On thought leadership, the Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy or SIDRA was established as a platform for thought leadership in dispute resolution theory, practice and policy, and this includes of course the area of mediation as well. SIDRA strengthens Singapore’s thought leadership in this area through its research projects, such as its Singapore Convention on Mediation research project, which produced the first commentary on the Convention, and the International Dispute Resolution Survey research project, which captured respondents’ considerations in the use of international commercial dispute resolution, including arbitration, mediation and litigation.
The Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy (SIDRA) is a platform for thought leadership in international dispute resolution theory, practice and policy. A research centre at the Singapore Management University School of Law, SIDRA leads the way through projects, publications and events that promote dynamic and inclusive conversations on how to constructively engage with and resolve differences and disputes at global, regional and national levels. In particular, SIDRA differentiates itself through its focus on applied research that has practical impact on industry. Specifically, SIDRA is mandated with three research programs:
- Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Empirical Research;
- International Mediation and the Singapore Convention on Mediation; and
- Next Generation Dispute Resolution.
A fuller description of each research program, including its research overview, research team, events and publications can be found in the sub-page for each program. Ably supported by, amongst others:
- SIDRA’s research teams
- Ms Yap Wai Lian (SIDRA’s Centre Manager); and
- Mr Alvin Goh (Senior Associate Director, SMU Provost Office)
SIDRA is helmed by a Steering Committee overseeing a Leadership Team.
STEERING COMMITTEE
Jessie Tan
Director, Legal Industry Division, Singapore Ministry of Law
Wang Heng
Professor of Law; Associate Dean (Faculty Matters & Research); Lee Kong Chian Fellow, SMU Yong Pung How School of Law.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Nadja Alexander
Director
Dr Nadja Alexander is Professor of Law and Director of the Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy at Singapore Management University. She holds honorary appointments in Australia and the United States.
Nadja has been engaged in diverse dispute resolution settings in more than 40 countries as trainer, policy-adviser, scholar and practitioner. A multi-award winning author and educator, she is consistently recognized as a global thought leader in the field of mediation (Who’s Who Legal).
Most recently, in 2023 she was conferred the inaugural award for Outstanding International ADR Educator by the Asia Pacific Centre for Arbitration and Mediation. Over the years, Nadja has trained thousands of mediators throughout Asia, the Pacific, Australia, North America, the Middle East and Europe.
She holds positions on the International Advisory Board of the UN Office of the Ombudsman and the APEC lead academic working group for Online Dispute Resolution. Her expertise has directly contributed to the design and drafting of dispute resolution legislation across civil and common law jurisdictions.
In terms of research, Nadja is the primary investigator of SIDRA’s International Dispute Resolution Empirical Research Programme and the Singapore Convention on Mediation Programme. In 2020 her peer reviewed article, ’10 Trends in International Mediation’ won an international award (Institution for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, New York). Her books include International and Comparative Mediation, The Singapore Convention on Mediation: A Commentary, and The EU Mediation Law Handbook.
Darius Chan
Deputy Director
Associate Professor of Law (Practice) Darius Chan is an international arbitrator, advocate and academic. He serves concurrently as the Deputy Director of the Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy, as well as the Director of the Singapore Management University Law Academy. His practice and teaching interests focus on international investment and commercial arbitration, private and public international law.
Darius is consistently recommended by legal directories, which includes being ranked by Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders as a “Most Highly Regarded Individual” in Asia-Pacific. Darius speaks and publishes widely, and his writings have been cited by the Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal. Darius is qualified in Singapore, New York and England & Wales (Inner Temple).
Angela Abala
Research & Development Lead
Angela Abala is the Research & Development Lead at SIDRA. She is qualified to practice law in the Philippines and the State of New York.
Before joining SIDRA, Angela worked as a Judicial Fellow for the Hon. Charles N. Brower, assisting him on investment arbitration cases, and interned for the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. Angela previously spent time working for the Philippine Office of the Solicitor General on domestic civil and criminal cases, as well as international arbitration cases. Angela also has extensive teaching experience, having taught courses on public international law and Philippine law.
She has a Master of Laws in International Legal Studies (with Distinction) and a Certificate in International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution from Georgetown University Law Center and a Juris Doctor degree from Ateneo de Manila University School of Law.
She is also an accredited Level 1 mediator with the Singapore International Mediation Institute.
