2024 AMINZ Scholars Announced
We are pleased to introduce the two rising stars ready to take on Aotearoa’s dispute resolution sector.
Two up-and-coming leaders making their mark across Aotearoa’s dispute resolution sector have been named the 2024 recipients AMINZ Scholarships.
Zar Sinclair has received the 2024 AMINZ Determinative Scholarship, an award focused on arbitration, and Kim Robinson has been named the 2024 AMINZ Consensual Scholarship winner, focused on mediation.
Established in 2021 in line with the Institute’s commitment to growing diversity and leadership throughout the sector, the scholarships provide learning opportunities, mentorship and leadership development for two rising stars each year.
By tapping into the Institute’s network nation-wide, the scholars take part in observation days with senior dispute resolution practitioners, gain a senior AMINZ member as a mentor, and participate in the AMINZ annual Conference.
Not only do the scholars walk away from the year with new learnings and experiences within the world of dispute resolution, but so too does the Institute. The recipients will conclude their scholarship year with a report to AMINZ Council on their recommendations on how the Institute can further foster diversity amongst the sector.
Their voices will play an important role in ensuring the next generation of practitioners are heard, and that access to justice continues to grow across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Meet the scholars for 2024
Zar Sinclair
Determinative Scholar 2024
A senior solicitor in the general litigation team at Buddle Findlay, Zar is our Determinative Scholar for 2024.
Zar believes equity in justice demands a legal system that is accessible, culturally responsive and of a high professional standard. The dispute resolution pathways that AMINZ promote are central to ensuring Aotearoa New Zealand remains aspirational to achieving this goal.
“I am so excited to be the recipient of the AMINZ Determinative Scholarship for 2024. It is an incredible learning opportunity and I am looking forward to building new connections and contributing to the important mahi of AMINZ in promoting dispute resolution and advocating for an accessible and diverse legal system”.
Kim Robinson
Consensual Scholar 2024
Kim has been a farm business consultant in Northland for 33 years. The majority of her work is focused in the dairy sector, performing a range of roles including farm systems advice and research, business and succession planning, and contract negotiation.
Kim has a particular interest in facilitating sharemilking, contract milking and lease agreements including initial negotiations as well as ongoing relationship management.
Kim’s pathway to Associate membership with AMINZ was by completing the AMINZ Associate Programme.
“I have been wanting to get alongside some more experienced rural mediators for some time, but distance and cost have made it challenging. The AMINZ scholarship will help facilitate this process and I am looking forward to making some valuable contacts with which to enhance my skills.”
The AMINZ Diversity Committee selected Zar Sinclair and Kim Robinson as the recipients of this year’s scholarships from a pool of 19 outstanding applications. A big thank you to everyone who put their names forward. We are delighted to see the talent and passion for dispute resolution coming through.
AMINZ Executive Director, Monique Pearson, says, “I am thrilled to welcome Zar and Kim as our newest scholars for the year ahead. Their achievements and dedication have truly set them apart, and I am confident they will bring their unique perspectives to the sector. I am looking forward to working alongside them over the next year.”
Zar and Kim will hold their respective scholarships for the coming 12 months.
