty and meets regularly.

What our Book Clubbers are saying:

It is great interacting with my peers. Great conversations are generated around the reading material we review but the real gems lie in expanded discussions around how the text can be incorporated into our practices. Phillip Dibben

Next meeting is 5 February 2025 - Join the Conversation HERE!