Conference Programme
Trying to Get it Right: The General and the Specific – Lord Neuberger
Lord Neuberger, former Master of the Rolls and President of the UK Supreme Court, opens the conference with a keynote that explores how we navigate complexity in the pursuit of resolution. Drawing on deep legal and public experience, his address will offer a wide-ranging and thought-provoking start to the event.
12 November, 1 – 1.45pm • Keynote
CMC Update and what this means for you!
– Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho, Victoria Harris, John Anderson
Join us for a brief yet informative session where CMC leadership will share updates on the organisation’s recent progress, current priorities, and upcoming initiatives. This session aims to keep everyone informed as we move forward together. Come and hear how your comments in the member survey helped to shape CMC’s new three-year strategic plan and receive updates on programmes, partnerships and strategic direction. The team will highlight key achievements, current challenges and upcoming opportunities as well as sharing information about wider engagement to promote mediation.
12 November, 1.45 – 2.15pm
Justice, Dialogue, and Creativity: Lessons from London and Bosnia – Bill Marsh
Bill will speak about lessons learned from mediating with large groups of people pursuing “justice” in emotive situations. He will offer insights from mediating the claims and consequences of the Grenfell Tower fire, and from mediating city-wide environmental issues in Bosnia. Respecting mediation confidentiality in both situations (of course), he will focus on lessons for mediators.
12 November, 2.15 – 3pm
AI in Commercial Mediation: Ethics, Impact & Opportunity – Panel Discussion with David Blayney KC, Eve-Christie Vermynck, and Helen Dodds, moderated by Stuart Chapman.
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion exploring the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and commercial mediation. How is AI already influencing the way parties prepare for mediation? What role might it play during the process itself? What are the implications for confidentiality, ethics, and the role of mediators? Our expert panel will examine the practical and ethical challenges posed by AI, as well as the opportunities it presents for practitioners. Whether you’re just beginning to explore AI or already integrating it into your practice, this session will offer valuable insights to help you navigate this fast-changing landscape.
12 November, 3.15 – 4pm
Launching a Digital Map to Support Access to Community Mediation and to Create a Bedrock for our Communities – Alice Matthews, Victoria Harris
Access to mediation services is key to supporting individuals in conflict, fostering community cohesion and to benefiting the public sector services that support us all. In 2025 the CMC Community Mediation Working Group have worked to create a digital map of community mediation services enabling individuals to locate services and the public sector to commission them. Come and hear about our insights from the project, how the map will embed a new culture of conflict resolution, making mediation the foundation of how we resolve disputes.
12 November, 3.15 – 4pm
Reflections on the Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Impact of the Pandemic and the Emerging Impact on Students with Special Educational Needs – Nicola Cleaver
Nicola Cleaver will lead a discussion on the impact of the Pandemic for students with special educational needs and look at how the increase in statutory appeals is being responded to by the new Government. What lessons do we need to learn from the recent past and how might all those affected to include students, schools, parents and other stakeholders be better supported in the future? Attend to hear from Nicola Cleaver and take part in the discussion.
12 November, 3.15 – 4pm
ADR Academic Research Showcase – Professor Jane Bryan, Zora Kizilyurek
Learn about the latest developments in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) through this dynamic research showcase with Dr Bill Holohan SC, Dr Fatma Arslan, Dr Georgina Tsagas, Raheena Lalani Dahya, and Dr Victoria Banke Olagbegi-Oloba. This session will highlight recent studies and findings that will help to shape the future of mediation and conflict resolution. Attendees will also have the opportunity to find out how they can collaborate with the research community through the newly launched ADR Researchers Network.This is an excellent opportunity to engage with new ideas and connect with those driving thought leadership in the ADR space.
12 November, 3.15 – 4pm
Why Managing Conflict Between Families and Health Professionals Really Matters: Reflections from The Medical Mediation Foundation – Sarah Barclay
Conflict in healthcare can have damaging consequences for everyone involved as well as increasing the potential for clinical error. In this session, Sarah Barclay, the founder of The Medical Mediation Foundation discusses her experience of embedding conflict management and mediation skills into clinical teams and mediating communication breakdown between parents and health professionals in clinical territory where there are no easy answers.
12 November, 4 – 4.30pm
A New Era for Mediation: Realising the Vision of The Edinburgh Declaration – Andrea O’Neill, Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho, Graham Boyack
Join this thought-provoking panel discussion featuring senior mediation leaders as they unpack the significance, aspirations, and real-world implications of The Edinburgh Declaration. This landmark statement sets out shared principles and commitments to advance mediation globally and panellists will reflect on the journey leading to the Declaration, its intended influence on policy and practice, and the evolving role of leadership in championing its values. Attendees will gain insight into how the Declaration will shape the future of mediation at both national and international levels and what it means for practitioners, policymakers, and institutions.
12 November, 4.30 – 5pm
After Churchill: Legal Shifts and Strategic Implications for Mediation – Amrik Kandola
The landmark Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil decision by the Court of Appeal has reshaped the legal landscape for mediation and ADR in civil disputes. This session will provide a clear and practical overview of key legal updates that have taken place since that milestone case. This session is ideal for mediators, lawyers, and dispute resolution professionals navigating this evolving terrain.
13 November, 1 – 1.45pm
The Rise of the Consumer Employee – What this Means for Managing Workplace Conflict – David Liddle
Today’s workforce increasingly approach the employment relationship with a consumer mindset—seeking flexibility, personalised experiences, and alignment with personal values. This shift challenges traditional models of management and conflict resolution, often leading to friction around expectations, authority, and communication styles. This session explores how this evolving cultural landscape impacts workplace conflict and mediation. Participants will gain insights into adapting conflict management strategies to address the needs of a more autonomous and value-driven workforce. How can we reframe disputes in ways that resonate with modern employee expectations?
13 November, 1.45 – 2.30pm
Cutting Workplace Conflict: Finding a Fix – Panel with Kevin Rowan, Marie Coombes, Rachel Suff, and Richard Saundry
Join CMC’s Chair of the Workplace & Employment group, Dionne Dury, for an insightful panel discussion, exploring the cost of conflict (financial and human) and what needs to happen to engender a culture shift in UK businesses to move away from adversarial processes to alternative ways of resolving workplace disputes and what organisational and legislative changes are needed to drive that change. Dionne will be joined by an expert speaker panel including Kevin Rowan, Director of Dispute Resolution at Acas, Rachel Suff, Policy and Research professional and lead on CIPD’s public policy work on employment relations, Professor Richard Saundry, University of Westminster, involved in leading research in this sphere and Marie Coombes, Winner Diversity and Inclusion, 2024 National Mediation Awards and specialist conflict resolution expert.
13 November, 2.45 – 3.30pm
Peer Mediation: Launch of National Evaluation Report – Ben Harper, Victoria Harris
During the Academic Year 2024-2025, members of the CMC Peer Mediation Working Group tracked the outcome of peer mediation in schools, charting the experience of pupils, year groups and overall school impact. At this Conference session we will be launching the report. Come and hear the findings of this first ever national evaluation project and add your voice to a discussion about the importance of embedding a better understanding of conflict management and resolution within education.
13 November, 2.45 – 3.30pm
Engaging Mediation Advocates – Strategies for Collaboration – Emma McAndry, Andrew Goodman
Join Andrew Goodman and Emma McAndry for a discussion about how mediators can work effectively with lawyers who have not received training in mediation advocacy. The session will look at how compulsory mediation might impact the attitude and ambition of party representatives. Our speakers will also examine the key attributes of a good mediation advocate, how to foster co-operation and recognise its limits as well as tips to mitigate the effect when paths diverge.
13 November, 2.45 – 3.30pm
Shaping the Future of Mediation: Developing Mediators for Impact – Adam Gersch, Jonathan Lloyd-Jones & Roger Levitt
Mediation is no longer emerging but is establishing itself as a trusted and vital stand-alone profession. The question now is: how do we ensure mediators are not just qualified, but continually equipped to meet the complex challenges of today’s workplaces, communities, and families? Other professions such as psychology, law, and healthcare embed supervision, mentoring, and reflective practice as standard for skill development and ethical excellence. Should mediation take the same step? In this interactive session, Adam Gersch, Roger Levitt and Jonathan Lloyd-Jones explore the future of mediator development. We will consider whether structured supervision, executive coaching, and peer mentoring should become the new professional baseline and how this shift could raise the quality, credibility, and impact of mediation across the UK and beyond. Join us for a forward‑looking conversation about how new opportunities for professional development can help mediators grow, reflect, and thrive, ensuring our profession continues to set the bar for quality, integrity, and impact.
13 November, 2.45 – 3.30pm
Inside the HMCTS Small Claims Mediation Service: Impact and Future Direction – Presentation by HMCTS
Join representatives from HMCTS’s Small Claims Mediation Service for an insightful presentation on how the scheme is currently operating across England and Wales. This session will provide an overview of recent developments within the service and explore trends in settlement rates and user engagement. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the role mediation is playing in the small claims process and how HMCTS is shaping its future delivery.
13 November, 3.30 – 4pm
Global Trends in Mediation – Insights and Innovation from Around the World – Panel with Marion Shaer, Liliana Amione, and James MacPherson, chaired by Andy Rogers
This session explores recent international developments in mediation, sharing innovation and insights from around the world. Chaired by Andy Rogers this session will hear from experts from diverse jurisdictions who will share insights on emerging trends, digital tools, and the growing role of mediation in resolving complex disputes. Attendees will gain a global perspective on how mediation is being shaped by policy shifts, cultural influences, and innovation in both public and private sectors.
13 November, 4 – 4.45pm
Adam Gersch
Adam graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a law degree and was called to the Bar in 1993. With 30 years of experience as a barrister and 26 years as a mediator, he now serves as CEO of Global Mediation which he founded in 1999. In 2001, he played a pivotal role in pioneering SEND Mediation. Under his leadership and strategic direction, Global Mediation, and its subsidiary Global Training, have become the largest provider of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) mediation in the UK. As a CEDR accredited mediator, Adam has lectured and published extensively on conflict mediation. Adam hosts the Mediation Matters podcast and serves as a CMC board member.
Alice Matthews
Alice has been CEO of Mediation Plus since 2018, leading its growth through the merger of three organisations. The charity delivers a wide range of mediation services, including community, intergenerational, family, and bespoke mediation, alongside accredited training across East and West Sussex, supported by a strong team of staff and volunteer mediators. A trained mediator and experienced trainer, Alice is passionate about increasing awareness of mediation and ensuring it is accessible to all, working with statutory partners, housing providers and third sector. She regularly works in partnership with other conflict resolution charities and is the current Chair of the CMC Community Mediation Working Group.
Amrik Kandola
Amrik Kandola is a CEDR Chambers/Panel Mediator and full-time Commercial Mediator. Formerly a partner at Eversheds LLP (now Eversheds Sutherland) specialising in dispute resolution in construction, engineering, manufacturing, energy and complex/high value infrastructure projects. Amrik became a full time commercial mediator in 2018. He mediates across the full range of commercial and civil disputes. In December 2022, Amrik was named Civil/Commercial Mediator of the Year 2023 at the UK National Mediation Awards ceremony held at the House of Commons. In January 2024 Amrik was appointed the ADR Member to the Civil Justice Council (CJC).
Andrea O’Neill
Andrea was appointed President of The Mediators Institute of Ireland (MII) in November 2024. She has been on the MII Council since 2021. During her tenure, Andrea spearheaded the MII’s collaboration with the Irish Red Cross. She has also contributed to the development of the ‘Mediation Council’ under the Mediation Act 2017. In 2024, Andrea received the Global Mediation Synergy Award. As a seasoned mediator with both MII and IMI, Andrea holds a master’s degree in Mediation & Conflict Intervention. She has specialised training in mediating separating couples, cross-border child abduction cases (MiKK), and is a trained Child Inclusive Mediator. Andrea is an accredited CINERGY® Conflict Management Coach and holds a Diploma in Industrial Relations.
Andrew Goodman
Andrew Goodman LLB MBA PhD FCIArb FInstCPD FRSA (Barrister, 1978; Master of the Bench, Inner Temple) has been an accredited CEDR mediator since 1993, working across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Recognised in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame and by Chambers Directory, he is a Director of the College of Mediators, a Fellow of the CMC, and a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators. Andrew is also the author of over 50 books on mediation, advocacy and dispute management.
Andy Rogers
Andy Rogers is a Trustee and Board Director of the CMC and part of the Executive Team at CEDR, working with clients and members, monitoring standards and liaising with industry, government and the media on behalf of the organisation. He is also a practicing mediator, with clients ranging from private individuals through to multinational organisations. Andy has consulted on numerous ADR projects in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Prior to joining CEDR, he was a Senior Communications Account Director in two public relations consultancies.
Ben Harper
Ben Harper is the Peer Mediation National Co-ordinator for Quakers in Britain. Ben has worked in and around education for over 25 years and in various roles including primary teacher, youth worker and in leadership roles within alternative and therapeutic provision. Ben is based in Manchester but works all of the UK supporting people to deliver high quality Peer Mediation training to children and young people. Ben is also the current chair of the CMC Peer Mediation Working Group.
Bill Holohan
Dr Bill Holohan SC, Solicitor, Mediator and Senior Counsel, is Senior Partner of Holohan Lane LLP in Cork and Dublin. In 2020 he was awarded a Patent of Precedence by the Irish Government, becoming one of the first solicitors in Ireland to be appointed Senior Counsel. Earlier, in 2000, he was appointed by the Chief Justice as a Notary Public for both Cork and Dublin, the first lawyer in Irish legal history to hold that distinction in two districts. He is also an Irish and EU Trade Mark Practitioner and Intellectual Property Attorney.
Bill Marsh
Full-time in mediation since 1991, Bill has mediated commercial, environmental, religious, ethnic, and human rights disputes with parties from all around the world for over 30 years. He has also served as adviser on mediation/conflict resolution to many governments including Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Saudi Arabia, and bodies such as the European Union Commission, the United Nations and the World Bank. He trains and mentors mediators from around the world, has served a Special Adviser on Reconciliation to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and in 2016 received the Archbishop’s inaugural award for outstanding services to reconciliation. Bill is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, and was formerly a lawyer in private practice.
David Blayney
David Blayney KC practises at Serle Court, specialising in commercial and chancery disputes. He is also the founder of Associo, a legal technology company pioneering the use of AI and structured reasoning to enhance how legal teams analyse evidence and develop their cases.
David Liddle
David Liddle is the CEO of the TCM Group and president of the People and Culture Association. David is a recognised leader in the areas of conflict resolution, cultural change, and transformational leadership. For over twenty years, David Liddle and his team have been delivering award winning conflict resolution, leadership development, and cultural change programmes for organisations across the globe. Based in London, UK, in July 2025 he achieved #1 HR Most Influential Thinker by HR Magazine and Consultant of the Year at the Consultancy Awards. David has also been featured on the Thinkers50 Radar since 2022.
Dionne Dury
Dionne is an accredited workplace mediator with a background in employment law. She has over 20 years’ experience working as an employment lawyer advising on a wide range of workplace disputes. In 2016 she became Director of Resolution at Work. She is now Module Leader for Employment Law at the University of East Anglia and the Law School’s Director of Equality Diversity and Inclusion, carrying out mediations as part of the UEA’s Law Clinic. Dionne is Chair of the CMC’s Workplace Mediation Working Group. Dionne has been instrumental in setting up a roundtable of key stakeholders, including Acas, academics, DBT, CIPD, FSB, union bodies, Chambers of Commerce and the judiciary, to consider the future landscape of conflict resolution in UK workplaces.
Emma McAndry
Emma is an award-winning mediator and a Fellow of the CMC. She has conducted over 100 mediations, both online and in person, with a heavy emphasis on disputes within Universities and Councils. Her work has included high profile reported matters, such as Dr Oetker’s production site expansion effect on their residential neighbours, and bringing to an end a 3 month protest by Protect Warwick Women for safety on campus at the University of Warwick. Other clients include household names. Emma has been awarded Mediation Trainer of the Year and shortlisted as Workplace Mediator of the Year at the National Mediation Awards 2022, presented at the House of Commons. Emma has been asked to share her knowledge on BBC Radio and at numerous conferences and has authored several published articles.
Eve-Christie Vermynck
Eve-Christie is a Tech Transactions; Data, Privacy and Security partner in the firm’s London office. She focuses her practice on technology, AI, intellectual property, data protection and cybersecurity matters in Europe and abroad. Eve-Christie assists clients on the implementation of tech projects, privacy, cybersecurity and AI governance and compliance programs across a wide range of industries, including in fintech, biotech and renewable energy. Qualified in multiple jurisdictions (England & Wales, Paris and New York), she has extensive experience advising clients on the implementation of international projects using a pragmatic and risk-based approach. She is a member of The City of London Law Society’s Data Law and AI committees.
Fatma Arslan
Dr Fatma Arslan completed her PhD at the University of Leicester and is currently a Teaching Fellow at Warwick Law School. Her research interests predominantly centre around comparative civil procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Georgina Tsagas
Dr Georgina Tsagas is a practising Solicitor in England and Wales and an accredited mediator with the CMC, the Barrister Group and the Hellenic Ministry of Justice. An award-winning mediator and internationally recognised company law and sustainability expert, her publications rank in the top 2% worldwide on the Social Sciences Research Network. After academic posts at leading UK Russell Group law schools, she founded GT Mediation | Dispute Resolution, providing mediation services and training internationally. In 2024 she was invited by the Ministry of Law Singapore to moderate a panel on Net-Zero Disputes at the UNCITRAL Conference during Singapore Convention Week.
Graham Boyack
Graham has been Director of the Scottish Mediation since August 2012. During that period, he has contributed to policy as a member of the Scottish Government Administrative Justice review, the Digital justice Working Group and more recently on a working group on Marches and Parades in Scotland. He is a mediator with the Edinburgh Sheriff Court Mediation Service. Graham has worked extensively in the third and public sector and brings senior leadership experience, having worked in Student Unions, The Festival City Theatres Trust and the Scottish Ambulance Service. He has strong skills in partnership working, governance, policy development, has an MBA and is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
Helen Dodds
Helen is an international lawyer, consultant and board member. Formerly Global Head of Legal, Dispute Resolution at Standard Chartered Bank, she now has a portfolio career including service on the board of the London Court of International Arbitration, co-steering a UK Ministry of Justice initiative on online dispute resolution for small businesses, and consulting on a BIICL project to design an online small claims court system in Ukraine. She is an advisory board member and consultant to SettleIndex, and an advisory board member of pinqDR. Helen also sits on the boards of the Gambling Commission, the St John’s Eye Hospital Group and LegalUK, and is an Honorary Senior Fellow of BIICL.
James MacPherson
A leading International ADR Specialist with thirty years’ experience within public and private sectors as Mediator, Facilitator, Arbitrator, ADR Trainer, Advisor & Systems Designer. Affiliated with and active on domestic and international rosters of ADR providers around the world and serves on the inaugural Executive Committee (Arbitration Court) of the Oman ADR Centre (OAC). Specialising in conflict management and resolution for corporate and governmental organisations, including designing and directing international, multilingual arbitration and mediation programs, he advises businesses and government agencies in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America on ADR systems, training programs & legislative policy.
Jane Bryan
Jane is a Professor at Warwick Law School, a National Teaching Fellow and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Jane is a nationally and internationally accredited civil/commercial and workplace mediator and established (and led until 2024) Warwick University’s peer mediation service. Jane was appointed the Chair of the Academic Forum of the Civil Mediation Council in 2023. Jane has been awarded two prestigious National Mediation Awards at the House of Commons for her work embedding mediation in Higher Education. Jane’s module leadership and teaching has included Land Law, Medicine and the Law, and Trusts Law. Jane was the Academic Lead for the University of Warwick Community Values Education Programme (2019-2023). Jane won a Warwick Award for Teaching Excellence (WATE) in 2022 and was a finalist in the OUP Law Teacher of the Year Award 2019. Jane is a Foundation Fellow of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy and a Senior Fellow of the Warwick Institute of Engagement.
Jonathan Lloyd-Jones
Jonathan qualified as a commercial mediator in 1991 in England. Until May 2012 he combined his mediation practice with that of a commercial litigator in his law firm, of which he was Chair for 11 years. Since May 2012 he has practiced exclusively with Independent Mediators Ltd as a commercial mediator. He is President of the International Academy of Mediators. He served for 6 years on the ADR Committee of the Law Society of England and Wales. He has acted as judge and mediator in competitions in the UK, Brazil, Sri Lanka, India, Paris and Vienna and has given talks and training in the USA, India, South Africa, Holland, Brazil and Estonia, as well as in the UK. His practice covers a broad range of commercial disputes but in particular insurance and negligence claims against professionals. He is often involved in insolvency disputes, breaches of restrictive covenants by departing employees and construction and property matters. He has also mediated many family disputes concerning legacies, farms and family companies. Jonathan lives in Oxford, England. He has 3 sons and 6 grandchildren.
Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho
Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho is a CEDR-accredited mediator and barrister and Chair of the CMC. Kelly was counsel, led by Edwin Glasgow KC, to the CMC, CEDR and Ciarb in the recent landmark case Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil. Prior to her tenancy at 39 Essex Chambers, Kelly was a solicitor in a US headquartered law firm in London where she was involved in litigation at every level. She was a blue-book stagiare at the European Commission, a judicial assistant to the Court of Appeal, and taught on the LLM course at King’s College London and the LLB at Birkbeck, together for over 10 years. She is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
Kevin Rowan
Kevin Rowan joined Acas as Director of Dispute Resolution in March 2025. Prior to this, he was Head of Organisation and Services at the Trade Union Congress, responsible for trade union renewal, public services and transport policy, regional policy, workplace learning and the TUC’s extensive programme of workplace representative training. Kevin has had many non-executive director roles over his career, including being a member of Acas Council, representing the interests of workers, collaborating with other board members to tackle issues such as HSE effectiveness, inclusion, L&D and equality and diversity.
Liana Amione
Liliana leads the strategic oversight of program quality and development of IMI implementing organisations and manages training and assessment program applications through program appraisals, re-appraisals, and network development activities. She is a Mediator and Lawyer from Argentina, whose expertise background is primarily focus on Governance, Human Rights and Mediation. She brings an extensive experience in public legal consulting, research, analysis, and public policy making. She worked in courts and at as the Head of Legal Division in her city’s Municipality. Her areas of expertise are Public Policies with Gender Perspective and Administrative Law. She is an accredited Mediator acting as part of the roster of mandatory pre-trial mediators of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. She believes in the importance of dialogue, tolerance, and mutual understanding to thrive in a peaceful coexistence.
Lord Neuberger
Lord Neuberger graduated from Oxford and was called to the English Bar in 1974. He specialised in property law, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1987 and became a Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn in 1993. From 1996 to 2004, he served as a Judge of the Chancery Division of the High Court. He was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2004 and a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in 2007. He became Master of the Rolls in 2009, and in 2012 he was appointed President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. He retired from that post in September 2017. He has since been practising as an arbitrator, mediator and legal expert from One Essex Court. He became a Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal in 2009 and a Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court in 2018, and continues to sit in both courts.
Marie Coombes
With 25 years of HR expertise at Royal Mail and as a freelance consultant, Marie Coombes specialises in conflict transformation and psychological safety. She has successfully led over 300 workplace mediations and is deeply passionate about mental health. Marie applies her trauma-informed training to empower individuals and foster resilience within the workplace. Her achievements include multiple Mediation Team of the Year awards at Royal Mail and the prestigious 2020 Civil Mediation Council Workplace Mediator of the Year Award, earned during her first year as CEO of We Restore Calm.
Marion Shaer
Marion Shaer is Chairperson and Director of Conflict Dynamics and a Trustee of the Conflict Dynamics Empowerment Trust. Her career spans dispute resolution, training, and organisational development across corporate, political, and not-for-profit sectors. In the 1980s, she worked with IDASA facilitating processes leading to democratic change and contributed to Local and Regional Peace initiatives during CODESA. She holds an MA in Dispute Resolution from Notre Dame University and applied her expertise in the labour arena as a mediator and Education Director at IMSSA. Marion later served as a commissioner at the CCMA, overseeing the training of its first commissioners. As a consultant and project manager at Connemara Consulting, she designed interventions aligning people and processes with business strategies.
Nicola Cleaver
Nicola is a former criminal lawyer with a PhD in Social Sciences who now specialises in SEND mediation and disagreement resolution. She has extensive experience managing complex tribunal appeals and delivers CMC-accredited SEND training courses across the UK. As both a SEND professional and parent, she brings unique insight into the challenges families face when navigating statutory processes. Nicola has also trained with the National Autistic Society and NHS on autism, ADHD and communication disorders, and is a UK Registered Expert Witness in SEND as well as a member of the Civil Mediation Council, College of Mediators, CiLEX, Restorative Justice Council and Neurodiversity in Law.
Rachel Suff
Rachel is a policy and research professional with over 25 years’ experience in the employment and HR arena and leads the CIPD’s public policy work on employment relations. She coordinates a range of research studies on the topic, serves on external advisory groups, is the author of a range of reports, has responded to numerous Government consultations and has given evidence at a number of parliamentary groups and committees. Rachel is a qualified HR practitioner and researcher. Before joining the CIPD in 2014, Rachel worked as a senior policy adviser at Acas.
Raheena Lalani Dahya
Raheena is a family law and community mediator in Toronto, and Professor of Alternative Dispute Resolution at Humber College. A lawyer in Ontario and unregistered Barrister in England and Wales, she is accredited by multiple international institutions. She is serving her fifth term as Executive Board Director of the Ontario Bar Association’s ADR Section and her first term as a global mediation trainer for the Aga Khan International Conciliation and Arbitration Board. Raheena previously served four terms on the Board of the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario, where she founded the Family Violence Section and chaired the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Richard Saundry
Professor Richard Saundry is the UKs leading academic authority on the management of discipline, grievance and workplace conflict. He was a national officer at the National Union of Mineworkers 1988-1994. After moving into academia he held posts at the Universities of Westminster, Leeds, Sheffield, Central Lancashire and Plymouth. He is an author of ‘Managing Employment Relation’ and has been published in leading international academic journals. He spearheaded the development of online training interventions as part of the Skilled Managers programme, led by the University of Westminster and funded by the ESRC. Richard works closely with Acas to shape policy and evaluate practice.
Roger Levitt
Roger is ranked as a Leading Mediator by Legal 500 2020, having conducted over 130 commercial and property mediations, both online and face to face. He is a Fellow of the CMC, and a member of its Board and Registration & Standards Committee. He is on the CIArb Panel of Senior Commercial and Civil Mediators and is a member of The IMI RICS/PLA Panel of Boundary Dispute Mediators. Roger provides mentoring services to newly qualified mediators Property Solicitors. He qualified in 1984 and is a solicitor since 2018, non-Practising. He has extensive experience in all types of commercial and residential work.
Sarah Barclay
Sarah is an accredited mediator and the founder of The Medical Mediation Foundation. She was the co-director of the pioneering Evelina Resolution project. The project won Mediation Programme Initiative of the Year in the 2018 National Mediation Awards. Following a high profile conflict case at an NHS Children’s Hospital, MMF was invited to develop a practical framework to support managing conflict in clinical teams. In 2022, MMF was invited to create the first e-learning course in recognising and managing conflict for the NHS. Sarah has a Masters degree in Medical Law and Ethics from King’s College London and is a former award winning journalist, author and BBC social affairs presenter.
Stuart Chapman
Stuart is a full-time commercial mediator at Independent Mediators. He has conducted more than 750 mediations since he began mediating in 2008. Stuart’s background is in commercial dispute resolution and litigation. He qualified as a solicitor with Linklaters in 1991, where he worked until moving to Yorkshire in 1994. He was a partner and Head of Litigation in Leeds at Pinsent Masons from 1998 until 2008, when he left practice to become a full-time independent mediator. Stuart enjoys mediating across the UK and internationally and has a very broad experience of parties and dispute-types. He is ranked in the top tiers of the leading legal directories and a Fellow of the CMC.
Victoria Banke
Dr Victoria Banke Olagbegi-Oloba is a lawyer, scholar and ADR specialist, currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University. A 2022 Weinstein JAMS International Fellow and recipient of the Global Mediation Synergy Award, she has trained thousands of students, judges and community leaders in mediation and arbitration. She serves on the College of Neutrals (ICMC) and the Ondo State Multi-Door Courthouse Panel, and consults for state judiciaries on court-connected ADR programmes. Her mediation qualifications include training with Harvard Law School, Edwards Mediation Academy and the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (Nigeria).
Victoria Harris
Victoria Harris is the Chief Executive of the CMC and a Trustee of Mediation Hertfordshire, a community mediation organisation. She holds an LLM from King’s College London and previously worked as an employment law solicitor for 15 years before qualifying as a mediator. Victoria spent over a decade in the community mediation sector and has authored three reports on the benefits of mediation for individuals and public services. In recent years, she has supported the CMC’s Commercial and Workplace Working Groups and established new groups for the Peer and Community Mediation sector and the CMC Academic Forum. She also serves on the Mediation Standards Board, helping to shape professional standards.
Zora Kizilyurek
Zora is a PhD researcher at Lancaster University, focusing on compulsory mediation and its role within the civil justice system. Her research adopts the Dispute System Design Analytic Framework to evaluate compulsory mediation policy and establish a set of criteria to assess its long-term effectiveness. A qualified lawyer registered with the Istanbul Bar Association, she is also an accredited civil, commercial and workplace mediator. Zora has taught mediation and currently teaches Business Law modules at Lancaster University. She has presented at academic conferences and co-authored work on dispute resolution. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and co-leads the ADR Researchers Network, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among scholars in the field.
Your Conference Hosts Mia Forbes Pirie
Mia Forbes Pirie helps people to have the difficult conversations that divide us. A commercial and workplace mediator, she also volunteers as a community mediator. Since leaving her career as a City solicitor in 2007, Mia has mediated and facilitated for clients including the Church of England, the Government of Mongolia, G7 France, the European Commission, NGOs and large corporations. The subjects she has dealt with include space, chemicals, oil and gas, sustainability, refugees, gay marriage, religion, competition law and property law. She was UK Independent Mediator of the Year 2021 (Corporate International).
and Audrey Dorival
Audrey Dorival helps education, health and social care professionals develop listening relationships with families to resolve conflicts. She is a CEDR and SEND accredited mediator. Audrey trained as a solicitor with City firm Eversheds and worked as a commercial litigator for several years before embarking on a new career. For two decades, Audrey managed the award-winning KIDS SEND Mediation Service. In addition to her mediation expertise, Audrey is a public speaker and freelance facilitator working regularly with the National Children’s Bureau and the Medical Mediation Foundation. Audrey sits on Mediation Panels with KIDS SEND Mediation Service and the Medical Mediation Foundation. She is a member of the CMC and College of Mediators SEND Assessor’s Panel, monitoring and reviewing mediation standards nationally.
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Drinks & Networking for Conference Attendees!
All conference attendees are invited to attend a networking and drinks reception on the evening of 12 November. The event will start at 6.30pm after the conference day programme has ended.
This in-person event offers the opportunity to meet fellow attendees, engage with members of the CMC Board and executive team, and connect directly with some of the speakers. It’s a chance to continue the day’s discussions in a more relaxed setting—ideal for building relationships and expanding your professional network.
