While studying Arts and Law at Sydney University, Bob Gaussen was elected President of the University of Sydney Union and undergraduate member of the University Senate. From 1977 to 1990 he was Federal Secretary of a professional association in the coal mining industry.
In 1988, Bob was appointed the NSW Bicentennial Scholar in management, industrial relations and mining and studied Labour Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution in the United States at Harvard University. A further two scholarships were awarded by the United States Information Agency allowing study of the US political process through observing the Presidential campaign of three candidates (Dole - Republican, Babbitt - Democrat, Jackson - Rainbow coalition) and also study of the US coal transport and distribution network.
In 1990, Bob was appointed by the then Premier to become a senior adviser on industrial relations with particular regard to implementing new industrial relations policies and advising on the people portfolios: education, prisons, police and health. Duties included representing the Crown and managing major government interventions in private sector disputes.
In April 1994, Bob Gaussen left the public sector to establish Mediate Today which has now become Australia's successful commercial provider of ADR services.
Mediation Experience
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Produce & Grocery Industry Ombudsman (2001 - 2006), appointed under contract to Federal Government to mediate disputes under the Produce & Grocery Industry Code of Conduct
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Mediated disputes in Compulsory Third Party insurance, worker's compensation, personal injury, local government, workplace relations, partnership, banking, defamation, franchise, computing and telecommunications. The value of these disputes is in excess of $5.4 billion
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Chair, Cross City Tunnel Community Liaison Committees (Kings Cross and Central)
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Chair, M5 East Freeway Air Quality and Community Liaison Group
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Facilitated disputes including telecommunications tower and cables, Strickland House Vaucluse, Canoon Road Recreation Centre Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, and Education policy development in both NSW and Queensland
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Accredited farm debt mediator, Farm Debt Mediation Act
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Specialist mediator for technology disputes
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Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors
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Director, 1997 - 1999 Australian Dispute Resolution Association
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Managing Director of Mediate Today with responsibility for the development of ADR business in Australia and internationally
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ADR Trainer, Mediate Today
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T.U.P. (Harvard University)
- Accredited Mediator – Australian Mediator Standards
- Conducted over 600 mediations.
Adjudication Experience
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1992 - 1994. Coordinated policy advice to NSW Premier and Minister for Industrial Relations scoping the possibility of security of payment legislation
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1999 - current. Managing Director, Adjudicate Today
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1999 - 2000. Advised building and construction industry on security of payment legislation
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2000 - current. Provides policy advice to governments of Queensland, NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania, South Australia, Malaysia and Singapore about security of payment legislation and developed Adjudicate Today as Australia's largest and most active ANA
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2000. Appointed adjudicator in NSW
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2002. Appointed adjudicator in Victoria
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2004. Registered as adjudicator in Queensland
- 2009. Appointed adjudicator in ACT and Tasmania.