Meet our people: Annabel
Employment Relations Mediator
Labour Group
"I really love what I do. I'm one of those people that bores their friends by talking about how much they enjoy their job!"
As a Mediator I act as a neutral third party to help people work through and resolve their disputes. My job is to help people to help themselves, not to tell them what to do. About 75% of mediations end in resolution so it feels like we have a positive impact on people's lives.
I chose to work here because I wanted to build my mediation practice and generally we mediate every day. I'd also heard the Department's mediation service had an excellent reputation.
My background is in law but we all come from a variety of areas. To be a mediator I think you have to be a good listener, patient, non-judgmental and in-tune with people's emotions.
My work is always challenging because the people and the situations I deal with are different every time. I am part of a very experienced team here in Wellington and benefit from their support and guidance. We share our experiences and knowledge and learn from each other.
