Negotiating and mediating Problem-solving

Draw on a unique combination of mediation insight, international diplomatic experience and negotiating acumen. Reframe problems using professional mediation technique, then tackle them with skill and subtlety. Focus on practical, creative solutions. Look hard at the cost of losing – and the cost of winning

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Public speaking PresentingCoach Speechwriter

Giving speeches, writing speeches, delivering a PowerPoint talk, organising events, drafting press statements and preparing for job interviews. They are one basic life-skill: communicating in a way that is memorable and convincing. You do this with bold ideas presented in a strong structure. You sound BIG. Audiences want more

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Chess – Europe or Asia?

One of the existential themes in Russian thinking is that Russia is both European and Asian simultaneously. Given Russia’s vast geography, such thinking is not surprising or even wrong. It’s hard not to visit St Petersburg and be impressed by its European grandeur. I have not recently visited Khasan on […]

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Ukraine v Russia (Continued)

I haven’t been here for a while. Yet the world slouches on. The Ukraine war is set to regather intensity as the winter cold ends. Western weapons pour in. Russian conscripts line up to be blown to bits. Shares in Poland are rising as Germany’s reputation as Europe’s natural leader […]

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Ukraine v Russia: Negotiating with a Bully

China and India boldly … call for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine! Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Russia and Ukraine to “keep the crisis from spilling over” and from affecting developing countries. “China supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis. […]

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Ukraine v Russia: Going Nuclear?

Vladimir Putin’s disastrous, incompetent, stupid, not-good invasion of Ukraine is proving to be disastrous, incompetent, stupid, not-good and many more. So what to do? Make things worse! Here’s the Kremlin website version of his latest speech announcing mass mobilisations to build a larger army and making all sorts of threats […]

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Cheating at Chess

The normally placid backwaters of the chess world are foaming with controversy! Why is world champion Magnus Carlsen refusing to play young US chess player Hans Niemann, while dropping ill-disguised hints or insinuations that Nieman has been cheating? Boo! See eg here: England’s leading female player, Jovanka Houska, accused Carlsen […]

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