Sydney, 6 May 2010: Clayton Utz Brisbane managing partner Michael Klug was honoured last night to present LEADR's inaugural Negotiation Prize (sponsored by Michael Klug) to Dr Stella Cornelius AO OBE at a special function held at LEADR's Sydney headquarters.
The LEADR Negotiation Prize is awarded by the Board of LEADR to any person or persons that have contributed to the peaceful resolution of conflict in the best interests of the community.
Dr Cornelius was awarded the prize for providing inspiration and practical guidance to conflicting parties to reach peaceful outcomes, particularly through the Conflict Resolution Network which she founded.
LEADR is an Australasian, not-for-profit membership organisation that promotes alternative dispute resolution including mediation. LEADR has members in Australia, New Zealand and throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Mr Klug was a founding member of LEADR and its original vice-chair. Michael said it was a great honour to award the inaugural prize to a woman dedicated to developing conflict resolution skills within communities.
"Dr Cornelius has dedicated much of her life to helping others to find peaceful means to resolve difficult situations. In 1973 her initiative to develop a Peace and Conflict Resolution Program was adopted by the United Nations Association of Australia and she then went on to found the Conflict Resolution Network in 1986. It was with great satisfaction that I was last night given the privilege to award the inaugural LEADR Negotiation Prize to such a deserving recipient," said Mr Klug.