Meet the people of ADR Education

Barbara McNeil, Associate

Barbara has a thirty-year plus career as a mediator, facilitator, adjudicator, and trainer in dispute resolution for workplace, municipal, energy, stakeholder engagement, governance, and other issues. A certified ombudsman, trained in workplace assessment and investigation, she is a code of conduct investigator for several Alberta municipalities.

Barbara is an attentive listener and pragmatic problem solver. With past experience running a ranch, she has a strong connection with rural communities and brings a “let’s figure-it-out” approach to getting things done.

Barbara’s adjudication experience includes four years as a full-time hearing commissioner with the Alberta Energy Regulator, and five years as the volunteer chair of the Town of Banff Development Appeal Board. She served as a board member with the Natural Resources Conservation Board and the Alberta Municipal Government Board.

A Chartered Mediator and Qualified Arbitrator, Barbara is a roster mediator for Alberta Municipal Affairs, and in past years for the Energy Resources Conservation Board, and the Calgary Police Service. She has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, a Master’s degree in Public Administration, a Certificate in Administrative Justice, and a Certificate of Conflict Resolution from the Justice Institute of BC. She has taught conflict resolution at the University of Calgary and for other clients for many years.

Barbara is currently the president of Alberta’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute, a membership association promoting effective and efficient dispute resolution provincially and nationally.




The presenter showed skill in weaving between theory and practice... from theoretical examples to sensitive hot topics.

ADR's approach is exceptional. They are able to take a complex subject and distill it into digestible components

Teaching methods are fantastic!

The team was effective. Our case was set for a two week trial but was mediated in one day!

I've seen a lot of manuals for this kind of thing in my time, and this one is by far the best.

Very accomplished presenters excited about what they are teaching...easy to be with and very approachable.

Excellent facilitating. Keeping on track, taking control at the appropriate times.

For our staff to see how the skills can be used specifically in their work makes them take notice.

Your ability to customize the course so it was directly relevant to the work we do made it all the more useful.