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25 May 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION CELEBRATES 30 YEARS
This month the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) celebrates 30 years
since its founding in 1985. ACICA, Australia's leading and only international dispute resolution body, was
established in 1985 with representation on the board from the Institute of Arbitrators Australia (now
LEADR & IAMA), Law Council of Victoria, the Australian Bar Association and the Commonwealth
Attorney-General’s Department. ACICA is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion and
development of ADR in the Asia-Pacific and to advancing Australia’s profile as one of the region’s
premier seats for resolving cross-border disputes.
A succession of high profile Presidents and an active Board, made up of prominent international
arbitrators, academics and leading practitioners specialising in international dispute resolution, has seen
ACICA achieve much in its 30 years to promote the practice of international arbitration in Australia and
position the country as a viable seat for international commercial dispute resolution. ACICA’s first
President, Mr Ron Fitch, was the then President of the Institute of Arbitrators Australia. He was
followed by well-known arbitrator Mr AA (Toni) de Fina, who led ACICA for 18 years before passing the
baton to his Vice President and international arbitrator, Dr Michael Pryles in 2004. Under Dr Pryles’
leadership, ACICA released its first set of Arbitration Rules for administered arbitration in 2005 and
launched the Australian Maritime and Transport Arbitration Commission (AMTAC) in 2007. Professor
Doug Jones AO assumed the Presidency in 2008, spearheading ACICA’s legislative reform agenda to
assist the government with its reforms to the International Arbitration Act 1974 (Cth). His Presidency
also saw the opening of the Australian Disputes Centre in 2010, an update to the ACICA Arbitration Rules
in 2011 and the confirmation by the government of ACICA as the default appointing authority under the
amended International Arbitration Act 1974 (Cth) in the same year.
ACICA now looks towards 2018, when it will host the International Council for Commercial Arbitration
(ICCA) Congress in Sydney along with its New Zealand partner, the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute
of New Zealand Inc (AMINZ) who will host an add-on event in Queenstown following the conference.
At a cocktail event held to honour ACICA’s anniversary, guest speaker the Honourable Chief Justice
French of the High Court of Australia, congratulated ACICA on its achievements of the last 30 years,
noting that the organisation is in a position to look forward with a considerable degree of optimism to
enhancing Australia’s participation as an important international service provider.
Current ACICA President and Partner at King & Wood Mallesons, Alex Baykitch commented: This is an
exciting time for ACICA as we look back on what has been achieved and forward to new projects. As
demand for arbitration and dispute resolution services grows, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, there
is an increased need for quality dispute resolution services. ACICA and Australia is well positioned to
respond to these needs. I am very honoured to be leading the organisation at this time.
Media Enquiries
Deborah Tomkinson, Secretary General
t. +61 2 9223 1099
e. [email protected]