About Freda Rose Wigan

02/09/1973 – 22/11/2021

Freda was a leader in Collaborative Law and Practice in Australia. Freda undertook extensive training both in Australia and the USA in Collaborative Practice.

Freda was a former president of Queensland Association of Collaborative Practitioners, a founding member, and the former secretary of the national collaborative practice body, the Australian Association of Collaborative Professionals, and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

In addition to Freda’s work in the collaborative practice community, Freda was a Nationally Accredited Mediator, a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Family Law, and co-managed the large family and relationships law practice at HopgoodGanim Lawyers, where she commenced her career in January 1996.

Freda was consistently recognised by the Doyle’s Guide to the Legal Profession for her expertise in Family Law. Known for her passion for both Collaborative Law and Family Law, Freda devoted her life to her clients and her ongoing professional training and promoting the resolution of matters through all forms of dispute resolution – particularly Collaborative Practice.

Freda took great pride in her profession, her career, and her ability to collaborate with her peers. She was big hearted, warm, and generous of spirit. Freda was known for her ability to inspire those she mentored.

Freda’s devotion towards her passion was recognised not only by her peers, but also by her husband, John, who frequently acknowledged he came “third place” – firstly to Freda’s practise and secondly to their Havanese pet dog, Harvey.

About the Bursary

The Freda Rose Wigan Memorial Bursary is awarded by QACP in memory of Freda as an early member of QACP and a pioneer of Collaborative Practice in Queensland.

It is intended that the Bursary will be awarded on an biennial basis from 2024 with the first Bursary to be announced in early November 2024. The Bursary will provide a grant of up to $2,000 to an eligible candidate for the following:
1. to assist in the research of dispute resolution processes that:
(a) enable and empower parties settle disputes without resort to litigation; and
(b) enable and empower the advancement of the parties’ ability to reach a mutual outcome for the benefit of each other and their families; or
2. to meet the cost of eligible basic Collaborative Practice training by a provider approved by the QACP Board.

2024 Freda Rose Wigan Memorial Bursary

The Directors and Members of the Board of Queensland Association of Collaborative Practitioners Ltd were honoured to award the inaugural Freda Rose Wigan Memorial Bursary at the End of Year Soirée on 28 November 2024.

The recipient for this year is Ruth Chowdhury.  Ruth operates a mediation practice called Abridge Mediation and also works in the FRC system as an FDRP.  Ruth has been collaboratively trained and has also undertaken training as a Communications Coach in a Collaborative Practice setting.  Ruth has an interest in bringing the Collaborative Practice model to commercial disputes and to other areas including victim compensation matters.

Ruth’s submission From Conflict to Cooperation: The Rise of Collaborative Practice in Australian Dispute Resolution provides an overview of how Collaborative Practice has the power to reshape dispute resolution in Australia.  Ruth’s paper addresses the advantages and limitations of Collaborative Practice in Australia and how, in her view, Collaborative Practice has the potential to reshape the dispute resolution landscape in Australia.

Ruth intends to use the bursary to undertake further research into the ways Collaborative Law can be implemented as a dispute resolution tool in commercial matters and victim compensation matters and with a view to formulating a collaborative practice model for these areas of law.