WORKMATTERS - Key Persons
Catherine Smith has worked in the area of conflict management as an investigator, mediator and conflict management systems consultant for over 20 years and has provided her services to a wide range of organisations. Catherine is an accredited advanced mediator on the LEADR panel and is registered under the Mediation Act 1997 (ACT). Catherine has served on the Victorian Executive Committee of LEADR and her role with LEADR involves the provision of mediation coaching to those undertaking the LEADR mediation courses. Catherine is a specialist consultant in the field of Bullying in the workplace, Equal Employment Opportunity and Anti Discrimination legislation and combines this with strong skills in training, mediation and investigation.
Catherine's experience includes the development of conflict management systems, the development and delivery of tailored training solutions and the investigation and mediation of workplace disputes.
Having worked for the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission for over 7 years, Catherine held a number of senior positions in both the conciliation and investigation departments within the Commission and is thoroughly versed with Victorian and Federal anti discrimination legislation.
Catherine is highly experienced in, and has an outstanding record in dealing with, the intricate complexities of multi-party disputes in various industry areas including the Private sector, Government departments, Local Government and Education. Catherine has finely tuned investigation skills utilising a broad range of information gathering techniques together with strong interview and negotiation experience.
Catherine has a background in education where she held a senior position specialising in areas such as conflict resolution, staff/student relationships.
Catherine's formal educational qualifications include;
Job Titles:
- Principal Consultant
- Management and Mediation Consultant
Nina Ananidis is a management and mediation consultant with over 30 years experience working in the government, community and private sectors. Nina specialises in dealing with workplace matters such as bullying in the workplace, multi-cultural environments, Equal Employment Opportunity and Anti-Discriminationmatters. Nina has also assisted the Tertiary Education Sector when serious issues arise between students and the Tertiary Institution and / or their staff. Nina is a qualified and experienced manager, investigator and mediator with over 10 years staff management experience.
Nina has run large-scale investigations and other significant projects for the Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and various organisations. The projects included, sexual harassment and anti discrimination policy review and development for commercial organisations and the development and delivery of tailored training programs designed to meet the needs of each organisation and industry and multi party issue resolution.
The prevention and management of workplace bullying is an area Nina has worked with since 2000 conducting large and small scale assessments, investigations, training and facilitation. Nina is well versed in the legislative processes and requirements of Worksafe Victoria's Workplace Bullying - prevention and response (Oct. 2012), the Safe Work Australia Guide to Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying and the Fair Work Act and new Anti-Bullying jurisdiction which came into effect on 1 January 2014. Nina keeps up to date with national and international academic literature, data and general information on the subject.
Having worked as a senior officer with the Equal Opportunity Commission for four years, Nina is well versed with Victorian and Federal anti discrimination legislation. Nina has well developed investigation, conciliation and mediation skills together with the broadest exposure to the various industries that include manufacturing, education and training, tourism and hospitality, public sector, local government and the community sector.
With years of experience as a manager, Nina has been responsible for the management of staff from diverse professional and trade backgrounds, which include plumbers, electricians, security staff, social workers, lawyers, industrial officers and community workers.
Nina's formal qualifications include;