MII ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024: OVERVIEW

October 18th and 19th sees the return of the annual conference for mediators on the island of Ireland – bigger than last year, full of practical lessons and learning points, and relevant to all mediators, regardless of your specialist sector or particular perspective.

And, for the first time in the MII’s history, we’re holding the conference in Belfast, the scene of much conflict and resolution over the past 50+ years. It’s now home to many examples of creative perspective-sharing and a variety of positive peace initiatives. So, lots of learning for mediators even before we look at the programme…

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.

NOTE: The MII is partnering with Visit Belfast and Tourism NI to hold our Annual Conference in Belfast. We’re also being supported by the Labour Relations Agency – the NI equivalent of the Workplace Relations Commission. Mediation NI is also supporting us with the conference.

These partnerships allow us to receive funding per delegate which, in turn, helps us to keep ticket prices the same as last year, despite rising costs.

Our partnership with Visit Belfast and Tourism NI means we will be able to provide you with room booking best rates, discounted travel on Aircoach and discounts for entrance to visitor attractions in Belfast, should you wish to extend your stay.

Our partnership requires that we notify Visit Belfast of the numbers of attendees at our conference and provide an email address for each attendee so that they may spot check to verify the attendance numbers. This means that we will provide the email address that you use to register for the conference to Visit Belfast for that express purpose. The information will not be used for marketing purposes. By registering for the Annual Conference, you consent to the MII sharing the registration email address with Visit Belfast.

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CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

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.

Here’s a summary of this year’s programme so far (Draft subject to change)

FRIDAY 18TH OCTOBER

10.00 – 11.00 : REGISTRATION and NETWORKING

11.00 – INTRODUCTION AND HOUSEKEEPING
MII CEO, Sue Cogan sets out how to ensure you get the best return on your investment of time at the conference.
11.10 – Welcome from our supporters: Visit Belfast and the Labour Relations Agency

11.15 – PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
President Ber Barry Murray reviews our past year and introduces several developments that will impace on MII members and others.

11.30 – MINISTERIAL ADDRESS
Executive Office Junior Ministers, Aisling Reilly and Pam Cameron, address the conference

11.45 – THE ROLE OF MEDIATORS IN CONFLICT ZONES – PART 1 HELPING PEOPLE FIND PEACE IN THE WORLD
Our first keynote speaker is Cathy Ashton, former High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and First Vice President of the European Commission in the Barroso Commission from 2009 to 2014. Having worked in conflict zones including Kosovo, Crimea and Iran, Cathy discusses the qualities that have most helped in her diplomatic career and that are likely to be equally valuable to mediators in many areas of the world. This session includes a semi-structured interview conducted by Enda Young, Director of Mediation NI

12.30 – THE ROLE OF MEDIATORS IN CONFLICT ZONES – PART 2: THE NEED FOR POSITIVE PEACE ON THE ISLAND OF IRELAND

Cathy is joined by Nita Yawanarajah, Deputy Director at Oxford Process; Enda Young, Managing Director of Mediation NI and Pat Hynes, Programme Manager Political Dialogue & Legacy, Glencree Centre for Peace & Reconciliation for a panel discussion.

13.00 – LUNCH AND NETWORKING

14.15 – MEDIATOR’S CHOICE; IMPROVING YOUR MEDIATION PRACTICE AND SKILLS
In this interactive afternoon space, delegates get to choose 2 out of 15 topics that will help develop skills and practice. Each session lasts 35 minutes and is repeated after a 10-minute comfort break. The MII commits to collate and promulgate ideas, developed via
the Council, and implement, for the benefit of all members. Choose to attend TWO sessions from…

• Business – Sustainable Grant Applications
• The Spirit of Mediation
• Selling Mediation Skills
• Essential Tools – Business
• Website and Member Profile
• Accreditation Policy Committee – Continuing Professional Development
• Mentoring and Supervision
• Advanced Membership/Elevation
• Reflective Practice/Sharing and Learning
• Workplace Mediation – Developments
• Community Mediation – Developments
• Family Mediation – Developments
• Elder Mediation – Developments
• Self-care Among Mediators
• Neurodiversity in Mediation and insights from Commercial Mediation

Session leads include: – Dr Jay Miller and Dr Amanda Brown; Andrea O’Neill; Anna Doyle and Ilona Kupp-Lieck; Bob Cree-Hay; Helen Finucane; Alison Martin and Orla Tompkins; Beibhinn Byrne and Martina Murphy; Polly Phillimore; Denis Blanch and Ann O’Sullivan; Scott Alexander; Niamh Fitzpatrick; Tony Davis, Susan Vimbai Chauke and Rónán O’Brien; Siún Kearney; Margaret Considine; Joan Davis and Polly Rowan-Hamilton.

15.30 – BREAK AND NETWORKING

15.45 – USING HUMOUR TO MAXIMISE MEDIATION

The psychology of humour and brain research shows that we can take things so seriously that we miss things. Connecting with humour effectively enables you to manage your emotions for better mediation. Obviously, hurtful humour is no laughing matter but there are different humour styles, so which one is best to use in mediation? And is it possible to develop a humour workout that brings joy and levity to your mediation practice? Speaker: Alan Lyons, chartered psychologist and Managing Partner of Kinch Lyons

16.30 – THE MII TED TALK CLUB– LIVE AND (NOT) DANGEROUS.
The MII TED Talk Club started online in January 2024 and has a strong following. The concept is simple – we all watch a TED Talk video online and, with the help of an expert panel, discuss its relevance to mediation and mediators. The topics might include debate, revenge, compassion, bullying, re-framing, inclusion. The only real difference at the conference is that your panel and the speaker (and you) will be live in the room.

EVENING ACTIVITIES FROM   RECEPTION, AWARDS CEREMONY AND DINNER.

19.00-  DRINKS RECEPTION AND NETWORKING

20.00 – AWARDS
Announcment of the receipients of the 2024 “Generosity of Spirit Award” and the “Lifetime Achievement Award”. Click here to see the nomination criteria Our awards are designed, made and sponsored by Martin Gallen of Twenty One Twenty Nine Design who are kindly sponsoring the awards again this year.

SATURDAY 19TH OCTOBER – 9.30 – 1.45

9.30 – WELCOME BACK

9.45- SELF CARE PRACTICES FOR MEDIATORS 

Dr Jay Miller is Dean of the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky.
Dr Amanda Dishon Brown is a clinical faculty member and the Master of Social Work Program Director in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky. Together they present findings from previous research conducted in collaboration with the MII, specifically, myths and misperceptions of self-care and why this is critical in the work of mediators; real-world results of their research with the MII to date; and pragmatic strategies that you can use to support your work.

10.15 – PSYCHOLOGICALLY INFORMED MEDIATION: STUDIES IN CONFLICT AND RESOLUTION

Renowned author Monica Hanaway is also an accredited UKCP psychotherapist (1994), accredited mediator, clinical supervisor, executive and leadership coach, trainer and consultant. In this session Monica explores the understanding of conflict and the use of a psychologically informed mediation approach to help resolve it. Audience question time will follow Monica’s presentation.

11.00 – BREAK AND NETWORKING

11.15 – RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR MEDIATORS

Mediation is not risk-free for mediators.What professional issues should mediators be concerned about? Dorcas Crawford, former solicitor and founder of The Better Way, sets out a checklist to help mediators assess risk and decide whether or not they should agree to mediate in a dispute.

12.15 – COMFORT BREAK

12.20 – KEEPING THE EI IN AI: MEDIATORS V MACHINE

Much has been written about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the impact that it will have upon our professional and everyday lives. In a few short years it has come to dominate any discussion on the use of technology where the focus shifts between claims of unlimited potential and dire warnings of the implications. We already use AI, or more accurately “machine learning” (ML), unconsciously across a wide range of devices and applications.Generative AI can be used to create mediation simulations and training scenarios. It can be our mediation training partner, can even give us feedback on our questions and act as a sounding board.
However, as Mediators we ask:

• Is AI better than a living, breathing mediator?

• Does AI lack emotional intelligence and a mediator’s elan?

• Are AI suggestions to mediation problems as good as those provided by working mediators and how do responses to tricky situations compare?

• What are the implications for mediation where clients make use of AI, how will this impact on their adopted positions and presentation?

• What are the ethics for mediators of using AI at any stage in mediation be it research, preparation, option analysis or even outcome determination?

Join ‘ChatBob’(Bob Cree-Hay) for this interactive Mediator vs the Machine session.

WHAT YOU GET FOR YOUR CONFERENCE FEE

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. Saturday is included free for those booking for Friday. Delegates will also receive links to presentations before the event and will get access to session recordings after the event.

Dinner on Friday night is an optional extra which can be booked by adding the Dinner ticket to your booking.
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.

BOOKING IS NOW OPEN

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Paying for your Conference Ticket
Ticket prices have been held at 2023 prices and there are discounts for Early Bookings, Registered Community Mediation Service Providers and Trainee Affiliates.
Early Bird rates available for the first 100 Members bookings and first 20 non-Members bookings.

•          Members  €195.00

•          Non Members   €220.00

•          Trainee Affiliates & Community Mediation Service Providers €150.00

•          Conference Dinner on Friday night €70.00

•          Saturday only €80.00

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

Terms and Conditions:

The ‘Member’ rate applies only to persons registered as individual members for the calendar year 2024. If you are unsure as to whether you are registered as a member you can check on the MII Website by entering your name in the Find a Mediator search facility.

In the case of Organisation Affiliates, one person from the organisation may avail of the Member rate.

Registered Community Mediation Service Providers (Volunteer Mediator Members): Members who are currently registered under the Volunteer Mediator scheme can avail of a conference rate of €150 which covers attendance at all sessions, tea/coffee breaks and lunch on Friday. Bookings made will be checked against the MII CMSP membership list. Note: you can check if you are registered in this category on the MII Website by entering your name in the Find a Mediator search facility.

Trainee Affiliates: Those who are currently registered as Trainee Affiliates of the MII can avail of a conference rate of €150 which covers attendance at all sessions, tea/coffee breaks and lunch on Friday.

Guests, workshop presenters and speakers please use the relevant ticket option. No payment is necessary.

ACCOMMODATION

Limited accommodation is available in the conference hotel – the Hilton Hotel at Lanyon Place Belfast and can be booked here: Available Rooms – Hilton Belfast 
(Choose the Edit Stay button at the top of the page to change the date if you are staying for one night)

Additional Accommodation List

NB: These details are supplied for information only and were accurate at the time of publication. The MII does not recommend any accommodation except the Hilton Hotel at Lanyon Place Belfast.

Hotel	Rating	No.of Rooms	Dist to Conf. Locn.
Hilton Belfast	4	202
Bullitt Hotel	4	74	0.4 miles, 7 min walk
Ten Square Boutique Hotel	4	131	0.6 miles, 12 min walk
AC Hotel Belfast	4	188	0.6 miles, 13 min walk
Maldron Hotel Belfast City	4	237	0.6 miles, 14 min walk
Ramada by Wyndham Belfast	3	165	0.7 miles, 13 min walk
Clayton Hotel Belfast	4	170	0.7 miles, 14 min walk
Room2 Belfast Hometel	4	175	0.7 miles, 14 min walk
The Gasworks Hotel	4	120	0.7 miles, 14 min walk
Belfast City Travelodge	3	90	0.7 miles, 15 min walk
Leonardo Hotel Belfast	4	270	0.8 miles, 10 min walk
The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast	5	146	0.8 miles, 10 min walk

GETTING TO BELFAST

Aircoach Discount for travel to Belfast for the MII Annual Conference.
10% discount for all Mediators’ Institute of Ireland 2024 conference delegates.
How to book
Click here and enter Promo code VisitBelfast10
Terms and Conditions
This discount code is valid for passengers travelling on Aircoach route 705X from 17th – 20th October 2024

Rail Travel
The conference venue is across the road from Lanyon Place Railway Station – where the main Dublin/Drogheda/Dundalk train stops in Belfast. We’re currently trying to negotiate discounts for MII members but, should you wish to book online, you’ll get great rates here
Dublin Belfast Rail Fares (irishrail.ie)

Thanks to our MII colleagues in Irish Rail who have provided a discount using a 15% voucher code off First Class & Full-flex fares over the dates of 17th – 20th October. This is valid for bookings made before 10th October. Use the promotional code MIIDISC15 when booking
 

Car
Belfast is around 2 hours’ drive from Dublin. We recommend that you car share if travelling by car. Discounted car parking is available at the venue and there are several car parks nearby. However, public transport will generally be more cost effective.

Car-parking

Visitors and guests are welcome to use either of the APCOA multi-storey car-parks, located beside and across from our hotel. Guests of the hotel receive a discounted rate of £18 per 24 hours when using the Oxford Street Car Park – your ticket will need to be validated at the Hilton Hotel front desk, and payment made directly at the car park.

APCOA Oxford Street: 3 Lanyon Pl, Belfast BT1 3LP

Conference Delegates can use the below to prebook for the Lanyon place carpark only APCOA Lanyon Place: 6 Lanyon Pl, Belfast BT1 3FT

Procedure

The booking link is: APCOA Prebook
Choose Hilton Parking – Lanyon Place (must be prebooked at least 2hrs before arrival)
When dates selected, enter Con12 as the promo code.
Enter the time of arrival and departure – we suggest 8am-5pm.
This will reduce the fee to £14 per day. Continue with Book Now to vehicle and payment details.
The car park opening hours may vary. Please check advertised times at the car park. The car park staff can be contacted at 0044 7966 284039.
Exit the car park on level F where you will find the footbridge which will take you towards the hotel
PLEASE NOTE: BOOKING MUST BE MADE BEFORE ENTERING THE CAR PARK

 

VISIT BELFAST - OFFERS FOR DELEGATES

While you are in Belfast why not take advantage of its attractions. Belfast is famous for its hospitality and friendly warm welcome. To help you make the most of your stay, Visit Belfast has put together a selection of exclusive offers and discounts for conference delegates attending events in the city.

Click here to view the current offers. From Food and Drink, Experiences & Tours and Accomodation you’ll find plenty of helpful options.  Please note, the offers and discounts are valid from 1st July 2024 – 31st December 2024 (unless otherwise stated)

Please note: Where an offer states that a conference Delegate Badge is required a confirmation email (or similar proof of attendance) will suffice instead.

MEET OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

We have some great speakers this year at our annual conference in Belfast. Here are those you will meet on the first day of the conference:

Executive Office Junior Ministers, Aisling Reilly and Pam Cameron, address the conference 

 

Cathy Ashton is a former High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and First Vice President of the European Commission in the Barroso Commission from 2009 to 2014. Cathy will deliver our opening keynote session, The Role of Mediators in Conflict Zones, and will discuss the qualities that have most helped in her diplomatic career and that are likely to be equally valuable to mediators in many areas of the world.

Nita Yawanarajah is Deputy Director at Oxford Process. Nita is an accredited mediator with diplomatic and military experience. She was the former Head of Good Offices and Conflict Prevention at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London and a founding member of the UN’s Mediation Support Unit in New York. Nita will be on a panel discussing the role of mediation in conflict zones after Cathy’s presentation and will also be delivering her own presentation as part of our MII TED Talk Club Live session at the end of Day 1 of the conference.

Pat Hynes, Programme Manager Political Dialogue & Legacy, Glencree Centre for Peace & Reconciliation, will be well-known to many MII members. Pat worked with various government ministers in the early years of the Peace Process, later participating in Glencree’s Political Dialogue workshops leading up to the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement. Pat will also be part of the panel on the role of mediators in conflict zones.

Alan Lyons is a chartered psychologist and Managing Partner of KinchLyons, based in Dublin. He’s also a founding member of BPS Society for Coaching Psychology. Alan’s session is entitled Revenge as a Motivator and Barrier in Mediation. If the subconscious desire behind revenge is to make the other person feel as bad as you do, how can mediators use this knowledge to help parties shift their thinking into a less destructive position?

And our great guest speakers on Saturday…

Dr. Jay Miller is the Dean of the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky. Jay has been nationally and internationally recognized for his contributions to addressing social issues through innovative approaches. In June, Miller received the 2024 International Trends and Services Award. His research and academic interests focus on child welfare and youth involvement in juvenile systems. His work has shaped practice with foster youth and has informed a myriad of policies and practices related to participatory engagement with youth and families. Additionally, Dean Miller is actively leading research related to self-care and wellness. In 2017, he founded The Self-Care Lab (SCL). SCL is the first known lab specifically dedicated to empirically investigating self-care among helping professionals. Dean Miller has conducted groundbreaking research on broad ranging self-care and wellness research with social workers, educators, nurses, law enforcement, teachers, and attorneys, among others. Miller is actively involved in a variety of community service endeavors and is currently the President of the Board at St. Joseph Orphanage. Dean Miller has authored numerous juried papers, reports, and briefs. Notably, Dean Miller co-edited The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals (White Hat). Last, but certainly not least, Dean Miller is a loud, proud foster and kinship alum!

Dr. Amanda Dishon Brown is a clinical faculty member and the Master of Social Work Program Director in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky. Her research and teaching focuses on trauma-responsive practices and post-traumatic resilience, both clinically and in higher education settings. She is dually licensed as a social worker and marriage/family therapist, is a certified trauma specialist, and earned the Harvard Medical School’s Trauma and Recovery Certificate in Refugee Trauma. When she is not involved in scholarship, teaching, or clinical consultation work, she serves on the board of the Life Adventure Center, a non-profit dedicated to using outdoor experiences to foster resilience in the lives of those impacted by trauma. 

Monica Hanaway is a renowned author, an accredited UKCP psychotherapist (1994), accredited mediator, clinical supervisor, executive and leadership coach, trainer and consultant. In our keynote session on the Saturday of the conference, Monica explores the understanding of conflict and the use of a psychologically informed mediation approach to help resolve it in her session entitled Psychologically Informed Mediation: Studies in Conflict and Resolution.

Dorcas Crawford is a former solicitor and founder of The Better Way, a unique service providing mediation, facilitation and training for managing conflict in the workplace.

With the aid of an exclusive checklist, Dorcas will be delivering a presentation on Risk Assessments for Mediators and answering questions such as… Mediation is not risk-free for mediators. What professional issues should mediators be concerned about? What questions should they ask themselves before they say yes (or no) to taking on a case? When might they need to call in external help or experts? Should mediators ever offer post-mediation check-ups in relation to mediated settlements? When should a mediator bring a mediation to an end?

MII FUNDRAISING RAFFLE WITH PROCEEDS GOING TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE MII

Buy a ticket for the MII Raffle which will take place at the MII Annual Conference on 18th October.

Great prizes:

• • €250 One4All voucher

• • Overnight stay at the Hilton Hotel Belfast with B&B

• • Lunch at the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin

• • Mediator’s CV Workshop

• • 2 Tickets to the Titanic Experience in Belfast

and more to be announced.
3 tickets for €10 will be on sale until 6 pm on 18th October. Tickets will be sold online and at the MII Annual Conference 2024.

The proceeds of the raffle will be used to support the work and mission of the MII

Available here: clr.ie/137167

Terms and conditions apply