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SHIV MARTIN CONSULTING

About Us 

At Shiv Martin Consulting, we help organisations to resolve conflict, build trust and strengthen their teams. Led by Shiv Martin, our team includes lawyers, psychologists, investigators, certified trainers and conflict coaches.

Based in Brisbane, we deliver expert mediations, strategic advice, practical training, and tailored coaching. We travel across Australia and New Zealand to provide face to face services, or are well versed in online training and mediations.

 

Whether you're facing a complex dispute or looking to build internal capability, we're the experienced, qualified, multidisciplinary team you can rely on.

Accredited, Insured and Experienced (over 15 years’ industry experience)

Deep understanding of legal and regulatory environments.

Highly regarded online mediation, training and facilitation services.

Inclusive, trauma-informed, and culturally aware solutions that make commercial sense.

Meet Shiv Martin 

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Shiv is a nationally accredited mediator, practicing lawyer, conciliator, decision maker and certified vocational trainer. As a corporate trainer and speaker, she has worked with over 50 different government and business organisations, particularly in relation to conflict management.

Shiv is experienced in complex dispute resolution, stakeholder engagement and team building. She has a unique and diverse set of expertise in Law, Management, Vocational Education, Psychology and Mediation.

 

Shiv works for various government organisations as an independent decision maker or conciliator and conducts private workplace mediations and facilitations for businesses. ​As an experienced community mediator, Shiv has a keen interest and skill in conducting cross-cultural and intergenerational mediations. In this space, Shiv has conduct numerous mediations involving small businesses for the Department of Justice. ​​​

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Mish McMullen

Practice Manager 

Mish believes that every great workplace starts with strong systems and a dedication to people. With a passion for organisation and an unwavering commitment to customer service, she is focused on fostering an inspiring and inclusive culture at Shiv Martin Consulting. Mish is very much a Jill of all trades and attributes her high level of customer service and communication skills to the wide range of industries she has worked in. She is dedicated to both her professional and personal development and believes that when you stop learning you start dying. Evidently so, she has completed an Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Sydney, Cert 3 & 4 in fitness, 300hour yoga teacher training, a graduate diploma in secondary education,  a diploma of business and a diploma of remedial massage.  Mish loves spending time with her wife  and recently became a mum to a beautiful baby boy. You can often find her creating something delicious in the kitchen or on a 9ft surf board in the ocean.  She is always happy to assist, improve and connect.

Meet our Practice Manager Mish

Behind our expert panel who deliver our training, mediation and facilitation services, we have a strong practice management team to ensure seamless service delivery.

Shiv Martin Consulting Experts

At Shiv Martin Consulting, we bring together an expert panel of nationally recognised mediators, conciliators, lawyers, and trainers to deliver high-quality dispute resolution services. Our team combines depth of experience, diversity of perspectives, and proven credibility to ensure every client benefits from practical, tailored solutions.

Working collaboratively, we provide mediation, workplace training, conflict coaching, and customised dispute resolution consulting that meet the needs of organisations across
Australia and New Zealand.

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Kieran Plasto

Mediator, Coach & Psychologist

Kieran Plasto is a seasoned ‘people professional’ adept at navigating and resolving intricate and complex workplace dynamics to drive enhanced performance and foster employee engagement. With over thirty-five years of experience spanning roles as a Psychologist, Senior Leader in Human Resources and Safety across global mining and heavy industry sectors, and a distinguished career in Law Enforcement as a Criminal Investigator and Police Negotiator, Kieran possesses a profound understanding of human behaviour in organizational settings. His expertise lies in deciphering the complexities of human interaction, empowering leaders at all levels to cultivate environments conducive to productivity and satisfaction. A former appointed Detective, accredited as a Mediator, Internationally Certified Coach, Conflict Coach, and Harvard- trained Negotiator, Kieran brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to the table. By leveraging his innate ability to discern motivations, dismantle barriers, and nurture effective communication, Kieran equips businesses with the tools necessary to cultivate engaged and fulfilled employees through the analyses and resolution of all types of workplace complexities. Through his guidance, leaders and teams develop the essential tools to cultivate resilient, agile teams, along with fostering attributes and skills required to enhance business results through elevated people performance.

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Margo Orbell  

Mediator

Margo is an experienced family dispute resolution practitioner (family law mediator). Margo runs Olive Branch Mediation specialising in family and property disputes, child inclusive mediation, elder mediation, and conflict coaching for clients. She is also the Team Leader for Mediation at Bayside Community Legal Centre coordinating over 20 private mediators and FDRPs. ​ Margo brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and resources to the mediation space. She has both professional and lived experience in a Family Relationship Centre as an FDRP, in Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, in legal negotiations and as a socio-legal academic. Margo holds a Juris Doctor, Master of Justice (Intelligence), BA (Politics), Grad. Dip Theology, FDRP (Child Consultant) and is a community Justice of the Peace (Qual).

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Anne-Marie Cade

Mediator & Lawyer 

Anne-Marie Cade is an award-winning Lawyer a Nationally Accredited Mediator, a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Certified Conflict Coach and Parenting Co- ordinator as well as a Speaker, Trainer and Lecturer in law. She has a Masters in Family Dispute Resolution and Negotiation. She is also the Mayor in her local Municipality of Glen Eira in Victoria, Australia. She has training in mediation, negotiation, relationship mediation, conflict coaching, high conflict divorce, divorce coaching, Brain Based Conversation skills, Brain Based Coaching Skills and Neuro Linguistic Programming. She is passionate about the work she does as an Alternative Dispute Resolution professional to help her clients reach a peaceful resolution. She provides training and coaching on topics such as constructive conflict resolution, effective communication, divorce coaching, negotiation, resilience, wellbeing, and parenting coordination. In her training she provides valuable insights and strategic advice on building conflict intelligence, constructive conflict resolution, conflict management and navigating difficult conversations and works with Corporate Teams, Local Government, Elected Officials and Lawyers.

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Mark Kumarathash

Finance Manager at Shiv Martin Consulting

​Mark Kumarathash is a seasoned finance professional with a strong track record in financial management and strategic planning. With over four decades of experience in senior accounting and finance roles in the government, university and aged care sectors, Mark brings a wealth of financial management expertise to our team.

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Leanne Levinge

Narrative therapist, counsellor, coach & facilitator

Leanne Levinge is a Kombumerri (Gold Coast) and Ngugi (Moreton Island) descendant (with a mix of other heritages) who lives on Turrbal and Yugara/Yuggera Country in Magandjin/Meanjin (Brisbane). Leanne is a narrative therapist / counsellor, coach, mentor, and facilitator with experience (design and delivery) in healing, negotiation, and business contexts and with a range of individuals, groups and communities.  Leanne has walked in two worlds her entire life and thrives in shaping generative conversations and building bridges. She is passionate about: living intentionally; compassion; social and collective learning; curiosity; and the art of a good question. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Triple A Murri Country and, before a COVID-related career change, spent 20 years in management and leadership roles in the higher education sector. She is a 2024 participant of the Mind & Life Institute’s Summer Research Institute (Garrison Institute, NY), and a 2024 Coralus First Nations Activator.

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Justin Toohey

Mediator

Justin is a highly experienced conciliator, mediator, lawyer and manager. Justin has developed his dispute management skills in senior government roles for over 20 years. Justin was first accredited as a mediator in 2002. His key qualifications include Masters of Law, Bachelors of Law and Environmental Science (Hons), Graduate Certificate in Management and Certificates IV in Training and Assessment and Community Mediation. Justin was the Director of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for a decade before being appointed as a Member in the NDIS Division in 2024. Justin’s leadership in the ADR community was more recently recognised through his election to the board of the Resolution Institute in 2023.

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Adam Boyce

Dispute resolution expert

Adam is a high performing Senior Executive with extensive experience in higher education, dispute resolution, equal opportunity, employment law and other regulatory environments. He scrutinises core issues, and devises creative and realistic solutions, while stimulating ‘buy-in’ and support from key stakeholders. He is an effective communicator and collaborator, with flexible and forward-thinking leadership, openly sharing information and providing quality input to decision making and team efforts. Adam is results driven and skilled in operational and strategic leadership, change management, and able to build strong, effective long-lasting stakeholder relationships. He leverages business acumen and knowledge to provide effective operational strategies and improve business performance by maximising good business judgement and improving business practices through team leadership, mentoring and coaching.

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Richard Gifford

Mediator, Lawyer & Conflict & Strategist

Richard is an experienced conflict resolution specialist, negotiator, lawyer and mediator. Richard helps groups and individuals to have difficult conversations, and specialises in family businesses, workplace and startup conflicts. Richard has resolved some of the most emotionally complex conflicts in society, as a manager at the Queensland Human Rights Commission since 2019.   Richard was first accredited as a mediator in 2021 (NMAS) and he has recently completed a Conflict Coaching Fundamentals course with the Conflict Management Academy (2024). Richard’s qualifications are Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Queensland and he was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2016.  ​ Richard can help you navigate a way through an impasse or to prepare for a difficult conversation that’s overdue.

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Serge Loode

Mediator, Educator & Conciliator

Dr Serge Loode combines academic teaching and research experience with a deep understanding of conflict resolution and peacebuilding practice. Originally from Germany, Serge worked as a civil law lawyer before developing his conflict resolution and peacebuilding practice. At university Serge teaches academic courses in Mediation, Negotiation and Theories of Conflict Resolution. He is also a mediator with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. Serge is a highly experienced facilitator, conflict coach, conflict resolution trainer and assessor, as well as a nationally accredited mediator under the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS). Serge mediates workplace, child protection and neighbourhood disputes and designs processes for large-scale community conflicts. He has worked with a variety of clients, including local and state government, police, military, businesses, primary and secondary schools and community groups.

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John Southalan

Mediator, lawyer & academic

John is an experienced dispute resolution professional, having worked in Australia and internationally, particularly in business-community disputes and extractives’ regulation. He has conciliated many cases for the Australian National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct, involving both mediation and decision-making. John also conducts a private practice in commercial mediation and as a barrister, based in Perth and also online. He is an adjunct academic with universities in Scotland and Australia, teaching and supervising research regarding mining regulation, agreement-making, and human rights. His qualifications include ODR [Online Dispute Resolution] Practitioner Certification, National Mediator Accreditation System (Australia), MBA (Mineral Resources Management) and Bachelor of Laws.

SHIV MARTIN CONSULTING

At Shiv Martin Consulting, we work closely with our expert panel to ensure that each client is provided with the right expertise for their needs. 

 

We provide a unique, multidisciplinary approach to conflict resolution that allows us to offer holistic solutions. We have supported a range of businesses, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and educational institutions.

Trusted by Teams Across Australia

Client feedback from workplaces, government agencies and communities across Brisbane,  Australia and New Zealand. Whether online or in person, from facilitated conversations to workplace team training, Shiv Martin Consulting has your conflict resolution covered.

Free Resources and Tools.

We provide free resources to help you build your team's capacity to communicate with empathy, build trust, and resolve conflict.

Monthly Blog

Practical tips, insights, and case studies from the frontline of mediation, conflict coaching, and complaint handling.
Read the latest articles.

 

Free Monthly Webinar Series

Join our live, interactive sessions where we share tools for managing workplace and stakeholder conflict. Register today.
 

Free Download: 10 Question Checklist for navigating workplace tension.

✅ A 10-question assessment to determine when external support is needed
✅ Practical language scripts for introducing facilitated conversations
✅ Cost-benefit analysis of early intervention vs. delayed action and more! 

We are proud to support teams from the following organisations.

Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds
Logos of trusted organizations collaborating with Shiv Martin Consulting, including Ombuds

Learn more about our work.

We work with government agencies, large and small businesses and ensure that our policies, procedures and systems comply with the highest legal standards.

 

Read more about our client experiences, case studies of our work, and our corporate policies below!

Client experiences.  

The impact of our work.

We are ready to go.

How can we help?

Whether you're ready to act or just exploring options, we’d love to hear from you.

Call or Text  0433904303

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