10 Years Strong: SIMC’s Journey in Advancing Mediation Practice Globally
A Landmark Celebration of Mediation Excellence
On 28 August 2024, the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) marked a significant milestone—its 10th anniversary. Themed “Mediation: The Next Frontier” was a celebration of a decade of progress and innovation in international alternative dispute resolution. Held at the Shangri-La Hotel during Singapore Convention Week 2024, the gathering attracted over 240 attendees from nearly 20 countries.
In addition to reflecting on its journey so far, the event provided an opportunity to explore SIMC’s vision for the future. With thoughtful discussions on emerging trends and the unveiling of initiatives like artificial intelligence in mediation processes, SIMC demonstrated its ongoing dedication to evolving with the field, adopting new technologies, and continuing to expand its presence regionally and globally.
Over the past 10 years, SIMC has steadily built a strong reputation in global mediation. Through its commitment to resolving complex disputes with dialogue and cooperation, SIMC has continually promoted mediation as an effective and preferred approach to conflict resolution.
As SIMC reflects on its journey, this anniversary is a moment to reaffirm its dedication to advancing mediation practices, widening access to justice, and contributing positively to the global mediation community. The event not only marked the past decade but also celebrated the values and collective achievements that have shaped SIMC’s progress.
George Lim SC Pays Tribute to Key Figures in SIMC’s Remarkable Journey
In his opening remarks, Mr. George Lim SC, Chairman of SIMC, acknowledged the pivotal roles played by Minister K Shanmugam SC and Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon in the establishment of SIMC. He expressed deep gratitude to Mr. Edwin Glasgow KC, SIMC’s first Chairman, along with current and former board members and staff, for their significant contributions in shaping SIMC into the well-recognized institution it is today. Additionally, George introduced Ms. Andrea Hulburt, the founding partner of Hulbert Volio Abogados and an advocate for mediation, who officially announced that following the approval of the signing and ratification of the Singapore Convention on Mediation by the Congress, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of International Affairs of Costa Rica, the country's President had just signed the Convention, making the nation a new State-party to the Convention. George also paid tribute to Mr. Michael Leathes, a distinguished figure in the mediation world, who recently passed away and made contributions that have profoundly shaped the field.
Minister K Shanmugam SC on Singapore's ADR Leadership and Social Harmony Safeguards
The key highlight of the 10th anniversary celebration was the fireside chat with Mr. K Shanmugam SC, Minister for Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Law, moderated by Mr. Toby Landau KC, Board member of SIMC. Minister Shanmugam shared insights into Singapore's evolution as a global ADR hub and its commitment to maintaining social harmony.
Minister emphasized Singapore’s proactive measures in addressing challenges such as online falsehoods, and racial and religious hate speech. He highlighted legislative instruments which have been put in place have been pivotal in maintaining public trust and social cohesion.
Reflecting on Singapore’s limitations in terms of landmass and natural resources, Minister noted that the nation’s true strength lies in its human capital. He emphasized that Singapore's success is rooted in its ability to unite its people and encourage the exchange of ideas—a mission that resonates with SIMC's dedication to fostering collaboration in dispute resolution.
After Minister and Toby’s fireside chat, George was invited on stage to present Minister a gift on behalf of SIMC. The Specialist Mediators’ Workshop (SMW) participants from the Singapore August batch were also invited up on stage to take a group photo with Minister to commemorate their appointment as SIMC's Specialist Mediators in early August.
The Specialist Mediators’ Workshop (SMW) participants from the Singapore August batch
together with Mr. Toby Landau KC (Board Member of SIMC), Mr. George Lim SC (Chairman of SIMC),
Minister K Shanmugam SC (Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Law), Mr. Chuan Wee Meng, (CEO of SIMC).
SIMC’s CEO Mr. Chuan Wee Meng and PwC Unveil the Future of Mediation with MAIA
Wee Meng expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all attendees, extending special thanks to the Ministry of Law, the judiciary, and SIMC’s regional partners from 19 countries. He acknowledged the importance of these collaborations, reflected upon the symbolic flowers, and emphasized how they represent the strong bonds forged with our key international partners over the past decade.
He provided an overview of SIMC’s steady growth, noting that the centre’s caseload in 2023 was almost four times than in 2019, driven by increased demand from 61 jurisdictions worldwide. Wee Meng highlighted SIMC’s significant ongoing and existing collaborations with key organisations and industry partners. These include establishing a Belt & Road Initiative mediators panel with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the establishment of the maritime mediators panel with the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA), to collaborate on Asia’s first specialized mediation framework for the aviation industry with the Hague Court of Commercial Arbitration and deepening partnership with the Singapore Insurance Institute (SII) for the insurance sector. He also emphasized the expansion of SIMC’s training programs, which have grown from three in 2018 to over 15 countries in five years, with 80% of participants trained outside Singapore. These milestones, he noted, have been achieved with the invaluable support of industry partners, including the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Asia Development Bank.
Looking to the future, Wee Meng introduced MAIA, acronym for Mediation AI Assistant, developed in partnership with PwC. MAIA is designed to enhance the mediation process by analysing relationships, drafting settlements, and generating documents in multiple languages, thereby improving the efficiency of mediations.
Co-presented by Mr. Eric Chin and Mr. Rodney Yap from PwC, the presentation delved into MAIA’s capabilities, including generating summaries from voluminous documents, establishing timelines, key relationships in graphic form, and etc. The system ensures data protection through market-leading encryption standards and strict confidentiality measures. Wee Meng reaffirmed SIMC’s commitment to deploying MAIA responsibly, leveraging technology to enhance mediation while upholding the principles of accountability, transparency, and collaboration. He emphasized that despite the rapid advancements in the digital age, particularly with the integration of artificial intelligence, the true effectiveness of tools like MAIA still relies on the essential human touch. It is through human effort, judgement, and actions that AI can be used responsibly and effectively, ensuring that it complements, rather than replaces, the nuanced and empathetic nature of mediation.
Japan’s Director-General Praises SIMC’s Global Impact in Mediation
We were privileged to have Mr. Tsutomu Takeuchi, Director-General of the Civil Affairs Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Justice, deliver a heartfelt congratulatory speech during the event. He acknowledged SIMC’s substantial contributions to advancing global mediation practices, emphasizing its pivotal role in shaping the international dispute resolution landscape.
Reflecting on a Decade of Mediation Leadership and Our Future Endeavours
In celebration of SIMC’s decade-long collaboration with various countries and to honor our commitment to sustainability, the staff of SIMC crafted 70 flowers in four distinct varieties. Each flower symbolizes our enduring partnerships: Peonies representing China, Lotus Flowers for India, Sakura Flowers for Japan, and White Lilies for Korea. Attendees were encouraged to take these symbolic flowers home as a memento of our shared journey. To add a personal touch, SIMC also designed customized name card holders, each engraved with the initials of the attendees, as tokens of appreciation.
Minister K Shanmugam SC and the United Nations (UN) Assistant Secretary-General for
Legal Affairs Stephen Mathias jointly named an orchid “Aranda Singapore Convention on Mediation”.
This is the first time an orchid is named after a United Nations (UN) Treaty.
We would like to extend a special thank you to the Ministry of Law for assisting SIMC in procuring the Aranda Orchid, featured during our 10th Anniversary event, from the National Parks Board. The 10th anniversary of the Singapore International Mediation Centre was not merely a reflection on past achievements, but a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to advancing global mediation. From insightful speeches by distinguished guests to the unveiling of groundbreaking initiatives like MAIA, the event highlighted SIMC’s leadership in international dispute resolution and its dedication to shaping the future of mediation.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our esteemed guests and partners, both local and international, whose presence and unwavering support have been instrumental to our success. Special thanks go to SIMC’s first CEO, Ms. Eunice Chua, for serving as the emcee and ensuring the seamless execution of the event.
As we commemorate this significant milestone, we also look ahead to the future with optimism, embracing innovation and growth in mediation practices. Together, we will continue to explore new frontiers, advancing our shared mission of fostering global cooperation and elevating mediation as the preferred method for conflict resolution.