
Dr Anne Purcell
PhD (UQ), M Ed (Harvard), B Ed St (Hons), Dip T, AACM (TD) FDRP, FRI Ad Med NMAS, TEP
Over the past 20+ years, Anne has guided more than a thousand families, individuals, and workplaces through tough, emotionally charged conflict — from separation and divorce to long-running high-conflict family situations. Her work is grounded in the psychology of how people communicate under stress, and she’s respected for bringing clarity, steadiness, and a practical path toward child-focussed, future-oriented outcomes.
Publications by Dr Anne Purcell
As an international speaker, author, and trainer, Anne contributes thought leadership across family law and dispute resolution. Her publications include work on collaborative practice, parenting coordination, and contemporary challenges such as neurodiversity and personality disorders in conflict. She has been consistently recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a leading mediator (2019–2022), and recommended/leading mediator from 2023 through 2026—reflecting her standing as a trusted, skilled, and compassionate professional in the field
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Purcell, A (2025), Neurodiversity, Personality Disorders & Difficult People – Alternative Approaches for the 21st Century Lawyers Toolkit, Proceedings from: Family Law Conference, CLE New Zealand Law Society
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Purcell, A. (2016), Making Lemonade When Life Serves Up Lemons: Could Parenting Co-Ordination Be An Ingredient? CrossRoads Magazine Issue 3 (2016)
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Beginning to Collaborate in the Interdisciplinary Model, Pollak, R., & Purcell. A., (2015), Collaborative Practice: International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, California, USA

Speaking Engagements
In addition to her practice, Dr Purcell is an accomplished international keynote speaker and trainer, regularly presenting on alternative dispute resolution strategies and processes, working with high-conflict or difficult personalities, child development and the integration of science and practice.
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Anne also offers full professional training in parenting coordination, collaborative practices and alternatives to litigation. She is available for conferences, professional training and corporate engagements.
Recent Engagements
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CLE Family Law Conference, New Zealand, October 2025
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National Mediation Conference, September 2025
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Uniting Care Queensland, June 2025
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Legal Aid Queensland, June 2025
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International Academy of Mediators, May 2025
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ANZIIF – Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance, May 2025
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REIQ, Property Managers Conference, 2024
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The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, Connect Conference, 2018
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Dispute Resolution and Mediation Conference, 2019
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The Advocacy and Support Centre Inc (TASC) “Lawyers with Soul” at The Toowoomba Family Law Collaborative Pilot Project, 2016
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Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia: Mediating from the Inside Out Seminar, 2010​
Academic & Professional Credentials
​Anne’s work is backed by exceptional academic and professional credentials, including a PhD in Developmental Psycholinguistics from The University of Queensland and a Master’s in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard. She is an Accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, holds Advanced Mediation Accreditation with the Resolution Institute, and is AMDRAS accredited. A Parenting Coordinator, trainer, and co-founder of Parenting Coordination Australia, Anne is also a Collaborative Professional and foundational member of the Collaborative movement in the Southern Hemisphere.
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PhD in Developmental Psycholinguistics (The University of Queensland)
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Master’s in Human Development & Psychology (Harvard)
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Accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP)
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Resolution Institute Advanced Mediation Accreditation
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AMDRAS Accredited Mediator
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Parenting Coordinator, Trainer and Co-Founder of Parenting Coordination Australia
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Collaborative Professional, Trainer and Foundational member on the Southern Hemisphere
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International Speaker, Author and Trainer





























