A standout moment of the 2024 edition of IBA-VIAC CDRC Mediation & Negotiation Competition (CDRC Vienna) was the 2nd IBA-VIAC CDRC Pre-Moot Conference. Like the first conference, held in 2023, it provided a valuable platform for thought leadership and professional growth in the field of dispute resolution.
The Conference featured a keynote address from Isabel Philipps MCIArb, a renowned conflict specialist, mediator, and Director of Policy and ADR Development at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb).
Her presentation left a lasting impression on the audience. In her talk, Scratching the ITch: Re-prioritising People in Mediation, Isabel posed a timely and critical question: While proponents of mediation often emphasize its ability to deliver holistic outcomes, increasingly supported by cutting-edge technologies, are practitioners fully aware of how these tools affect the process, the results, and ultimately, the people involved? Drawing on her extensive international experience, Isabel challenged the audience to reconsider their priorities in mediation. Her perspectives, informed by her work in West Africa and the shifting global landscape, were both thought-provoking and practical. Her insights resonated deeply with attendees, sparking conversations about the future of mediation and its evolving role in dispute resolution.
Isabel’s inspiring headline set the scene for three high-powered panels that explored cutting-edge topics with the potential to shape the future of dispute resolution, including:
- The Role of AI in Mediation and Negotiation, which examined how technology is transforming these processes while raising important ethical considerations.
- The Intricacies of Process Design in Combining Mediation and Arbitration, shedding light on best practices and challenges when integrating these two methods.
- The Resolution of Environmental Disputes, offering a deep dive into the unique complexities and sensitivities involved in mediating and negotiating environmental issues.
The panelists—leading experts in their respective fields—generously shared their experiences, providing practical advice and sparking thoughtful discussions on some of the most urgent issues in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) today. Their insights encouraged participants to reflect on the broader implications of their work and training, inspiring new ways of thinking about the future of consensual dispute resolution. A key highlight was the dynamic exchange of ideas between the panelists and the audience, contributing to the professional growth of all attendees.
The Conference also provided an opportunity for participants to engage directly with the panels. The panel members, all leading experts in their respective fields, shared generously their experiences, offered practical advice, and facilitated discussions on some of the most pressing issues facing the world of ADR today. The exchange of ideas between the audience and the panels was another highlight of the Pre-Moot Conference, contributing to the audience’s development as ADR professionals.
The success of the 2nd IBA-VIAC CDRC Pre-Moot Conference was largely due to the generous sponsorship and support of the CIArb. As a global leader in advancing alternative dispute resolution (ADR), CIArb not only provided financial backing but also contributed the headline speaker, underscoring its deep commitment to promoting consensual dispute resolution and nurturing the next generation of mediation and negotiation professionals.This support highlighted CIArb’s recognition of the importance of fostering community, building networks, and encouraging collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the mediation field.
In short, CIArb’s contributions enabled the organizers to deliver a high-caliber event that offered attendees thought-provoking content, valuable insights, and essential resources to excel in a rapidly evolving profession, equipped to handle the challenges of an increasingly complex global landscape.
