Lijlanie Viljoen

Lijlanie is a culturally attuned mediator who supports families through separation with clarity, structure, and respect. Holding degrees in Law, Commerce, and Theology, and drawing from her experience in multicultural South Africa, she skilfully bridges diverse cultural and religious perspectives in mediation. With deep insight into cultural differences and world religions, Lijlanie navigates cultural and interfaith dynamics with sensitivity and respect. This, together with 17 years life experience in New Zealand, enables her to ensure values and beliefs are honoured in every resolution.

Lijlanie’s mediation style is calm, structured, and non-adversarial, empowering each voice in the room. She stays open and curious, helping families move beyond old patterns to explore creative, flexible solutions that are both practical and dignified. With a developer mindset, she supports emotional readiness and co-creates outcomes that work for everyone, especially with children’s best interests in mind. Her legal background allows her to ask insightful, future-focused questions. Committed to diversity and inclusion, she creates a neutral space where each person’s cultural context, values, and communication style are respected and understood.

She founded SA Kiwi Chicks in 2013 as a heart-centered initiative to support South African women settling in New Zealand, creating a safe space for connection, belonging, and community. Her journey as a lymphoma conqueror deepened her empathy and strengthened her ability to inspire and empower others navigating illness, loss, and change. She openly shares her story to uplift those touched by cancer, using both her personal experience and her faith as guiding lights. The Puzzle, a moving account of her father’s cancer journey, explores the emotional and spiritual layers of illness and healing. Through her work, she continues to be a light for those on similar paths of resilience and renewal.