Asia Pacific Mediation Leadership From Talk To Action

Collaborator / Delegate of the Month November

Ms. Roxana Cristescu, Project Manager and Mediation Advisor Crisis Management Initiative (CMI)

Ms. Roxana Cristescu is the Project Manager and Mediation advisor for the Black Sea and Central Asia Programme of the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI). CMI is an independent, non-profit organization founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former president of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari. The organisation contributes to conflict resolution through mediation, facilitating confidence-building dialogue and strengthening local capacities to implement peace.

Her current portfolio includes (1) provide process expertise for activities designed to build the mediation capacity of the African Union,  the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; (2) facilitation, mediation and capacity building for parties in mediation; (3) design, planning and management of mediation and dialogue projects . Her work has covered country-specific settings in Europe (Kosovo, Georgia, Ukraine, Rep. of Moldova, Azerbaijan and Armenia), Africa (Ethiopia), Asia (Indonesia) and Middle East (Lebanon). Besides her mediation and facilitation practice, Roxana Cristescu specialises in institutionalisation of mediation practice in organizations. 

Before joining CMI, Roxana was involved in a series of peacebuilding and mediation projects in Ethiopia, Sudan, Kosovo (Mitrovica Region), Moldova, Transdniestria, Ukraine and Lebanon.

Her work in the field was completed with academic research dealing with “Implementing Peace Education and Dialogue projects in conflict divided societies” and with “Evaluating peace projects. Guide-lines for civil-military cooperation in Peace Support Operations”

Roxana Cristescu holds a BA in Political Sciences from University of Bucharest. In addition she holds two master degrees from Florence and Rome University in Mediation and Security Studies. Currently she has enrolled for a Master of Science in Work Based learning - Mediation studies at the Queens University in Belfast.

To learn more about the work of the Crisis Management Initiative, click here!

Collaborator / Delegate of the Month October

Ms. Eriko Okanouchi, representative of Kusanone Mediation no Kai

Born in the traditionally male-dominated society in Japan Ms. Eriko Okanouchi has, since childhood, been seeking for the answer to the question why people suffer so much hating each other while wanting to care for each other at the same time.  Although not entirely sure about the answer on that question she knew deep down there was something that could help people to develop and maintain good relationships.

In 2006 in Fuji she finally found the answer at the Asia Pacific Mediation Forum Conference, which let her to establish the Japanese Grass-roots Mediation Forum (“Kusanone Mediation no Kai” in Japanese).

Ms. Eriko Okanouchi has been working voluntary ever since to promote mediation as a citizens activity. The activities and mediation concepts used have been adapted to fit the specific characteristics of Japanese communication style and have been gradually recognized in the community supported by local city council with grants in 2009 and 2010.

In May this year, Kusanone Mediation no Kai opened a Community Mediation Room collaborating with the Child Abuse Prevention Citizen Network, called Tama.

Kusanone Mediation no Kai has been playing an unique role as a pioneer in the field where citizens are the actual mediation practitioners, while other mediation and ADR organizations in Japan are mostly governed and operated by legal specialists.

Collaborator / Delegate of the Month September

Dr Amanda Shea Hart, Family Dispute Resolution Specialist,

and Learning and Development Coordinator, Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia

Dr Amanda Shea Hart is a qualified and highly experienced family mediator and skills trainer. She has post graduate qualifications in conflict resolution, is an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner under the Australian Commonwealth Attorney Generals Department, and is a trained Collaborative Practitioner, and a qualified and experienced child and family clinician. Dr Amanda Shea Hart has over 20 years experience specializing in family dispute resolution. This includes senior positions in the Family Court of Australia and the Community Sector where she supervised and trained mediators and was referred very complex cases, including entrenched disputes and cases of family violence. She is also an experienced academic and skills trainer in dispute resolution for a range of professionals and organizations.

Dr Amanda Shea Hart is committed to the conceptualization, design and implementation of innovative best practice. She introduced child inclusive mediation to Australia via the Family Court and provided specialized skills training in this to a wide range of mediators. She also introduced strategic planning for South Australia’s implementation and development of the innovative dispute resolution model, Collaborative Practice.

Throughout her career she has demonstrated commitment to enhancing dispute resolution processes towards sustainable outcomes.

For more information on the Australian Cenre for Child Protection, click on this link.

Collaborator / Delegate of the Month August

Aileen T. Forteza, Secretary of the Peoples Partner for Development and Democracy (PPDD) Philippines

and City Legal Officer of the City of Catbalogan, Philippines

Ms. Aileen T. Forteza is a young lawyer who is currently working as City Legal Officer (chief legal counsel) of Catbalogan City, Samar, Philippines.

She finished her undergraduate course, Bachelor of Arts Social Sciences with a major in Political Science at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas Tacloban College in 2002 and in the same year started to pursue law studies. In 2006, she graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the Philippine Law School, Pasay City, Philippines and she passed the Philippine Bar Examinations in April 2007. 

Already in college - as a student - she was very engaged as student leader, being the head of the UP Politikons - the organization of all Political Science students - and a college newspaper staff-writer.

Passing the Bar did not in any way reduce her engagement and ambitions; early last year, Ms. Anna Malindog, Founder and Executive Director of Peoples Partner for Development and Democracy (PPDD) in Thailand, which advocates on behalf of human rights, democracy and developmental issues and concerns, invited Ms. Forteza to join the PPDD. The Peoples Partner for Development and Democracy is currently being organized in the Philippines so it can have a legal personality.

In June 2008, Ms. Forteza joined the government service and was appointed by the City Mayor as the City Legal Officer of the Local Government Unit (LGU), City of Catbalogan. Apart from taking charge of the legal affairs of the LGU she has been a speaker on trainings, workshops and seminars in the locality to build the capacity of the "barangay" (the smallest political unit in the Philippines) or village officials concerning Barangay Justice System and Human Rights. The emphasis is on the importance and practical implementation of mediation as a tool towards amicable settlements in conflicts in the "barangay", thus avoiding the rigors of a legal battle.

Ms. Forteza's current focus is towards the protection of women and children's rights in order to assist “barangay” officials in the proper handling of cases involving domestic violence. She also assists victims of domestic violence and works with law enforcing officers to explain and assist them in their role, duties and responsibilities towards the promotion of women and children's rights.

She sees joining the PPDD as an opportunity to widen her horizon and at the same time widen her law practice.

Collaborator / Delegate of the Month July

Anna Malindog, Founder and Executive Director of Peoples Partner for Development and Democracy

Ms. Anna Malindog is the Founder and the Executive Director of Peoples Partner for Development and Democracy (PPDD) - a regional organization that has been based in Thailand but is now based in the Philippines that works on human rights, democracy and developmental issues and concerns. PPDD works in conflict driven and post conflict areas and territories. Anna through her work in PPDD wants to help address stressful poverty and developmental related problems of local people and communities affected by war, victims of cruelties, injustices and oppressions under repressive governments and are in the process of democratization by providing human rights, sustainable and rights based approach to development and political training and education that promotes the building and proliferation of peaceful and democratic societies.

In terms of academic background, Ms. Anna is into Political Science and International Relations with specialization in Philippine Government and Politics, Political Dynamics, European Studies (European Union and Integration) and Southeast Asian Studies, Democracy and Federalism. She is a well-traveled person both within the Philippines and internationally. She also had the chance attending conferences, lectures and delivered presentations in institutions like the UN, NATO, and EU institutions like the EU parliament and universities in various part of the globe.

As an academic, prior to her international work, Ms. Anna taught in the University of the Philippines, Los Banos political science and social science courses and in the University of Asia and the Pacific Southeast Asian Studies, North American Studies and China Studies courses. Part of both being an INGO worker and an academic is Ms. Anna’s passion and interest in writing and sharing her perspective and analysis on various issues to the broad public. She did researches and wrote articles and some of them were published on issues related to the state of human rights and political situation in Burma, the issue of child soldiers, land rights, land confiscation and housing rights, ethnic issues, the role of civil society movement in the breakdown of authoritarian regime, development projects and their impacts on democratization, women in politics and governance, WTO and the Agreement on Agriculture, peace and conflict, regionalism and regionalization and international security i.e. nuclear proliferation in Burma context.

Anna’s evolving principles in all her endeavors is “empowering peoples and communities”. She is a very happy, fulfilled and empowered single mother. For more information about her organization – PPDD, check out the following links:

The website of the Peoples Partner for Development and Democracy.

The PPDD's tribute to the Light School Project can be found here.

Collaborator / Delegate of the Month June

Mr. Bawa Jain, Founding Secretary-General of The World Council of Religious Leaders

Mr. Bawa Jain has more than 25 years of progressively increasing responsibilities, working in diversified fields under challenging and compelling circumstances across Cultures, Ethnicities and Geographical locations with the world’s Religious, Political, Business and Civic leaders at the highest level.

Mr. Jain is the Secretary-General of The Millennium World Peace Summit - The World Council of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, that opened at the United Nations in August 2000 and he is a visionary leader in the interfaith movement throughout the world. After working closely on the World Peace Summit with the office of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Jain committed his life to finding ways that the worldwide religious and spiritual communities can work together as interfaith allies with the United Nations on specific peace, poverty and environmental initiatives.

Mr. Jain now serves as the Founding Secretary-General of The World Council of Religious Leaders; also a Summit Themed Colaborator collectively evolving the Religion and Mediation Action Group. The Council is charged with being a strong resource and a collaborator with the UN and other (inter)national organizations whose purposes include promoting peace, harmony, tolerance, and mutual respect among human beings and the evolution of world social and economic justice.

In 2001, Bawa Jain was asked by The World Economic Forum to help integrate a religious dimension into the Forum's activities by bringing a delegation of religious leaders to their meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The strategic partnership that was formed between The World Economic Forum and The Millennium World Peace Summit resulted in the launching of the Forum's Religious Initiative. He continues to develop an integrated framework for world religions, business, and government communities to address world problems collectively.

As founder of The World Movement for Nonviolence, he conceived of The Gandhi-King Award, which fosters the practices and principles of non-violence in daily life. Past recipients include former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, President Nelson Mandela, Dame Jane Goodal, Mata Amritanandamayi and President Mawai Kibaki.

He serves as The Chairman for The World Youth Peace Summit - an initiative that has brought together Young Leaders from over 100 Countries in an effort to harness and explore new and innovative Youth driven initiatives to address Global challenges.

He is married to Dr. Hana T. Jain, a Senior Research Scientist at Columbia University in New York.

Collaborator / Delegate of the Month May

Mr. Patrick M. Wolff, president emeritus and founder of Inafa' Maolek

Attorney Patrick M. Wolff received his B.A., M.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Temple University School of Law. Attorney.

Patrick Wolff is President Emeritus and Founder of mediation center Inafa’ Maolek and plays an integral part in training and developing Guam’s mediators and assisting Inafa’ Maolek in fulfilling its mission since its inception in 1983, being dedicated to reducing violence related litigations and fostering peace and harmony in school, workplace and communities.

Outreach activities of Inafa’ Maolek include Mediation, Restorative Justice, Peer Mediation, Conflict Coaching, Peace Theatre, Violence Prevention workshops for schools and Dispute Management workshops for work sites. Case referrals come from Superior Court judges, private attorneys, Guam Power Authority and other employers, churches, non profit organizations, and schools.

Attorney Patrick Wolf, founder of Inafa’ Maolek and its Executive Director for 25 years and now its President Emeritus, started arbitrating in 1975, mediating in 1982. Since 1983 he has trained hundreds of mediators on Guam and elsewhere. This retired criminal justice professor, who maintains a active law practice, teaches University of Guam courses on "Restorative Justice”, "Conflict Coaching", and "Conflict Resolution in Schools". Wolff has done outreach presentations in Micronesia (Kosrae, Chuuk, CNMI, Yap, Pohnpei) and in Asia (Malaysia), Wolff also handles multi party mediations, conflicted ethnic riot cases, and workplace conflict.