Share our vision of connecting the wider community of dispute resolvers, restorative justice practitioners, lawyers and anyone interested in peacemaking. Join us for a monthly evening of sharing knowledge, stories, and ideas.
This month, join us for a fascinating evening with Jon Everest as he discusses The Power of Apology.
Why do some apologies repair relationships while others make things worse?
We've all experienced apologies that felt genuine and helped restore trust. We've also encountered apologies that felt hollow, defensive, or designed to make a difficult situation go away.
In this interactive session, Jon Everest will explore the essential elements that distinguish meaningful apologies from ineffective ones. Drawing on restorative principles of inclusive decision making, active accountability, repairing harm, rebuilding trust, and preventing reoccurrence, Jon will unpack the key components of an apology that promotes genuine accountability and creates the conditions for repair.
Participants will leave with a practical understanding of what makes an apology land well, what can undermine even the best intentions, and how to support others to acknowledge harm in ways that rebuild trust rather than deepen division.
Whether you're supporting people through workplace disputes, family conflict, community disagreements, complaints processes, or simply navigating the complexities of human relationships, you'll leave with a richer understanding of how apology can be used to repair harm, restore dignity, and strengthen relationships.
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation about apology, accountability, and what it takes to rebuild trust when relationships have been damaged.
Everyone is invited to join the evening, so feel free to bring a friend and take part in the discussions with a modest $20 cover charge.
About Our Speaker:
Jon Everest
Jon is an independent mediator with a particular focus on applying restorative principles within organisations to create a healthy, high-performing culture. He worked for many years for Victoria University, where he established the independent Employee Advisory and Resolution Service (EARS) and was latterly a Senior Consultant, Practice Development at the Diana Unwin Chair of Restorative Justice, supporting the application of restorative principles in many different contexts.
He is also a Fellow of the Resolution Institute, an advanced accredited mediator, family dispute resolution provider and restorative justice facilitator, with endorsements for working with family violence and sexual offending. He also supports Resolution Institute as a trainer and assessor.
Jon's first career was as a Police Inspector in the Royal Hong Kong Police before completing his Master's in the area of crime and violence, and further studies and training in dispute resolution.