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Perth Branch

Seminar: Expert Witness Skills

3.5
PD Hours

Join the Perth Branch for their Seminar on Expert Witness Skills, aimed at those called or intending to be called as an expert witness.

About this event

Litigation in the Resource Industry can contain complex matters beyond the comprehension of the legal profession; therefore, it is imperative that the Courts rely on expertise from expert sources.

As a resource professional, it is possible that you may be called upon by the Courts to provide your expertise as an expert witness.

The role of expert witness is a paid assignment by one of the parties to the dispute; however, the Court demands independence and bipartisan delivery of the evidence given.

The experience of being an expert witness can be rewarding; however, can be harrowing for those who are not adequately prepared. One must be prepared to give evidence and be cross-examined which can be confrontational.

This seminar will include both theory and role playing by Professor Colin Roberts, Resource Professional & International Arbitrator and Mr John Southalan, Barrister.

The focus will be on what to expect and to inform the expert witness of the rules and laws that govern the role as an expert witness and would appeal to National Resource Companies, Government & Regulatory Officials, Resource Managers, Bankers, Geologists, Engineers, Lawyers, Accountants, Exploration Personnel, Academics, Consultants and Contractors.

Program 

08:30 - Registration, Networking tea/coffee
09:00 - Session 1
10:00 - Morning Tea
10:30 - Session 2
12:00 - Lunch
13:00 - Session 3
14:00 - Conclusion 

Speaker/s

EurIng Professor Colin Roberts

LLM, DJur(JD), PGDipICArb, BEng, PEng, CMinEng, CPetEng, CSci, FCIArb, FAusIMM(CP), FIMMM, FSAIMM, FEI, FAIE, FAIADR, MCIM, MIEAust, SPE
Chartered Mining Engineer, Chartered Scientist, Resources & Investment Legal Academic, Accredited International Commercial Mediator, Adjudicator, Expert Determiner and Dispute Board Member, with over 50 years of multi-disciplinary resource industry experience, most of which has been in the developing world.

Colin is also a Professor at WASM: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering - Curtin University, a member of Raffles Chambers – London and Director of Natural Resource Geo‐Strategy (NRG), Resource Dispute Resolution (RDR), and the Centre for International Dispute Resolution (CIDR).

After military service, Colin started his resources career as a driller and then as a mining and petroleum engineer. He now specializes in dispute resolution, mitigation of sovereign risk, advising governments in resources law and policy and facilitation of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the resources, energy, and infrastructure sectors.

Colin holds, and has held, numerous public and private directorships, and among others was for eight years, the Honorary Investment Consul for Pakistan in Australia, Authorized Emissary for the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) ‐ World Bank Group, Australian Consular Warden – Zambia, Past Chairman of the AusIMM‐WA, Past-Chairman of the Mining Institute of Scotland, Past‐Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers–WA (SPE) and has served or is serving on committees and boards of Energy Resources Law (formerly AMPLA), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Australian Institute of Energy (AIE), and others.

In his spare time, he serves as Patron of the International Bar Association (IBA), the AusIMM Professional Conduct Committee and the AusIMM Perth Branch Committee.

Professor Colin Roberts practices as an International Natural Resources Geo‐strategist. He is an International Commercial and Investment Arbitrator, Chartered Petroleum Engineer,

John Southalan

Barrister (Western Australian Bar Association), mediator and academic
John Southalan is a barrister (Western Australian Bar Association), mediator and academic. He assists parties regarding resources issues in both litigious and non-litigious matters.

John has considerable experience in contract drafting and disputes, mining applications, compensation obligations & structures, and occupational health & safety. John’s work has also covered mining regulation in advising regulators, mining companies, landowners, communities and non-government organisations. John has assisted various government agencies (in Australia and internationally) on mining law reform. He is an adjunct academic with the Universities of Dundee (Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy) and Western Australia, Murdoch and Curtin. He researches and teaches in mining regulation and also on human rights and resources.

John is an accredited mediator (National Mediator Accreditation System), has an MBA (Mineral Resource Management, University of Dundee) and law degree (University of Western Australia). He previously worked with the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Land Council (Pilbara & Perth, Australia), Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (Dundee, Scotland), Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (Sydney, Australia) and Corrs Chambers Westgarth (Perth, Australia). John also has a part-time role as an Independent Examiner with the Australian National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct (Commonwealth Treasury).

Date and Time

Thursday, 09 May 2024
8.30am – 2.00pm (UTC+08:00)

Venue

Holiday Inn
778-788 Hay St
Perth WA 6000

Cost

Members $250
Non Members $350
3.5
PD HOURS
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