Chair and deputy chairs
The Chair and 2 Deputy Chairs are appointed by the Minister for Education and are experts in the field of conflict resolution.
Each brings specialist skills and expertise to their role, and their work is supported by a Registrar and Senior Administration Officer.
Frank Handy – Chair
Frank has extensive experience and qualifications in alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
He has over 30 years of experience in Australia, Canada, the UK, the US and other countries, resolving disputes, consulting for organisations and educating people about conflict management, with a wide variety of private and government organisations.
He originally practiced administrative law, working in conflict in the areas where citizens and government organisations intersect.
He has a Masters of Law in ADR and is accredited under the Australian National Mediation Accreditation Standards (NMAS).
He and his partners founded the first law firm in Canada dedicated to an ADR approach to disputes. He established with his partners that country’s largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services and related training and set up its international affiliates.
Jo-Anne Mazzeo – Deputy Chair
In 2017, Jo-Anne was appointed on a sessional basis as Deputy Chair of the IOSDR. She has drawn on her wealth of experience in disability sector to support schools and parents sets in place frameworks to support the successful education of students with disabilities.
Jo-Anne is an alternative dispute resolution lawyer with a particular interest in mental health and disability law, and diverse experience across similar review panels, boards and tribunals. She has significant experience working with children and vulnerable individuals and has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and other Qualifications in mediation, leadership, investigations and training and assessment.
She is currently a Director on the Board of Northern Health and is an Associate Professor at Monash University teaching in the School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine. Jo-Anne has extensive experience in managing conflict and is passionate about helping schools and families rebuild trust where it has been lost.
Tony Fell – Deputy Chair
Tony is a lawyer, mediator, restorative justice practitioner and workplace investigator with extensive practice in workplace conflict in a wide variety of industries as well as private and government organisations.
Amongst his diverse working portfolio, Tony has been appointed as a Restorative Justice facilitator by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) in the Northern Territory for First Nations people who are a part of the stolen generations, by the Commonwealth Ombudsman as a part of the Defence Abuse & Restorative Engagement program. Tony is also a part of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s Positive Workplaces Panel.
Tony loves helping people maximise their potential and has always had a passion for the education sector.
In 2023, Tony was appointed as a Deputy Chair of the IOSDR, where he has taken on a hands-on role in resolving complex and sensitive cases. His work has involved guiding families and schools through challenging situations, including student bullying, conflicts between families and school principals, and other disputes within the educational environment.
Tony focuses on restorative processes that prioritise the well-being of the student while fostering stronger relationships between all parties involved. His ability to navigate emotionally charged situations with empathy, fairness, and a solution-focused approach has been key to achieving positive outcomes. Tony’s work reflects a deep understanding of conflict resolution, communication, and the importance of student-centred support in educational settings.
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