LEADR Australasian Fellow 2008/2010

Last week I was honoured to be named LEADR's Australasian fellow for 2008/2010.

Big shoes to fill, there having been only two previous fellows; retired Australian Federal Court Judge Tony Fitzgerald AC, QC and the multi-talented MATA founder member and mediator Jo Kalowski who divides her time these days between Paris and Sydney.

Jo tells me by email that she insisted on being addressed in the vernacular - as the LEADR Sheila*

The appointment gives me a broad platform to advance all things mediation.

Already, I am looking forward to training barristers at the Mumbai Bar with local counsel and ODR expert Prathamesh Popat and talking to students at the K. C. College of Law at the invitation of Dr. Nilima Chandiramani in January.

My formal brief is to;

1. Express the views of LEADR to governments and other authorities and bodies and the public in consultation with the Board of LEADR.
2. Act as a catalyst to identify opportunities that would be of benefit for the LEADR Board to investigate in promoting and expanding the LEADR Brand and Goals.
3. Provide a program within their area of expertise that can be delivered to chapters and members by either presentations at chapter meetings or articles via LEADR publications.
4. Be an ambassador for LEADR within its chapter network and with the public.
5. Promote development, acceptance and usage of negotiation, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution methods.
6. Promote and enhance the acceptance by the community of dispute resolution professionals to serve their requirements in negotiation, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution methods.

Suggestions for action welcome.

*Sheila - a common term for an Australia female. It probably originated from the high number of female immigrants from Ireland called Sheelagh.

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