Current arbitrators

Eligible people are appointed to the Arbitration Panel by the Minister under section 139 of the Mining Act 1992. If an access arrangement cannot be agreed during negotiations between a titleholder and a landholder, parties are required to enter into mediation. The holder of the prospecting title may, through written notice to the landholders concerned, request their agreement to the appointment of a mutually agreeable mediator or arbitrator to preside over the mediation. If parties have been unable to agree on the appointment of an arbitrator, either party can apply for assistance from the panel of arbitrators. This option is available to parties at both mediation and arbitration.

The people listed in the Arbitration Panel register below are appointed to act as arbitrators for the purposes of the Mining Act 1992.

Mr Adam Bell

Address: Levels 33 & 34, 126 Phillip Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Email: bellsc@newchambers.com.au
Phone: 0405 368 201

View Mr Bell’s CV (PDF, 143.93 KB)

Qualifications:

Senior Counsel (appointed 2003) and Australian legal practitioner
Admitted to the legal profession (1982) and to the New South Wales Bar (1990)
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Nationally Accredited Mediator
Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Bachelor and Associate Degrees in Applied Science

Experience:

Barrister in New South Wales since 1990 with extensive experience in commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation
Senior Member (part-time), NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal since 2017, sitting on the Appeal Panel
Senior Counsel assisting the Bergin Inquiry into Crown Resorts Ltd and related entities (2019–2021)
Appointed Commissioner to conduct the review of The Star Pty Ltd for the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority of NSW (2021–2022), and an inquiry into The Star Pty Ltd for the NSW Independent Casino Commission (2024)
Former solicitor at Freehills practising in dispute resolution and commercial law
Principal State Solicitor, Attorney-General’s Office, Government of Western Samoa, including service as Acting Attorney-General

Ms Michelle Antonio

Address: 1/457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Email: michelle@mediatus.com.au
Phone: 0452 071 075

View Ms Antonio’s CV

Qualifications:

Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) – Strategic Languaging Accreditation (2025)
Dispute Resolution Board Foundation – Region 3 Advanced Training and Accreditation (2024)
Collaborative Practice Accreditation (Coach) (2024)
Australian Mediator and Dispute Resolution Practitioner Accreditation (AMDRAS) (2023)
IAMA Mediation Course (Melbourne) (2017)
UNSW AGSM – Finance for Non‑Finance Managers (2016)
Master of Laws, University of Melbourne (2009)
Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia (2004)
Bachelor of Laws, University of Natre Dame (1999)

Panel Appointments:

Australian Energy Regulator (AER) Panel
WA Local Government Inspector Panel
Small Business Development Corporation Panel
Law Society of WA Mediation Panel
West Australian Local Government Association Corporate Services Panel
Local Government Adjudicator Mediation Panel

Statutory, Regulatory & Board Appointment Experience:

Board Member, Disability Services Commission (2018–2020)
Member, Bond University Human Research Ethics Committee (2023–2026)
Identity WA (2003–2005) and Giving West (2016–2017)

Experience:

Legal practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution across Australia and internationally
Extensive experience in dispute resolution in the mining, energy, construction and infrastructure sectors, including complex multi‑party matters and stakeholder negotiations
Former General Counsel and senior legal executive in ASX‑ and SGX‑listed companies and government, with responsibility for major disputes, governance and risk management
Experience managing and resolving disputes across major projects, including LNG, infrastructure and resources developments in Australia and internationally
Current dispute resolution practitioner providing mediation, facilitation and dispute board services
Current Law Lecturer at Curtin University, delivering advanced instruction in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Negotiation, and Indigenous Peoples Law and Justice
Appointed to mediation panels including the Australian Energy Regulator, Law Society of Western Australia and Small Business Development Corporation (WA) and Local Government mediation panels
Panel presentation: Ciarb Webinar: Virtual Mediation in Practice
Experience advising on regulatory, commercial and land use matters, including contract disputes, governance, and interactions between industry and community stakeholders

Mr Mark Seymour SC

Address: Level 32, 52 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Email: seymour@mpchambers.net.au
Phone: (02) 8227 9600

View Mr Seymour’s CV (PDF, 60.67 KB)

Qualifications:

Senior Counsel (appointed 2023) and Australian legal practitioner, called to the New South Wales Bar in 2004
Master of Laws (Commercial and Public Law), Australian National University
Bachelor of Laws (Honours, First Class), University of Technology Sydney
Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning, University of Sydney
Professional Certificate in Arbitration, University of Adelaide
Mediator, including completion of mediation training with the London School of Mediation (2017) and University of Western Australia (2021)

Experience:

Barrister at Martin Place Chambers since 2004 with extensive litigation and appellate experience
Specialist practice in environmental, planning and property law, including valuation and compulsory acquisition matters
Experience in administrative and public law, including matters involving local government, regulation and compliance
Experience in disputes involving mining interests and land access-related issues
Practices in alternative dispute resolution, including acting as a mediator and arbitrator
Experience in appeals and complex litigation across multiple jurisdictions

The Hon Dennis Cowdroy AO KC

Address: 12 Wentworth Selborne Chambers, Level 12, 180 Phillip St, Sydney, NSW 2000
Email: dcowdroy@12thfloor.com.au
Phone: (02) 8029 6380

View The Hon Dennis Cowdroy's CV

Qualifications

Nationally accredited Mediator
Grade 1 Arbitrator
Singapore International Court of Arbitration appointed arbitrator
Bachelor of Laws (Sydney University)
Master of Laws (King’s College, University of London)
Diploma of Air and Space Law
Admitted as a Solicitor: 1967
Admitted as a Barrister: 1971
Appointed to (then) Queens Counsel 1989

Experience

Justice of the NSW Land and Environment Court for 8 years.
Justice of the Federal Court of Australia for 6 years.
During his time as a barrister Mr Cowdroy was briefed by private firms, and State and Commonwealth governments, to appear in a wide variety of matters including international arbitration.

Mr Mark Dempsey SC

Address: 148-160 King St, Sydney NSW 2000
Email: md@markdempseysc.com
Phone: 0419 851 527

View Mr Dempsey's CV

Qualifications

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (FACICA)
Fellow of Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)
Accredited Arbitrator, Mediator and Expert Determiner by NSW Bar Association
Senior Fellow Bali International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (BIAMC)
Panel arbitrator appointed by ACCC for NBN Co disputes
Member of the arbitrational panel of the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration
Mediator accredited with the Supreme Court of NSW
Nationally Accredited Mediator (NMAS)
Appointed as Senior Counsel (SC) 2004
Admitted to the Bar of New South Wales 1988
Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW and ACT 1983
Bachelor of Laws (Honours): Australian National University, Canberra 1982
Bachelor of Arts: Australian National University, Canberra 1982

Experience

Over 20 years of experience in arbitration and other alternative dispute resolutions in NSW, Vic, SA, WA, ACT, NT, Norfolk Island and international jurisdictions (such as Singapore and Fiji)

Mr Malcolm Gracie

Address: Fourth Floor Selborne Chambers, 4/174 Phillip St, NSW 2000
Email: gracie@4selborne.com.au
Phone: (02) 9232 4293

View Mr Gracie's CV

Qualifications

Chartered Arbitrator and Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
Grade 1 Arbitrator: Resolution Institute
Member of the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia (IAMA)
NBNCo National Arbitrator Pool: ASIC
NSW District Court Panel of Arbitrators
NSW Bar Association Panel of Arbitrators and Expert Determiners
Accredited Mediator and Mediator Coach: Resolution Institute
Accredited Australian Defence Force Dispute Resolution Practitioner
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (Hons I)
Admitted as a Solicitor: 1987
Admitted as a Barrister to the NSW Bar: 1988
Admitted as a Barrister to the UK Bar: 1992

Experience

25 years of experience in all forms of alternative dispute resolution in NSW, ACT, Queensland and Western Australia
Specialising as an arbitrator since 1997 on becoming a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Aust) and now as a Grade 1 Arbitrator with the Resolution Institute and Fellow of the Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA)

Mr Tim Griffiths

Email: tgriffiths217@gmail.com
Mobile: 0417 069 307

Please contact Mr Griffiths for a copy of his CV.

Qualifications

Member, Administrative Review Tribunal (part-time)
Member, Resolution Institute
Member of the President of New South Wales Law Society Arbitrators' List
Appointed to the New South Wales District Court Arbitrators' List 2002
Appointed 2012 to NSW Law Society Arbitration Committee
Professional Member of Resolution Institute
Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws, University of New South Wales
Solicitor, Supreme Court of NSW, ACT, Vic, SA and Papua New Guinea

Experience

20 years of arbitration and mediation experience in NSW, Qld and Papua New Guinea

Mr Michael D.G. Heaton KC

Address: Chancery Chambers, Level 26, 200 Queen Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000
Email: heaton@chancery.com.au
Phone: 0412 087 711

View Mr Heaton's CV

Qualifications

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK)
Registered Grade 1 Arbitrator and Member of the Resolution Institute
Fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
Fellow Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (FACICA) and Panel Arbitrator
Panel arbitrator appointed by ACCC for NBN Co. disputes
Nationally Accredited Mediator (NMAS)
Victorian Bar Accredited Advanced Mediator
Adjudicator Victoria and Western Australia
Appoint to (then) Queens Counsel 1999
LLM (Uni Melb)
B. Juris LLB (Monash)

Experience

30 years of arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution types in NSW, Victoria and Commonwealth jurisdictions
Arbitration under NSW Mining and Petroleum Land Access Scheme, adjudications under Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (VIC), and mediations in commercial matters including under the Franchise Code

Mr Derek Minus

Address: Ground floor, 465 Victoria Avenue Chatswood NSW 2067
Email: minus@medarb.com
Mobile: 0402 044 022
Phone: (02) 9232 4000

View Mr Minus' CV

Qualifications

Former Commonwealth government Mediation Adviser
Nationally Accredited Mediator, NMAS
Arbitrator to all Local Courts in NSW
International Commercial Arbitrator, JCAA
Appointed Chartered Arbitrator, C.Arb
Associate, Member and Fellow, The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK)
Masters of Laws (with distinction) Major in Dispute Resolution, UTS
LLB, University of Sydney
BSc, University of Sydney

Experience

30 years of experience in arbitration and mediation in NSW, Victoria and Commonwealth jurisdictions