About Us
The Neutral Corner borrows the terminology ‘neutral corner’ from the sport of boxing, where each of the two athletes are assigned a corner of the boxing ring. The remaining corners are called neutral corners, as they are not assigned to either athlete and are considered a safe space, or neutral territory.
The Neutral Corner offers the services of an independent, impartial, skilled communicator, and a trained dispute resolution specialist who can assist disputing parties in reaching their own mutually acceptable settlement of issues in dispute.
In his role as Director, Luke Ballard is dedicated to assisting individuals in conflict resolution, problem-solving, developing their own solutions and making informed choices that lead to positive outcomes.
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Luke is a trained CIRTEGY® Conflict Management Coach and is trainied in mediation and advanced conciliation, holding National Accreditation as a Mediator with the NMAS.
Having a deep understanding of and passion for helping others, Luke is engaging and easily connects with a wide variety of people. He specialises in creating partnerships with individuals on their journey towards resolution, personal improvement, and growth.
Before establishing The Neutral Corner, Luke had a unique and diverse professional history, having lived and worked in various communities in NSW, ACT, and the Northern Territory.
Luke holds a Bachelor of Education and has experience teaching and leading in a variety of
settings. He has worked in both the public and private sectors, as well as TAFE and University, most recently working as a Director of Educational Leadership with the NSW Department of Education.
Demonstrating a genuine interest in helping people succeed beyond formal education settings, Luke has successfully transitioned to work with various Government and non-Government agencies. His expertise spans child protection, child wellbeing, mentoring, coaching, facilitation, and leadership.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Education – University of New England, Armidale NSW 2002
CINERGY® Conflict Management Coaching – Resolution Institute, Chatswood NSW 2023
Advanced Conciliation Training – Resolution Institute, Chatswood NSW 2023
Australian National Mediation Accreditation Training – Resolution Institute, Chatswood NSW 2022
Casework Development Program – NSW Family and Community Services, Sydney NSW 2016
Workplace Mediation – Workplace Mediation Pathways, Summer Hill NSW 2015
Australian Mediation Accreditation, National Mediation Accreditation System Current
Teacher Accreditation, NSW Education Standards Authority Current