(SOUTHERN AFRICA) NPC
The Association of Arbitrators (Southern Africa) NPC ("the Association") was formed in 1979 to constitute an organisation to promote arbitration as a means of resolving disputes, to provide a body of competent and experienced arbitrators and Alternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR") specialists for appointment as required, to assist arbitrators and ADR specialists in the efficient discharge of their duties, and to make arbitration and ADR more effective.
The Secretariat implements policy decisions and sees to the daily running of the Association. It deals with all matters from administering the Association's Education Programme to handling appointment submissions, venue hire bookings, handling publication orders and answering questions.
The Board of Directors is elected by the Members. It administers the Association and decides matters of policy. Office bearers are the Honorary President, the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, and the Treasurer.
The Association maintains, outside its membership, a loosely organised network of contacts with experts in arbitration, ADR and related fields, both in South Africa and abroad. Judge Kate O'Reagan is the Honorary President.
The George Quail Library is housed at the offices of the Secretariat in Sandton and contains a variety of books and periodicals on arbitration and ADR, both national and international. All Association members are members of the George Quail Library. Members perform their own research.
The Association has entered into co-operation agreements with various institutes, not only in Africa, but all over the world. Among these are: The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and other important foreign ADR bodies.
The Association's flagship arbitration training is a crucial mechanism for reaching Fellow membership and thus becoming a qualified arbitrator. Upskilling of members is imperative and the Association strives to offer quality ADR-related training and workshops to both its members and the public.