Navigate complex cultural dynamics and transform disputes into collaborative solutions with proven, inclusive facilitation techniques for modern mediators and leaders.
Effective mediation requires more than sound process management—it demands an understanding of how culture shapes communication, conflict, decision-making, and perceptions of fairness. As legal practitioners increasingly work with culturally diverse clients and communities, culturally responsive mediation has become an essential professional capability.
This course explores practical strategies for adapting mediation and facilitation processes across diverse cultural contexts. Participants will examine culturally informed communication techniques, process design, the role of interpreters and cultural facilitators, power dynamics, and approaches for engaging respectfully with First Nations and multicultural communities. Through practical examples, the session provides a framework for delivering more inclusive, effective, and culturally responsive dispute resolution outcomes.
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Managing Director | Flourish Consulting Limited
Debbie Gee is a strategic consultant with extensive experience in organisational strategy, stakeholder engagement, communications, governance, and transformation. Drawing on a diverse professional background, she helps organisations translate strategic vision into practical implementation plans, delivering solutions that are tailored to client needs and operating environments. Of Ngāi Tahu descent, Debbie has a strong understanding of and commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Her expertise spans strategic communications, collaboration and consultation, media, risk, reputation and brand management, social marketing, public education, organisational change, project and programme management, mediation, facilitation, training, coaching, and public speaking. She also serves on several NGO boards and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Debbie holds an MBA from Victoria University. A PeopleCert PRINCE2 Master, Debbie has Practitioner qualifications in PRINCE2 (V7), PRINCE2 Agile, Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), Management of Portfolios (MoP), Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (P3O), and Management of Risk (MoR). She is also a certified trainer in these methodologies, as well as Change Management, Better Business Cases, Portfolio, Programme and Project Governance (P3G), Stakeholder Engagement, and AgileSHIFT. In addition, she holds the Engagement Institute Certificate in Engagement, is a Certified Strategy Implementation Professional, and is an active member of several professional organisations, including the Institute of Certified Management Consultants New Zealand (ICMNZ), the Change Management Institute, the Project Management Institute, the Resolution Institute, AMINZ, and the Engagement Institute.
