10.00 -11.00

Registration and Networking                                                                           

11.00

Introduction and Housekeeping: MII CEO, Stiofán Nutty sets out how to ensure you get the best return on your investment of time at the conference.

11.15

President’s Address: Our President Ber Barry-Murray reviews our past year and introduces several developments, such as our new website & newsletter.

11.30

First Keynote Speaker – Mediation – A Judicial Consideration with The Hon. Ms. Justice Siobhán Lankford:

How has the judiciary and the judicial system changed, and why is she so keen on mediation as an alternative to litigation? What standards does she expect from mediators? Where does she see mediation as being particularly important, and where is it not appropriate? Why is the Mediation Act 2017 so crucial to our judicial system and how might statute-authorised mediation develop in the future? Our newest High Court judge sets out her personal points of note.

NOTE: Our speaker’s presentation will be followed by a semi-structured interview by Stiofán Nutty and Q&A from the audience.

12.44

Lunch and Networking

14.00

Round Table Talks:

Choose between various short sessions led by experts on topics as diverse as the art of asking the right questions; becoming an Advanced Member; child inclusive mediation; ethics in mediation; recruitment opportunities (FMS & PIAB and more); the mediators' green pledge; forging your career in mediation; how to start your own mediation business; and social media marketing. FULL LIST OF OPTIONS  

15.30

Break and Networking

15.45

Second Keynote Speaker – Professor Noam Ebner: Mediation, Artificial Intelligence, and Change.

The Covid-19 era has deeply impacted conflict, negotiation, formal dispute resolution mechanisms, and mediation practice, the world over. With the transition to online activity, focus on the nuts and bolts of online process conduct, and on technology's effects on processes, is understandable and important. Having scarcely regained its balance, the mediation field now braces for the impact of ChatGPT and other AI tools on mediation process and practice.

And yet, technology itself might turn out to be the least interesting part of the changes that negotiators, parties to conflict, and mediators will encounter in the years to come. Technology’s utility notwithstanding, focusing primarily on its use for online processes only distracts us from a far more significant upheaval taking place over the past few decades: people are changing, as a result of our immersion in technology. Changing as humans, we are also changing as parties, negotiators, and mediators.

Noam Ebner is a professor at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business, Nebraska USA. As a mediator, trainer, and consultant, he has worked at the crossroads of technology and dispute resolution for over twenty years. In this session, he will uncover the relationship between technological advancement and human change, discuss the impacts of such change on the practice of negotiation and mediation, and make suggestions for successfully coping with what lies ahead.

16.30

17.00

Preview demonstration of the new MII website

Close and Networking  

19.00

Drinks Reception and Networking

19.30

Awards: Generosity of Spirit Award and the Lifetime Achievement in Mediation Award

20.00 - late

Dinner and Music with Brian Morely

10.00

Welcome Back

10.15

The Shared Island Initiative: 25 Lessons from the Peace Process That Might Help Inform Your Mediation Practice.

Join an Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Naoimh McNamee, CEO and Mediator with Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, as they 

discuss 25 insights that have helped (or hindered) peace on our island and

 that might be of value to mediators in Ireland and elsewhere when assisting in seemingly intractable disputes.

Note: This semi-structured interview will be chaired by Tony Davis, MII Community Mediation Sector Liaison, and will be followed by audience Q&A.

11.15

Break and Networking

11.30

Mediation Matters Across the World – with Kevin Brassell Operations Manager, Irish Red Cross: The Irish Red Cross is part of the world’s largest humanitarian network and their new Operations Manager, Kevin Brassell, spent several years with the UN, mainly working in Africa. In this session, Kevin discusses how mediation has worked to reduce conflict and build bridges in some of the most dangerous and sensitive places in the world, as well as others closer to home.

Note: Audience Q&A, led by Scott Alexander will follow at 12.00 noon

12.15

Comfort Break

12.20

Role Play Live with Gerry O'Sullivan

Advanced mediator and expert trainer, Gerry O'Sullivan,with the assistance of role players Gordon Burke and Caroline Spillane, guides the audience through her approach to mediating a workplace dispute, breaking the 'fourth wall' to allow for audience participation. Can you spot where Gerry goes right and wrong? You might win prizes if you can!

13.30

President’s Closing Address

13.45

End of Conference