MII ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2025: OVERVIEW
The MII Annual Conference 2025 will take place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood, Santry, Dublin 9 on Friday 3rd October and Saturday 4th October 2025.
We’re honoured to announce that the conference will be opened by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan.Â
This year’s theme is ‘Beyond the Agreement to Mediate’, as we consider the intricacies and skills required after the parties have agreed to attend mediation. All of our speakers have been asked to share insights that will be of value to all mediators, so that delegates will gain knowledge from every session that may be applied by them in which ever sector they operate.
This year, we are honoured to welcome Hon Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger and Dr. Brian Pennie as our keynote speakers. We have a New Mediators welcome buddy programme and a new evening format for the MII Awards and Networking. so come and join us.
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
Day 1: Friday 3rd OctoberÂ
10 am- 11.00 am |
Registration and Networking                                                                           |
10.30 am – 10.45 am |
(Optional) New Mediators’ Welcome |
11.00 am  |
Introduction and Housekeeping |
11.05 am |
Ministerial Address |
11.20 am |
President’s Address Our President Andrea O’Neill reviews our past year and introduces several developments that will impact on MII members and others. |
11.30 am |
Session 1 – Your Friday Keynote Address: Court Ordered Mediations in Ireland? |
12.00 pm   |
Session 2: Mediators’ Lessons from a Restorative Response to the Abuse of Children NOTE:We acknowledge that this topic may be difficult for some. While specific details of abuse will not be discussed, the MII advise using your own discretion and practicing self-care. However we believe it is a crucial topic for mediators to engage in. |
12.45pm (15 mins) |
Session 3: Tulsa, Community – Restorative Rebuilding Trust |
1.00pm |
Lunch and Networking |
2.15pm |
Welcome Back and Wake Up the Room |
2.25pm  |
Session 4: Mediation for the Marginalised- – Travellers, Prison Peer Mediation, Community Conflict |
3.00pm |
Session 5: Members’ Activities and Mediators’ Choice: Improving Your Mediation Practice and Skills On the day, simply take a seat at a table that interests you and once a table is full, please move to another. With the breadth of topics on offer, from building your mediation practice to elder mediation, ADHD awareness, supervision, and more, you can be confident you’ll gain valuable insights whichever table you choose. There are 10 places per session at each table. See the list of Hot Tables topics below |
3.45 pm |
Coffee Break and Networking |
4.00 pm  |
Session 5 cont’d: Members’ Activities and Mediators’ Choice: Improving Your Mediation Practice and Skills |
4.45pm |
Session 6: The Edinburgh Declaration – Mediation Principles for International Conflict |
5.25pm |
What’s happening next at the MII Annual Conference? |
5.30pm |
Close |
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 Evening Activities
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6.00 pm |
Drinks Reception and Networking Live music provided by Sarah Wilde-Jones. |
7.00pm |
MII Awards: |
7.30 pm |
Close |
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Day 2: Saturday 4th OctoberÂ
9.30 am |
Welcome Back |
9.45 am |
Wake Up the Room |
10.00 am  |
Session 1:Â Find Your Pathway in Mediation. |
10.30 am  |
Session 2: Saturday Keynote – How to Pause and Create Space During Emotionally Challenging Events |
11.30 am |
Break and Networking |
12.00 noon |
Session 3: Transformative Mediation & Inclusive Dialogue / Matching Mediation Supply & Demand Dr Heidi Riley is an adjunct Research Fellow in the School of Politics and International Relations at UCD and associate of Mediation Northern Ireland (MNI). Heidi will share findings from a recent study exploring where mediation is most needed but least available. It highlights gaps in access among groups facing economic, social, and structural disadvantage — including young people, members of the Traveller community, migrants and ‘new communities’, those experiencing homelessness, and environmental advocacy groups. The research has been carried out on behalf of Community, Law and Mediation (CLM). . It will be published in November but she will be giving the MII an exclusive sneak-peak at the findings at our annual conference. The session will invite reflection on how mediation can be more equitably integrated into Irish society and what steps are needed to ensure its benefits reach those who need it most. |
12.30pm  |
Session 4: AI, the Future & Mediation – Practical & Legal Insights for Mediators |
1.15pm |
President’s Closing Address |
1.30pm |
End of Conference |
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HOT TABLE TOPICS
You will have the opportunity to choose two topics to attend
Topic |
Presenter(s) |
What’s special about Elder Mediation? Is it for you? |
Helen Harnett & Frances Stevenson |
Family Mediation in Practice: Challenges and Opportunities |
Helen Finucane/Orla Tomkins |
Information on the new MII Advanced Mediator Assessment Process. |
Siún Kearney/Lily Regan |
Beyond Practice: How Reflection and Supervision Strengthen Mediation |
Martina Murphy & Polly Phillimore |
Managing Inferences and Assumptions |
Gerry O’Sullivan |
Branding & Social Media for Mediators |
Louise Langton |
Confidently Selling Your Mediation Services |
Amanda Delaney |
Using Coaching, Conflict and Management Models in Workplace Mediation |
Scott Alexander |
How Personal Branding and Process Can Help Build a Successful Family Mediation Practice |
Michelle Browne |
Restorative Practice in Mediation |
Catherine O’Connell |
A Conflict Resolution Behavioural Assessment – ReSolve – A new tool for mediators |
Luke Monahan |
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – An Overview of the New CPD Framework for 2026 |
Brian O’Byrne |
Data-Driven Dialogue: Unlocking Workplace Mediation Metrics |
Niamh Fitzpatrick |
Financial Wellbeing for Mediators |
Sanja Trajkoski |
WHAT YOU GET FOR YOUR CONFERENCE FEE
Your conference ticket* price includes access to all conference sessions on both Friday and Saturday, tea/coffee breaks on Friday and Saturday and lunch on Friday.
Delegates will be given links to presentations and access to video recordings of sessions after the event.
*Saturday only ticket does not include access on Friday or to the MII Awards and Networking social event.
Saturday only ticket price includes access to all sessions on Saturday (plus links to presentations and access to video recordings of sessions) and tea/coffee break. Lunch is NOT provided on Saturday.
CPD points: Delegates will receive one point per hour of attendance at conference sessions for CPD.
Friday : 6 CPD points
Saturday: 3 CPD points.
NEW MEDIATORS WELCOME
Are you new to mediation or recently joined MII? We’re introducing a dedicated networking event on the morning of the conference, before it officially begins and a Friday afternoon session focused specifically on those starting out. This is a great opportunity to:
Learn how to maximise your MII membership throughout the year
Connect and buddy up with fellow new members
Meet experienced mediators and expand your network
Get tips on how to make the most of your conference experience
Please opt into this event when purchasing your conference ticket
NEW FORMAT: DRINKS & AWARDS RECEPTION
We’re changing things up this year. After the talks wrap up on Friday from 18.00–19:30pm, we’ll host a Drinks & Awards reception for all conference attendees — replacing the traditional gala dinner. It’s a chance to celebrate the best of the MII and connect with peers over a drink. Everyone is welcome — come as you are and join us. Live music provided by Sarah Wilde-Jones.
After the reception, the hotel bar will offer a walk-in dinner menu until 9:30pm for anyone who wishes to continue their chats over dinner!
TICKET PRICES
BOOK NOW
Paying for your Conference Ticket
There are discounts for Early Bookings, Registered Community Mediation Service Providers and Trainee Affiliates.
•          Members €245.00
•          Non Members  €270.00
•     MII Registered Trainee Affiliates & Community Mediation Service Providers €175.00
•          Saturday only €100.00
Payment options – online by credit/debit card at the time of booking or offline payment to be made within 7 days.
If you wish to make a payment off-line, please complete the online registration, choose the Pay Later Option in the Payment Information section on the Checkout page. You must then send payment within 7 days by cheque or bank transfer to secure your booking. The booking is voided is payment is not received.
• Bank Transfer: Payments in Euro IBAN: IE97 AIBK 9310 4717 4580 69 BIC: AIBKIE2D. When making a transfer please be sure to use your name as a reference so that the payment can be identified when it arrives.
• Paypal payment to info@themii.ie
ACCOMMODATION
Limited accommodation is available in the Crowne Plaza HotelÂ
€209.00 Single Occupancy / €219.00 Double Occupancy Room Rate until 8th September (depending on availability).
GETTING TO THE CONFERENCE
The Crowne Plaza Hotel near Dublin Airport is conveniently located only 7 minutes away from Dublin Airport by car. The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle bus to the terminal, which runs every 20 minutes from 4am – 11.30pm. The journey takes less than 10 minutes. See the timetable here: https://cpireland.crowneplaza.com/dublin-airport/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/shuttle_bus_24_hour_schedule.pdf
Car Parking Charges Apply – First 2 Hours Complimentary / €3.00 Per Hour / €10.00 Daily Rate (Parking Available on a First Come Basis)
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In terms of Dublin Bus, the closest stop to the hotel is stop number 1626, and the 41B, 16, 27B, 33, 41C, all stop there from the city centre direction.
MEET OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Joining our Keynote Speakers are a diverse and inspiring lineup of speakers: