Intercultural Competence in Mediation
Foundation Mediation Training | Module 9
TRAINERS
Marcus Lim
Conflict Management Specialist & Adjunct Professor, National University of Singapore
Susan Tay
Mediator & Co-Founder, PracticeForte Pte Ltd
Practice Area
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Training Level
Foundation
SILE Public CPD Points
TBC
Date
Wed, 5 August 2026
Time
9am to 12pm
Venue / Format
PracticeForte Resolution Space /
In-person
Registration Fee
SGD S$600
SGD S$510 early bird rate (register before 30 June 2026)
SGD S$480 for PracticeForte Affiliates only
Mediation does not happen in a cultural vacuum.
About This Workshop:
Every party brings to the table assumptions, values, and communication styles shaped by their cultural background. In a diverse, globally connected city like Singapore—and in the increasingly cross-border world of professional mediation—intercultural competence is not a nice-to-have. It is an essential professional capability.
This asynchronous online module equips participants to recognise, understand, and work productively with cultural difference in mediation contexts. Led by Marcus Lim, whose international training experience spans multiple jurisdictions and cultural contexts, this module blends theoretical frameworks with practical awareness-building exercises.
A country sharing component provides a rich experiential dimension to the module, drawing on the diverse professional and cultural backgrounds of programme participants to generate insight into how cultural context shapes conflict, communication, and the path to resolution.
What You’ll Learn:
- Understand Cultural Bias: Explore how unconscious bias and cultural assumptions shape conflict behaviour, communication styles, and dispute resolution preferences
- Develop Intercultural Awareness: Build genuine sensitivity to the cultural dimensions of mediation, including communication norms, face-saving behaviour, and varying attitudes to authority and process
- Navigate Cross-Cultural Mediation: Develop practical strategies for managing cultural dynamics without stereotyping or oversimplifying the parties’ experiences
- Engage in Country Sharing: Learn from the experiences and perspectives of participants from different cultural and professional backgrounds across the region and internationally
- Expand Your Global Mediator Profile: Position yourself for cross-border and international mediation work with a demonstrable competency in intercultural practice
Who Should Attend:
- Legal professionals, mediators, and dispute resolution practitioners working in cross-border or international contexts
- HR practitioners and corporate leaders managing multicultural teams or international disputes
- Anyone working in diverse professional environments who wishes to enhance their intercultural communication skills
- Aspiring or practising mediators
Meet Your Speakers:
Marcus Lim is a legal professional and conflict management specialist with over a decade of experience applying the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) and interest-based negotiation methods. A former CEO of the Singapore International Mediation Institute, Marcus brings both academic depth and real-world insight to the table. He regularly trains civil servants at the Civil Service College of Singapore and has delivered workshops for CMS Hong Kong and Assas International. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor with the National University of Singapore teaching Negotiation and Mediation.
Susan Tay is a veteran family lawyer, mediator, and mediation advocate with over three decades of legal experience. She is the co-founder of PracticeForte and the founder of OTP Law Corporation. Certified by both the International Mediation Institute and the Singapore International Mediation Institute, Susan has mediated and advocated in highly complex cross-border disputes. Her practice focuses on family and matrimonial law, parenting
coordination, and collaborative divorce processes. As a trainer, she combines practical case experience with compassionate teaching, guiding participants to understand mediation both as a professional practice and a mindset for peacebuilding.
Seats are limited!
In Singapore and across the region, the best mediators are those who can work across cultures with curiosity, sensitivity, and skill. Complete this module at your own pace and build the intercultural competence that sets global mediators apart.
