Our Governance | mana whakahaere

Our mission is to empower dispute resolvers, advance the practice of dispute resolution, and foster a culture of excellence in dispute resolution throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

AMINZ is governed by an elected council of seven, including a directly elected President and Vice President.

Online elections are held annually, and members who are Associates or Fellows of the institute are eligible to vote. Terms last for two years and in accordance with governance best practice there are limits on the number of terms individual members may serve. The Council retires by rotation, ensuring the ability for succession planning. The new Council takes over at the Annual General Meeting, usually held at the August conference.

The Council is responsible for ensuring good governance of the Institute. As well as having monitoring, accountability and reporting functions, the Council has responsibilities both as an employer and a property owner. It is focused on ensuring the Institute’s strength and sustainability. AMINZ Councillors are also expected to take lead roles as subject matter experts and to put in additional time to assist the institute as volunteers.

Council meets approximately 10 times a year, with four face-to-face meetings and the rest via Zoom.

Constitution, Bylaws and Code of Ethics

AMINZ is governed by a Constitution, Bylaws, and by a Code of Ethics. There are also internal policy and procedural documents that relate to the day-to-day running of the operations of the Institute.

You can view these documents here.

Complaints

From time to time, AMINZ receives complaints about its members when they are acting in their capacity as a member of the Institute. In order to be considered, a complaint must fall within the scope of professional misconduct under the Institute’s Rules and would then be considered in line with the complaints process as set out in the Rules.

In the first instance, please contact generalmanager@aminz.org.nz should you wish to discuss making a complaint about a member’s professional conduct.

Our Council

Our dedicated council members are the driving force behind AMINZ, working tirelessly to shape the future of dispute resolution in Aotearoa New Zealand. Each member brings a unique set of skills, experiences, and a shared passion for promoting fairness, cooperation, and excellence in resolving disputes.

Nicole Smith
FAMINZ(Arb), LLB (Hons)

PRESIDENT

Nicole is a specialist in all aspects of arbitration and an experienced dispute resolution lawyer. She sits as an arbitrator and adjudicator on New Zealand and international disputes. She has been on the AMINZ Council since 2017, Vice-President since 2020 and President since 2022.

  • Malcolm Wallace

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Malcolm is a Christchurch-based Barrister, Arbitrator, and Mediator, and is an accomplished legal professional. He became an AMINZ Fellow in 2012 and serves as a Panel Member for Arbitration, Family Law Arbitration, and Mediation.

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  • Ann Skelton

    COUNCIL MEMBER
    LLB, BA, FAMINZ(Med)

    With a background in law, Ann specialises in mediation and conflict resolution. She has worked in various legal roles, including insurance and employment law. Ann's experience spans local government, the Disputes Tribunal, and insurance. She's involved in community panels and networks, promoting diverse mediation practices.

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  • Dr Anna Kirk

    COUNCIL MEMBER
    FAMINZ (Arb), PhD, LLB (Hons), BA

    Dr Anna Kirk is a barrister at Bankside Chambers, specialising in commercial and investment arbitration, acting as arbitrator and adjudicator. Fellow of AMINZ and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, with extensive experience and contributions in the field.

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  • Kate Keddell

    COUNCIL MEMBER

    Kate specializes in consensus-based dispute resolution, spanning from facilitation to mediation. Formerly a lawyer, her career now spans advocacy, governance, and ADR, aiming to prevent conflicts and broaden ADR's scope. Based in Dunedin, she encourages diverse AMINZ participation.

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  • Kate Wiseman

    COUNCIL MEMBER
    BCom LLB(Hons) FAMINZ(Arb)

    Kate is based at Bankside Chambers, Auckland and is an experienced dispute resolver with 20 years of business background. Kate specialises in mediation, arbitration, and law and has expertise in various industries, especially trust, estate, and relationship property law.

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  • Set Ārena

    COUNCIL MEMBER
    LLB(Hons), BA, AAMINZ

    Set (Ngapuhi & Ngati Whatua, nō Te Tai Tokerau) is a lawyer, mediator and consultant specialising in commercial dispute resolution and cross-cultural dialogue (collaboration across groups with different personal and professional backgrounds). Set is the In-House Legal Counsel at Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi Ō Ngāpuhi.

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