2021 Speakers
The speakers for the 2021 ADRBC Symposium are currently being finalized. Please check back regularly for new additions!
Keynote Speakers
Jason McDaniel
Jason is responsible for overseeing the planning and strategy development at ICBC. His team includes human resources, corporate strategy, corporate legal services, strategic analytics and facilities.
Steven Point
The Honourable Steven Lewis Point is a double alumnus of UBC and retained close ties with the University after receiving his Bachelor of Laws in 1985.
Panel Speakers
Ann Ryan Robertson
Ann holds a J.D. and a LL.M in International Economic Law and acts as arbitrator and advocate in international and domestic arbitrations.
Arlene H. Henry
Arlene is a lawyer, mediator, instructor, child interviewer, parenting coordinator and med- arbitrator.
Bebhinn McKinley
Bebhinn McKinley is a dialogue, conflict prevention/transformation, and peacebuilding practitioner from North Antrim in Northern Ireland/ Ireland. She is currently a member of the Women Mediators across the Commonwealth, Mediators Beyond Borders International and Mediators Institute Ireland.
Bettina Plendl
Bettina moved in 2008 to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, BC from Munich, Germany – to her immigrating means having an open mind, welcome diversity on all levels in life, being creative and thinking outside-the-box.
Bev Attfield
Bev cares about the experience people have at work, and the role that leaders play in purposefully crafting engaging, human-centric environments for people to flourish.
Brin Hamilton, Q.Arb, Q.Med
Brin is an ADR professional with a B.Comm specializing in human resources and marketing, an MA in Conflict Analysis and Management, and a CPHR designation. She has completed formalized training in negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
Carol Roberts
Ms. Roberts is a panellist with the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre and the British Virgin Islands International Arbitration Centre.
Carolina Barboza Lima
Carolina comes from one of the most prestigious families in the legal field in Brazil. She was called to the Brazilian Bar Association in 2000, after graduating in Law from one of the most traditional universities in the country – UCAM.
Chief Leah George-Wilson
Leah George-Wilson was the first woman to be elected Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in 2001.
Cinnie Noble, Professional Certified Coach, CINERGY Coaching
Cinnie is a certified mediator and former lawyer with a Masters of Law in Dispute Resolution.
Collin Bissoondatt, PMP
Collin is Canada’s Only Crisis Project Manager, thriving in areas we have yet to automate: the uncertain. Industry changes, evolving regulations & people’s reactions are slowly being pushed towards implementations of Artificial Intelligence.
Colm Brannigan
Colm Brannigan has been a full-time ADR practitioner for over 20 years. He holds an LL.M. in ADR, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and a Chartered Mediator and Chartered Arbitrator through the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC).
Daniel Brantes, Ph.D., FCIArb
Daniel Brantes Ferreira earned his Ph.D. in Constitutional Law at the Pontifical University of Rio de Janeiro in 2011 and was a visiting scholar at UB Law School (2009) researching Legal Realism under the guidance of UB Distinguished Professor John Henry Schlegel.
Devika Sammy
Certified mediator by the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago since 2011, she practices both Civil Non-Family and Civil Family Mediation and has mediated over 450 conflicts of various types including divorce and family, community, small-claims, land-lord tenant and workplace disputes.
Dr. Ellie Bolgar
Dr. Ellie Bolgar has started her career as a teacher, but she was more interested in how people learn than what they learn. She pursued her master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Dr. Eva Malisius
Dr. Eva Malisius is a conflict engagement specialist with a wide range of international experience. Over the last 15 years she has worked with stakeholders at all levels of decision-making, always advocating constructive conflict engagement approaches.
Dr. Moussa Magassa
Born in Senegal, Dr. Moussa Magassa is a specialist in anti-racism education; equity, diversity, inclusion and human rights curriculum designer and program developer.
Dr. Tammy Lenski
Dr. Tammy Lenski is a mediator, executive coach, and speaker serving clients worldwide since 1997.
Ellery G. Strell
Ellery G. Strell has 40 years of experience as a lawyer in Manitoba with a general practice but dealing primarily with civil litigation, including and in particular, personal injury claims, insurance and disability claims.
Evelyn Bernstein
Evelyn Bernstein is the Manager of the Automobile Injury Mediation Office (AIM), which mediates disputes between Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) and individuals who have suffered bodily injuries from a motor vehicle accident and disagree with a decision made by MPI under their no-fault Personal Injury Protection Plan.
Fisnik Kumnova, Q.Med, Q. Arb
An ADRBC member in good standing since 2018, Fisnik brings a combined body of experience and education in multiple ADR Disciplines, alongside over five years’ direct experience as ADRBC’s Manager of Stakeholder Relations.
Fotini Iconomopoulos
Nicknamed “the negotiator” as a child, Fotini has been honing her skills her entire life.
George E.H. Cadman, Q.C.
George Cadman is a seasoned litigator with 40 years’ experience before all levels of the Canadian courts and various administrative tribunals.
Harvey J. Kirsh
Harvey J. Kirsh has more than 45 years of experience in the arbitration, mediation and litigation of complex construction claims and disputes arising out of infrastructure, public-private partnership, transportation, energy, resource, residential, industrial, commercial, and institutional projects.
Janet McKay
Early in her career Janet McKay was focussed on the retail sector, and after 8 years as general manager of an upscale chain, formed her own sales and marketing company.
Jenny Ho
After over 10 years in civil litigation, Jenny opened a dispute resolution practice in 2019 to help individuals and businesses resolve disputes in real estate and civil matters. In 2019, she was appointed as a member of the Property Assessment Review Panel. She has recently been appointed as a member of the Employment Standards Tribunal.
Jessica Wood
Known as Si Sityaawks – (Woman who creates change), Jessica is from the Gitxsan and Tsimshian First Nations with extended roots among the Tahltan and Nisga’a Nations.
Jitender Pal Sengh
J.P. Sengh’s name is synonymous with mediation in India. He took it up as a cause, as he wanted to do something good for society.
Joan Cotie
Joan Cotie has worked with families, youth and children in many capacities since 1976.
John H. Shevchuk
John H. Shevchuk Barrister & Solicitor, C. Arb., AACI (Hon), RI(BC) is Associate Counsel with Lex Pacifica Law Corporation where he provides services as litigation counsel and as a Chartered Arbitrator.
Kamaljit Kaur Lehal
Kamaljit Kaur Lehal received her law degree in 1989 from the University of British Columbia and was called to the bar in 1990. She opened her own law firm in 1992, Lehal Law Corporation, and since then continues to operate a successful practice with a focus on immigration law.
Karen Evans–Putney
Karen Evans–Putney, an attorney and the founder of Litigation Resolution, Inc., has spent more than twenty-five years working exclusively as a mediator and arbitrator.
Kathleen Bellamano
Kat has been working with people in conflict for 18 years and has been providing services by distance for over 10 years.
Kathy Porter, MDes., Chartered Mediator
My mediation practice is focused on multi-party decision processes to transform conflicted relations arising out of complex problems.
Kekinusuqs, Dr. Judith Sayers
Kekinusuqs, Dr. Judith Sayers, is the President of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and an adjunct professor with both the School of Business and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria.
Kendelle Pollitt
Kendelle is both a family lawyer and a family mediator practicing in White Rock, BC.
Kenneth Markley
Kenneth Markley has worked in the social services field for approximately thirty-five years as a Youth Worker, Child Protection Social Worker, Family Group Conference Facilitator, Mediator, Conflict Coach and trainer.
Laura Cundari
Laura is an experienced advocate, appearing as lead counsel at all levels of court in British Columbia and the federal courts, as well as before administrative tribunals.
Linda Ohashi
Linda Ohashi, (M. Ed, Cert. ConRes) is a family mediator with a practice in the Tri-Cities.
Lisa Singh
Lisa Singh is a professional mediator, facilitator coach and intercultural trainer who seeks to affirm others and passionately believes it is they who do all the work.
Lori Austein
Lori Austein is a Trainer in the Way of Council and has been facilitating Council groups in North America for 22 years.
Marc Bhalla
Marc (he/him) [biracial] has been a dispute resolution practitioner for almost two decades. He offers mediation, med-arb and arbitration services online.
Michael D. Lang, J.D.
For over 40 years Michael has mediated family, workplace and organizational disputes.
Michael Erdle
Michael Erdle is an independent mediator and arbitrator, whose work focuses on commercial disputes involving technology and intellectual property.
Natalie J. Armstrong-Motin
Mrs. Armstrong-Motin is the author of “The Essential Guide to Marketing Your ADR Practice”.
Nick Greer
Nick is a lawyer, mediator and Principal of Collaborative Law Corporation and Mediation Centre, based in Nanaimo, British Columbia.
Olga Tsiptse
Olga runs her law office since February 2003, handling cases of all fields of law (Civil-Criminal- Administrative-Intellectual Property-Personal Data).
Patricia Lane
Patricia Lane was called to the Bar of BC in 1979. After working for the Union of BC Indian Chiefs doing early-stage land claims research in BC’s northern coastal communities, she spent ten years negotiating, mediating training, organizing, providing legal services and building community alliances with major unions.
Richard Rogers
Richard has worked in the public sector for more than 20 years, including serving as Registrar of the Property Assessment Appeal Board from 1996 to 2000.
Ry Moran
Founding director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) at the University of Manitoba.
Sharon Kelly
Sharon has been active as a mediator since 1996. Her qualifications include a Certificate in Conflict Resolution from the Justice Institute, Bachelors degree from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Arts Degree (MA) in Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University.
Stacey R. Rose – Executive Director
Stacey is a seasoned dispute resolution professional, having spent her entire career working with parties in the realms of commercial insurance, Strata property, and general civil litigation.
Stephanie Atleo
Stephanie Atleo is a member of Cowichan Tribes First Nation. Stephanie grew up in her community where she continues to reside and raise her two children. She is an active participant in community and culture.
Stephen R. Mussell
Stephen is Michif (Métis) and a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation. His family hails from the Eagle Hills and the historic Métis community located in the Red River Valley, Manitoba.
Tammy Borowiecki
Tammy provides mediation, facilitation, and conflict coaching services for a wide range of clients in private, not-for-profit, and public services organizations.
Tu Van Trieu
Tu Van Trieu holds a Master of Science in Conflict Resolution from Portland State University, a Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) from SFU and is a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC), coach, facilitator, and instructor.