Ben Lee is a mediator, negotiator and strategist.
LEE.ADV is committed to peacebuilding and resolving conflicts in ways that ensure that people and communities are heard and empowered to advance their own solutions.
About Ben
Ben Lee has more than two decades of international negotiation, peacebuilding, human rights, conflict resolution and crisis leadership experience. His work has taken him to over 30 countries.
An international lawyer and accredited Mediator, Ben served with the United Nations in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, Myanmar and with the UN’s Syria Commission of Inquiry. He led investigations into alleged atrocities, monitored detainee treatment, engaged with armed actors and advised senior officials.
Ben was also a negotiator for Australia at UN forums in Geneva, leading on Syria, Sudan, climate change and other high profile resolutions. Before this, he was an advisor on Northern Ireland’s Bill of Rights process, and partnered with Pacific nations to set up independent national human rights institutions in the region.
Ben’s specialist mediation practice applies these experiences and trauma-informed principles to helping individuals, institutions, corporations, workplaces and for-purpose organisations to resolve conflicts in durable ways.
Ben calls Sydney home. He’s a volunteer surf lifesaver and serves on a number of advisory boards and committees including the United Nations Association of Australia (NSW) and the Sydney Peace Foundation.
MEDIATION
LEE.ADV mediation helps individuals, institutions, corporations, workplaces and for-purpose organisations to resolve conflicts and shape their own durable solutions.
Ben brings a rare combination of international negotiation, investigation and trauma-informed conflict resolution expertise to his practice. His mediations ensure that parties feel heard and empowered to reach their own resolutions.
Having led complex multilateral negotiations and worked extensively with survivors in conflict zones, Ben is adept at navigating challenging conversations. His experience working across countries, cultures and organisations also helps him to appreciate a range of perspectives.
Ben offers flexible mediation packages that are tailored to the needs of his clients and the characteristics of each dispute.
Ben is a professional member of the Resolution Institute and has completed mediation training with swisspeace in Switzerland. He is also a co-founder of Right Mediator.
Call Ben on +61 466 053 483 or email him to arrange a consultation.
NEGOTIATION
LEE.ADV negotiations help human rights defenders, pro-democracy movements and civil society organisations to increase their reach and impact.
Ben has been a negotiator at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva for Member States, national human rights institutions and ECOSOC-accredited NGOs since the Council’s creation. He was the first Australian delegate to serve on a country resolution core group and has been lead negotiator on dozens of resolutions.
Ben has also helped negotiate UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.
Ben uses his insider’s knowledge of UN negotiations to support his partners to:
identify priorities and opportunities
design creative engagement strategies
develop technical and textual proposals
connect with key delegations
mentor emerging negotiators.
He also provides in-person and remote assistance during Human Rights Council sessions to help his partners access and influence fast-moving negotiations.
STRATEGY
LEE.ADV strategic advisory leverages Ben’s extensive experience working with the UN, governments, advisory bodies, national human rights institutions and civil society.
Ben supports organisations to maximise their engagement opportunities with UN and other intergovernmental bodies, mechanisms and experts, and to strengthen their bilateral diplomacy. His strategic advisory practice:
connects partners to an expansive international network
provides high-level policy advice
develops detailed strategies on political and UN engagement, including with the Special Procedures, the human rights treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review mechanism
prepares submissions to UN forums and bodies
provides crisis communications support and crafts public statements, speeches, official correspondence and opinion pieces.
TRAINING
Ben offers tailored professional development programs to organisations and institutions and is passionate about preparing the next generation.
Ben has been a professional trainer for the UN, the Diplomacy Training Program, the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, the Asia Pacific Forum, the Australian Human Rights Commission and numerous universities.
Ben’s training courses are tailored in close consultation with partners to meet the specific needs, knowledge levels and strategic goals of participants.
Ben also publishes articles and blog posts that draw on his experiences and that aim to support the next generation of internationalists. This includes pieces on how to kick-start an international career, how to prepare for tough assignments and pathways to mediation.
ENGAGEMENT
Ben is a regular keynote speaker, media commentator, moderator and panellist.
Ben is a regular commentator and contributor to public forums. He has given live interviews to Al Jazeera, BBC World, Channel News Asia, Sky News and Koori Radio, has written for The Guardian, and has consulted on screenplays.
As a keynote speaker, moderator and panellist, Ben draws on his international experience and his continuing roles in peacebuilding processes.
Contact Ben with event, media interview and public speaking inquiries.
RESOURCES
Publications that make the UN and international careers more accessible.
One of Ben’s most popular publications is Peacocks & Procedure, the negotiator’s guide to surviving and thriving at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. It’s essential reading for newly posted diplomats.
Back by popular demand in an updated second edition, Peacocks & Procedure is co-authored with Bob Last OBE, the most experienced negotiator in Geneva.
Contact Ben
LEE.ADV welcomes new partnerships and opportunities to help resolve conflicts.
Contact Ben on +61 466 053 483 or complete the form below, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
