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The Architecture of Trust Building in Mediation a joint conference between FMC and AFMS
Join us in Calgary on Friday, November 28, 2025 (and online).
Early bird registration is open October 15 - November 5!
To register, please head to the FMC website here>>>>>🐦
>>> You don’t need to log in to the AFMS or FMC website. If you’re already a current member, simply select the **member rate** when you register!
>>> Not sure if your membership is active? Contact Sue at [email protected] to confirm.
Most mediators believe they understand trust, yet trust often unravels in the very moments it matters most. This keynote invites participants to look deeper, exploring how trust actually forms, breaks, and repairs in mediation. Dr. Michael Saini draws on lived experience and new research to reveal the hidden structure of trust and how mediators can intentionally design it into every interaction. You will leave seeing trust not as an instinct, but as a framework to be studied, practiced, and strengthened.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Michael Saini is a Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, where he holds the endowed Chair in Law and Social Work and is cross-appointed to the Faculty of Law. He also serves as the Co-Director of the combined J.D./M.S.W. program. With over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of family law and social work, Dr. Saini brings a deep understanding of how social work values align with mediation practices. His research and teaching focus on trauma-informed approaches, child-inclusive dispute resolution, and evidence-informed policy development. He has authored more than 200 publications on parenting evaluations, family violence, and dispute resolution processes and regularly presents to international audiences on the evolving role of social workers in legal contexts. Dr. Saini is a board member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), Family Mediation Canada (FMC), and the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC), and is committed to strengthening the profession’s role in peaceful, collaborative family law solutions.
