with Shiv Martin and Shane Sturgiss
Monday, 12 June 2023 | 8.30am to 1pm AEST | Online

This workshop provides participants with insights, knowledge and practical strategies to be able to effectively respond to conflict that may have a cross cultural component. We will talk about the challenges and opportunities presented by working in a culturally diverse context. We will learn how cultural diversity impacts on human behaviour and learn effective strategies to negotiate and deal with cross-cultural misunderstandings.

• Cultural Awareness through Self Awareness and Emotional Intelligence
• Understanding Different Cultural Frameworks – including group break out activity
• Deep dive into the Cultural Framework of First Nations people
• Identifying where Conflict has a cultural element – multi scenario activity
• Universal strategies of addressing cross-cultural conflict – problem-based learning
• Understanding Discrimination and Humans Rights law and its impact

About the trainer

Shiv Martin

Shiv is a nationally accredited mediator, practicing lawyer, conciliator, decision maker and certified vocational trainer. She has engaged in complex dispute resolution, stakeholder engagement and team building in the government and legal sectors for 13 years. As a mediator, trainer and facilitator Shiv has a unique and diverse set of expertise in Law, Management, Vocational Education and Mediation. 
 
Shiv works for various government organisations as an independent decision maker or conciliator and conducts private workplace mediations and facilitations. She is currently a part time Assistant Information Commissioner, Queensland. In this role she makes statutory decisions on the information and privacy rights of individuals, corporations and government entities. She manages teams and projects in public service dispute resolution.  

Shiv is also an Independent Examiner with the Australian National Contact Point for OECD complaints. In this role Shiv conciliates, investigates, and makes decisions in relation to complaints made about the conduct of multinational companies. In this role, Shiv engages in complex, global conflict resolution that impacts on different cultural groups. As an experienced community mediator, Shiv has a keen interest and skill in conducting cross-cultural and intergenerational mediations. She is an active member of the South Queensland Dispute Resolution Centre where she continues to train, coach and assess aspiring mediators for NMAS Accreditation.  
 
Recently, as a Conference Registrar for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Shiv conducted conciliations in a broad array of public sector disputes including tax, worker’s compensation and disability support (NDIS matters) and social services complaints.  

Shiv’s greatest area of strength and passion is training and coaching in dispute resolution. She is a leading conciliation and public service trainer for the Resolution Institute, and facilitates reflective practice workshops for public service managers.

She has also taught students of the University of Queensland and Newcastle University and continues to teach with Bill Eddy of the High Conflict Institute. She has trained many public service decision makers in negotiation skills and strategy. In additional to training, Shiv advises organisations on designing and implementing appropriate policies, systems and practices around effective conflict resolution and complaints handling. 

Shane Sturgiss

Shane is a proud Aboriginal man with family links to Gundungurra and Ngarigo people and a proud member of the LGBTIQ++SB community. Raised in Queanbeyan and lived most of his adult life in Newcastle and Sydney. 

Shane is the CEO of BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation and has worked across several Aboriginal services, including the Director of Operations at The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence and sits on the board of Iyoria Belonging Estate, an Aboriginal Aged Care and Hospice facility.

Shane is seen as a specialist in Corporate and Social responsibility with a strong social justice belief. Commencing his career in Banking and Finance, now a qualified Counsellor with tertiary education in Community Services Management, Indigenous Leadership and Community Advocacy. Shane’s career spans across several social services, including, health, financial counselling, disabilities, homelessness and education.
 
Married at an early age, Shane knows firsthand the feeling of not living in your own skin. Learning of his cultural belonging as a teenager, Shane has struggled with his cultural and sexual identity during his late teens and early 20’s. Growing up in a loving and supportive family environment, Shane wants to deliver this same level of care and nurturing to all community, who may not have the same positive opportunities that he was provided as a young man. Providing positing and affirming life experience to community, his son, and grandchildren so that they may live their culture and identity is a focus for Shane.