Our Mediator Panel
Nigel Biginell
Panel Mediator
Nigel is the Principal of Biginell & Associates Pty Ltd, a company specialising in workplace mediation and conflict resolution.
In 2002, he became an accredited mediator with the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia and went on to complete advanced training with Conflict Resolution Services. He has been a CRS Panel member since and has received National Accreditation approval as an Experienced Qualified Coach and Practitioner.
In 2008, he completed a Masters Degree in Dispute Resolution at the University of Technology, Sydney.
From 2004 to 2012, he was a conciliator for health complaints within the ACT Human Rights Commission. He was then invited to be a Part-time Senior Member of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal and a mediator on the mediation panel of the Supreme Court of the ACT.
As a practicing mediator, Nigel has worked for over 18 years in training and developing people skills, facilitation, workplace mediation and dispute resolution. Since 2017, he has been the principal trainer for the Australian Dispute Centre mediation courses conducted in Canberra.
Being on three different panels provides a diverse range of clientele and subject matter. Nigel has undertaken mediations involving family, deceased estates, commercial, workplace, and relationship issues in both the private and community sectors.
Qualifications
- Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR) UTS, Sydney
- Bachelor of Arts (Modern Asian Studies) Griffiths University, Qld
- Accredited under the National Mediation Standards
- Advanced Practitioner Member with Resolution Institute
- Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment
Vesna Flower Cvjeticanin
Panel Mediator
After 25 years of working at senior manager and director levels for both ACT and Commonwealth Governments, including the ACT community sector, Vesna decided to further her career by becoming a professional mediator.
Her already existing qualifications in Law and Cultural Studies have provided Vesna with a unique set of skills, enabling her to practice mediation with a profound understanding of human nature and human behaviour.
Alongside the NMAS Standards, the diverse experiences from her employment portfolio guide Vesna in her dealing with the many and complex aspects of conflict resolution.
Vesna is a professional interpreter certified with NAATI.
Qualifications
- NMAS Mediation Accreditation, 2018, Australian Mediation Association
- Organisational Behaviour, 2016, Macquarie University
- Admission, Legal Practitioner, 2003, ACT Supreme Court
- Diploma in Legal Practice, 2003, ANU
- Diploma in Law, 2000, LPAB University of Sydney
- NAATI Accreditation, 1995
Dr Hanna Jaireth
Panel Mediator
Conflict resolution has been part of Hanna’s employment for many years, including as a farm debt mediation officer, researcher, tribunal member, and parliamentary inquiry secretary.
Hanna recognises the relief that confidential, dignified, facilitated mediations can bring for parties in conflict, and especially for people in ongoing relationships such as work colleagues, neighbours, partners and family members.
She has mediated franchising, community, workplace and interpersonal disputes. Hanna has undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in arts/law and international relations and has held national accreditation as a mediator since 2014.
In the 1990s Hanna researched and contributed to reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader community. Hanna has served on the boards of several non-government environmental law organisations and law journals for many years. She has also volunteered with ACT ParkCare since 2001 and continues to enjoy working in the Territory’s bushland.
Hanna is the Principal of Hanna Jaireth Mediation and Consultancy Services Pty Ltd, a company specialising in dispute resolution and consultancies in good governance and sustainability.
Qualifications
- Accreditation under the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS) (2014 – current)
- Master of Arts & Doctor of Philosophy (Politics & International Relations), Australian National University, ACT (1991, 2001)
- Bachelor of Arts/ Law (Hons), Australian National University, ACT (1985)
- Admission to practice as a barrister & solicitor in NSW and ACT (1985, 1987)
Dr Anne Macduff
Panel Mediator
Anne brings to mediation considerable experience in resolving conflict in a range of contexts. As SubDean of the LLB and JD programs for 2 years and a parent of two adult children, she has experience resolving disputes raised by children and young adults. Whilst volunteering at a number of community legal services, including Legal Aid and the Tenant’s Union ACT, Anne has advised individuals in the ACT community about their legal and no-legal options to resolve disputes.
As a law lecturer, teaching and researching in a number of areas of law, including family law. She has considerable knowledge about the family law system in Australia, including issues concerning family violence. In her teaching and research, she also raises awareness about legal issues related to gender, race, cultural and sexual diversity.
Anne has a broad range of skills, including listening and reflection skills. She also brings cross cultural skills which have been developed working and living in different countries and languages. She has a Mental Health First Aid certificate.
She is committed to creating a space to support individuals to communicate and resolve disputes by devising their own workable solutions.
In her spare time, Anne enjoys listening to music, riding horses, and learning languages.
Qualifications
- NMAS Mediation Qualification, 2019, Australian Mediation Association
- PhD (Law) 2017, Australian National University
- Admission as a Legal Practitioner, 2008, ACT
- Masters of Higher Education, 2006, Australian National University
- Bachelor of Laws, 1999, Australian National University
- Bachelor of Arts (First Class Hons) 1997 Australian National University
Kerry White
Panel Mediator
Kerry has implemented conflict resolution processes in a variety of different contexts during her professional life. Kerry reviewed and determined change of assessment applications in the Child Support sector for 7 years; was a Deputy Registrar in the Family Court of Australia during which time she conducted Conciliation Conferences; as a lawyer has assisted parties to resolve parenting and property disputes utilising Collaborative Law and Mediation practices.
As a senior lawyer she was involved in resolving work-place disputes. She has also had experience working in the Pacific in a legal role that has informed her cross-cultural skills that are important in dispute resolution work.
Kerry has undertaken both undergraduate tertiary qualifications in Law and Post Graduate qualifications in Psychology. She is accredited to work as a Mediator and a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, having undertaken those post-graduation qualifications through the College of Law. These dispute resolution processes are aimed at empowering parties to resolve their dispute outside of Court.
As a solicitor for more than 20 years Kerry is aware of the benefits to parties in their resolving disputes out of Court.
Kerry is Principal of K. White Legal and Dispute Resolution Services Pty Ltd.
Qualifications
- Accredited under NMAS
- Accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP)
- Graduate Diploma Psychology
- Admission to practice as a solicitor in NSW (1990)
- Lawyer of the ACT Supreme Court (admission 2005)
- Member Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws
Ros Lockley
Panel Mediator
With a background of working in Government and Private law firms, in criminal, property, personal injury and commercial matters, Ros has a strong understanding of legal process and excellent negotiation skills. While on maternity leave, Ros volunteered for the Australian Breastfeeding Association as a Breastfeeding Counsellor and Educator. She merged her legal and counselling skills and education by becoming a mediator in 2016.
Ros worked for CRS in their Dispute Assessment team from 2016 to 2023. In that role, she worked on numerous mediations of all sorts (including family, workplace, business and voluntary organisations) with a high success rate. She also managed the administrative process for many other disputes.
Ros has also worked as a trainer at CRS, coaching and mentoring mediators demonstrating a superb understanding of the art and process of mediation. In this role, Ros has trained legal professionals, counsellors, government employees and officials from Ombudsman Republik of Indonesia through online using translators.
Having left CRS, Ros now focuses on her business, Communikeys, running courses in Parent Effectiveness Training and marriage communication. Ros continues to mediate disputes including as a valued panel member of Conflict Resolution Service.
Qualifications
- LPAB Dip Law (1998)
- Admission, Legal Practioner, NSW Supreme Court (1999)
- Cert IV, Breastfeeding Counselling (2010)
- Cert IV, Breastfeeding Education (2010)
- NMAS Mediator Accreditation (since 2016)
- Cert IV in Training & Assessment (TAE) (2020)
- Mental Health First Aid Accreditation (2022)