Thinking Big After the Singapore Convention

JAMS and the Society of Mediation Professionals (Singapore) (SMP) presented an international think tank discussion on August 8, 2019, following the signing of the Singapore Convention. However, unlike other conferences, which usually have a series of presentations, this event warranted a unique format because of previous day’s groundbreaking developments.

What started off as an idea by JAMS neutral Gary Birnberg, Mary Walker and Tat Lim, all international mediators and colleagues on the International Bar Association Mediation Committee, to bring together thought leaders, practitioners, academics and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) institutions developed into a sold out event at Maxwell Chambers, an integrated ADR complex located in Singapore.

It was titled “Singapore Convention on Mediation: Life After 7 August 2019.” This was our “field of dreams,” and we felt strongly that “if we build it…they will come,” which is exactly what happened. I was privileged to be part of the organizing committee. We created something that benefited everyone in the room, but we also wanted to build and explore an environment of shared visions. We wanted this think tank discussion to reach not just the individuals present, but others around the world, which was achieved by live streaming the discussion and recording it so others could watch it in the future. 

The discussion was divided into four sessions. Some of the panels had upwards of 10 participants, which might have been unwieldy if not for the excellent moderators. There were strict time limits on speakers so that everyone could have a voice. In many ways, the moderators were modeling outstanding meeting management and facilitation skills.

The first session provided some background regarding the genesis of this event and set the stage for the sessions that would follow. This solid foundation ensured that all attendees were fully engaged. We started to receive questions and comments from people watching the live stream. At one point, we had 250 viewers representing all continents, which was very impressive considering the time difference.

The second and third sessions featured panels that discussed the Singapore Convention and the use and adoption of cross-border mediation from a geographical/regional perspective. They highlighted some of the opportunities and challenges that ADR practitioners would face, and they also reinforced the need for further education and information sharing. One common theme was that the mediation process itself must be adapted to the needs of the commercial environment, that one model does not fit all. This might have been the source of some resistance because some of the messaging had not yet been adapted.

The final session focused on the immediate next steps for carrying this message forward and keeping the momentum going. By the end of the day, a number of key action points had been identified.

When I first agreed to join the organizing committee and support this event with the sponsorship of JAMS, my intent was that to create something that added value to the field and would be relevant to our clients and all users of mediation. I wanted to be pragmatic, but I also had a lofty goal of continuing the conversation beyond the event. The combination of the energy from the signing of the Singapore Convention, the participants and the fantastic moderating and organization has indeed created that ongoing conversation. Our planning committee is working on a series of regional events in South America, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia scheduled to take place during the rest of the year and into 2020.

We shall keep you informed and updated about these events, but we would also like you to join the conversation and add your thoughts and comments. Visit our LinkedIn group page—Singapore Convention: Life After 7 August 2019: A Global Think Tank—to join the conversation and see the latest updates and happenings.