The Dual Perspective of Practitioner and Academic
Dr Shi’s professional background is distinctive: she has worked as a practising solicitor, as an industrial officer, and as a senior lecturer in law at RMIT University. This combination gives her unique mediation skills and a deep understanding of how disputes arise, how they escalate, and how they can be resolved in a way that is both durable and practical. She founded her mediation practice to help clients to settle their disputes successfully.
As a law lecturer, Dr Shi is skilled at facilitating discussions, analysing complex issues, identifying what truly matters in a dispute, and communicating in clear, accessible language. Her academic work is grounded in evidence and best practice, and this informs her use of structured, evidence-based mediation techniques that support informed and durable outcomes.
Dr Shi’s experience as a lawyer and industrial officer has involved working directly with people in high-pressure and emotionally charged situations, often where relationships and livelihoods were at stake. This experience shaped a mediation style that is calm, patient, and even-handed, with close attention to respectful communication and helping parties resolve their disputes.
As a lawyer and as an industrial officer, Dr Shi represented clients in the Fair Work Commission, VCAT and the Magistrates Court and the County Court. Her experience enables her to understand the emotional and financial costs of litigation for the parties in dispute.
Known for her clear communication, careful preparation and impartiality, Dr Shi helps parties navigate conflict constructively and with confidence in the process. She creates an empathetic and supportive environment in which participants can express their perspectives, explore options openly, and work constructively toward outcomes they can all accept.
Mediation in English and in Chinese
Dr Shi is fluent in both English and Mandarin. Her ability to conduct mediation in both languages allows parties to communicate clearly, express nuance, and participate confidently in the process.
Dr Shi excels at bridging language and cultural differences that might otherwise impede resolution, enabling focused, constructive dialogue and supporting practical, mutually acceptable outcomes.
Professional Standing
Legal Insight: Dr Shi’s background as a lawyer provides her with a grounded, practical understanding of the legal realities her clients face.
Qualified Authority: Dr Shi holds a Doctorate in Juridical Science and is a Nationally Accredited Mediator, ensuring her practice is backed by the highest level of professional accreditation.
Impartial and Methodical: Dr Shi excels at guiding structured and complex discussions, drawing on her experience leading discussions at RMIT University and as former Co-Chair of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Employment and Industrial Relations Committee.
Bilingual: Dr Shi is fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese. She helps remove language and cultural barriers so parties can communicate clearly and focus on resolution.
Approach and Philosophy
Dr. Shi facilitates mediation in a way that is:
Respectful: Every participant’s perspective is acknowledged and treated with fairness, creating a safe and constructive environment for dialogue.
Structured: Sessions follow a deliberate, methodical process, enabling parties to identify underlying issues, explore options, and achieve mutually sustainable agreements.
Evidence-Informed: Approaches are guided by empirical research, best practice frameworks, and contemporary dispute resolution methodologies.
Practical: Focused on implementable, real-world solutions that are tailored to the specific context of the parties involved.