Australia’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) professional community are global pioneers of ADR. The ADR Awards recognise both individual and team excellence and commitment to innovation in the field. Following the cues from previous years’ Shades of Blue and Back to Black, Chic, the 6th Annual ADR Awards held on Thursday, 31 March 2022 went Emerald on the Green, returning live to the stunning venue at the prestigious Australian Golf Club.

The venue buzzed with life even before the event proper, with laughter and conversation through the cocktail hour. There was not a dull moment, with Australia’s premier magician, Fast Jimmy, astonishing guests with his close-up tricks and international jazz legend, Eddie Bronson on saxophone priming the guests for a brilliant night of celebration.

After a warm welcome from Ms Lockhart and the Welcome to Country by Auntie Lola Ryan, the evening kicked off with Robert Teicher, Elizabeth Lecoanet, and Eddie Bronson’s expertly delicate rendition of Evergreen, originally performed by Barbra Streisand and Paul Williams, as an homage to this year’s Emerald on the Green theme.

Their versions of Showboat’s Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man and Pablo Beltran Ruiz’s iconic Sway were delivered with elegance and style, setting a great mood for the rest of the evening. Guests were also in for a show-stopping treat with a breathtakingly moving performance by internationally acclaimed William Barton, on didgeridoo and guitar. In a tribute to the work that our ADR practitioners provide to the community, both William and Robert have been tremendous supporters of the Australian ADR Awards over many years.

The evening’s celebrations also commemorated the 35th Anniversary of the Australian Disputes Centre. Since 1986, ADC has been at the forefront of developing the practice and quality of ADR. In an inspiring segment on ADC’s Journey, and its development of dispute resolution talent, four of ADC’s current and former stellar Associates stepped up to the mic and guided guests through ADC’s story and its contributions to the development of dispute resolution in Australia.

Representing the Supreme Court of NSW and Chief Justice Andrew Bell, the Hon. Justice David Hammerschlag gave the after-dinner speech, acknowledging the significance of the work undertaken by Australia’s ADR profession and the value of their innovative approach to the work of the Court. In recognition of recently retired Chief Justice Tom Bathurst’s significant contribution to ADR over his esteemed career, Mary Walker OAM and ADC Chairman John Wakefield also announced a new ADR Award category for 2022 – The Hon. Tom Bathurst ADR Advocate of the Year Award.

The 2021 Annual Australian Awards debuted two dynamic award categories: Community Mediator of the Year and ADR Student of the Year. Nigel Biginell was awarded Community Mediator of the Year in recognition of his excellence in supporting the needs of a diverse Canberra community and advocacy for mediation. The ADR Student of the Year was awarded to Isabella Gillam. Isabella has consistently demonstrated her passion for ADR throughout her University degree and leads an increasingly large cohort of high-performing students that shine as Australia’s up-and-coming ADR practitioners.

During 2021, and despite the lockdowns, ADR practitioners continued to revolutionise their practices in response to the ever-changing global landscape. Gloria Hawke from The Mediation Collective, used her theoretical knowledge and clinical experience in her Family Dispute Resolution practice to enhance her expertise and level of care to assist families during the anxieties of COVID-19, taking out the Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner of the Year Award.  The Queensland Department of Education were winners of the ADR Innovation of the Year Award. They sought to support school principals on the front line of delivering education services through their Principal Complex Matters Referral Team and skills training initiative at a significant time of transition.

In congratulating all ADR Award finalists, the Australian Disputes Centre’s CEO, Deborah Lockhart, recognised the enormous breadth and depth of Australia’s ADR expertise. “There is no shortage of skills, enthusiasm, and innovation among Australia’s ADR practitioners. In an ever-expanding and evolving field, the ADR community is excited to celebrate the novel contributions made, and the depth of expertise demonstrated, by our dispute resolution professionals. We congratulate all finalists and winners in these 2021 Australian ADR Awards” said Ms Lockhart.