Ōtautahi | Christchurch Network
The Ōtautahi | Christchurch Network brings together local dispute resolution professionals for regular meetings in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Convened by Ann Skelton and Kevin Bailey, the network offers an opportunity for connection, discussion, and professional development.
Meetings are open to both AMINZ members and non-members and free to attend.
Meet the convenors
Ann Skelton
Convenor
Ann was elected to the AMINZ Council in 2022.
Ann primarily works in mediation and other consensus-focused dispute management processes. After graduating Ann worked in a boutique insurance law firm and then a large national law firm in the employment team. Since leaving private practice, Ann has worked in-house for local government, on the Disputes Tribunal and in insurance. Ann is a member of Te Pae Oranga Iwi Community Panel, and Co-Convener for the AMINZ Christchurch Network. For the last 15 years, Ann’s work has been solely focused on conflict resolution and management ranging from commercial mediation, workplace relationship facilitation, facilitating difficult conversations, investigations in workplaces and sports organisations and everything in between.
Ann completed the mediation fellowship programme with AMINZ in 2022 and was awarded the Ann Edge Memorial Prize for Excellence in Fellowship. Ann also maintains a practising certificate and is a member of the NZ Bar Association.
Ann is keen to recognise and encourage mediators from all industries and backgrounds, not just law, as she believes this greater diversity makes for a richer dispute resolution landscape in New Zealand and helps all practitioners to be the best they can. As part of developing her own cultural awareness, Ann is currently learning te reo and loving it.
Contact Ann at ann@mediationpartners.nz
Kevin Bailey
Convenor
Before forming Business Remedies in 2019, Kevin's career had encompassed over 33 years in commercial banking and finance, including spells with all four of NZ's major banks, most recently 10 years with ANZ.
An Accounting & Finance graduate, Kevin's experience covers a wide range of finance disciplines including management roles in Asset Finance; Relationship Management; General Management; Recovery and Insolvency; Sales and Business Development; Quality Assurance and Credit Delivery.
An AMINZ Associate since 2020 and accredited under the Farm Debt Mediation Act (2019), Kevin has conducted a number of facilitiations/mediations in the commercial property finance sector as well as some banking expert witness work (pre-court). Kevin is also a member of the Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association of NZ (RITANZ) and has successfully conducted several Farm Debt Mediations involving most of New Zealand's major banks and covering the length of the country (Invercargill to Whangarei).
Arriving in NZ (for the second time) in January 1991, Kevin moved from Invercargill to Christchurch in 1993. He is married to the lovely Jo and has three children and two lovely grandchildren (and counting!).
Outside of work, playing guitar and football (round ball version).
