Our Leadership Team

Chairperson

Claire is an experienced conflict management specialist, project consultant, leader and manager with a proven track record in facilitating transformative change across diverse sectors. Skilled in project coordination, team leadership, and multistakeholder engagement, Claire enjoys guiding teams through complex projects and delivering impactful outcomes. Leveraging experience as a conflict management practitioner, academic, mediator, and coach, with expertise in project coordination, leadership, and educational resource development, Claire works to empower individuals and organizations to navigate challenges effectively, manage conflict, build peace infrastructure and achieve sustainable outcomes.

Vice Chair

Judith is a conflict management specialist, with over 12 years’ experience as a conflict practitioner, researcher, and educator/trainer, including in Australia and internationally. She is a nationally accredited mediator under the Australian Standards and trained in conflict management coaching, group facilitation and restorative justice group conferencing. Judith is an internationally respected researcher with notable expertise in qualitative studies with vulnerable populations in conflict and post-conflict settings. Judith is committed to promoting constructive conflict resolution and accessible justice, aiming to empower people who suffer conflict and/or violence through research, advocacy, and practical interventions.

Steering Committee and Experiential Learning (Mentoring, Reflective Practice, Internships) Focus Area Lead

Joanne Law is passionate about the benefits of mediation and other forms of non-adversarial dispute resolution in helping to prevent violence, resolve disputes and build sustainable peace. She’s the director of Mediation Institute which provides flexible and accessible training and support for dispute resolution professionals. Co-founder of the not-for-profit Interact Support Inc where she provides Family Dispute Resolution services co-mediating with and mentoring interns and Interact Community Dispute Resolution Services. Joanne is also a director of the Mediator Standards Board and Australasian Coordinator for the international mediation awareness week. 

Secretary / Co-Chair Communication, Marketing, and Membership Committee

Rose is a Conflict Communication Consultant, specialising in helping individuals, groups, and organisations navigate and resolve conflicts through effective communication strategies. With a strong background in communication, public relations, conflict analysis, engagement, management, and resolution, Rose provides guidance on complex communication and conflict challenges.

Co-Chair Communication, Marketing, and Membership Committee

Rachel is an analytical and detail-oriented manager with experience in marketing, event coordination, and logistics, known for delivering strategic solutions that enhance both client and staff satisfaction. She has a proven track record of managing community relations and corporate events, this professional excels in fostering positive relationships and streamlining operational processes. Rachel has recently completed an MBA and Master of Conflict Management and Resolution at James Cook University.

Steering Committee and Partnerships Focus Area Lead

Susan is an experienced peacebuilder, mediator, and conflict management coach, with a career that has ranged across teaching, community education, public sector administration, and international development. Susan's interest is in post-conflict and newly independent countries across the fields of public administration, evaluation, policy development, education and law, and justice. She has worked in a number of the Pacific island states, in Mongolia and Timor Leste and for several years in Papua New Guinea. 

Board Member 

Dr Kearrin Sims is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Global Development at James Cook University (JCU) and The Director of Impact for Infuse Travel. His research interests are centered around the politics of development, Asian regionalism, and global citizenship. He is Lead Editor of The Routledge Handbook of Global Development (Routledge, 2022), and has published more than 25 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters (combined), including two prize-winning articles. Much of his work has focused on the politics of development within Laos, and in addition to scholarly articles he has published many media articles and interviewed for The Wall Street Journal, ABC News, SBS News, Radio Free Asia, Asia Nikkei and National Public Radio (NPR). 

Kearrin in a former President of the Development Studies Association of Australia (DSAA), former Executive Committee Member of the Research for Development Impact Network and Association of Mainland Southeast Asia Scholars, and former International Relations Review Editor for Asian Studies Review. He has conducted end-user research for the United Nations Human Rights Office, Australian government, the private sector, and non-profit organisations. Kearrin was also the founder and course coordinator (2017-2024) of JCU’s Master of Global Development.