4Civility Institute Principals

​

Tony Belak, Gerry Rooney, Dr. Quantock and Dr. Curtin combined, have over 80 years of mediation experience as practicing mediators and as teaching and training professionals. They have educated and trained in excess of 5,000 mediators around the globe.  Tony Belak developed mediation training for the U.S Government and continues to provide mediation services to the U.S. Postal Services. Tony Belak and Dr. Curtin teach both graduate and undergraduate courses in mediation at the University of Louisville and in 2002 Mr. Belak and Dr. Curtin created the first blended, online and face-to-face mediation program for a major law firm that needed flexibility in its training.  The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) adopted the training they developed to train federal mediators.  FMCS reports directly to the U.S. President and works to resolve major labor disputes.  The Irish government approved the training in 2005 and training continues in Ireland under the direction of Gerry Rooney.  They have found the blended training to be effective in training busy professionals as well as those geographically isolated.  Students are using their mediation skills in numerous settings, including the judicial system, government, business, education, healthcare, schools, the military, and life.  Successful students receive a certificate from the 4Civility Institute and the training has met the accepted mediation standards in every jurisdiction that has reviewed them.

​

Dr. Curtin's research has been directed toward school and workplace bullying and restorative justice.  He is a frequent speaker and has been published on both topics.  All four principals write extensively on alternative dispute resolution, workplace bullying, building organizational trust leaders, and the importance of workplace ombuds.

​

Gerry Rooney is the former President of the Mediators’ Institute of Ireland (MII), has joined 4Civility Ireland as a Director.  Gerry brings extensive experience in workplace and commercial alternative dispute resolution services, learning and development, and Dignity at work interventions.  He is a learning and development professional and experienced HR and Industrial relations practitioner;  Equality Auditor; External Workplace Adjudicator with the Workplace Relations Commission;  and a MII certified Mediator. Gerry trains Mediators to certification level in Ireland, and presents on Mediation and Equality issues nationally and internationally,  including the presentations at the World Mediation Conference in Brazil, to EQUINET- the European Network of Equality Bodies representing some 33 member organizations from 28 EU countries, and to AMATI (Association of Mediator Assessors and Trainers) in London. In his role as President of the MII he was actively involved in progressing the Mediation Act 2017 in Ireland, in co-ordinating a national Code of Practice for Mediators in Ireland, and in setting national standards for the accreditation of MII mediators, a process that is internationally recognised. Gerry has designed and delivered mediation training for Community Mediation groups, HR practitioners, trade union officials, and lawyers in Ireland, the UK and the USA. Gerry has lectured to Masters students on Mediation and workplace dispute resolution with NUI Maynooth, was a former associate lecturer with the National College of Ireland, and has delivered leadership training to staff of the European Parliament in Brussels.

​

Dr. Quantock during his decades of working with Commission programmes and institutions he has dealt with the total range of organisations including the private, public and voluntary sectors, in many countries throughout the world. He has written many articles, and given numerous presentations around the world, and also written a book entitled “1992 and beyond” published by Wiley in the United States – designed to inform small firms about the European financial services industry. He was also joint editor with Bradford University (UK) for a series of eight publications detailing issues of various European Union policies e.g. Environment, Social and Regional Development.