Long Established: The Family Mediators Association – FMA – was established in 1988, now with a membership of around 500 family mediators.
Pioneering: FMA is a lead body and founding member of the Family Mediation Council (FMC), which co-ordinates regulation of and develops common standards for professional family mediators.
Training & Development: FMA is the longest-established provider of family mediation training in the independent sector in England and Wales. For over 25 years we have delivered our training to more than 2500 professionals. We remain at the forefront of conflict resolution training and offer a wide range of training courses run by some of family mediation’s most respected trainers.
The structure for the management and supervision of the family mediation profession in the UK is as follows:
Each family mediator requires current membership with both the Family Mediation Council (FMC) and at least one member organisation (MO). We very much hope you will choose FMA!
The structure for the management and supervision of the family mediation profession in the UK is as follows:
Each family mediator requires current membership with both the Family Mediation Council (FMC) and at least one member organisation (MO). We very much hope you will choose FMA!
The FMA is the only member organisation of the FMC dedicated to representing the interests of professional family mediators, whatever their background, together with the interests of the families who need help from those professionals. With a more diverse membership, we are a strong voice to challenge and support the FMC and the Government to promote family mediation of the highest standard. A strong FMA means a strong profession.
Member benefits:
• Highest quality training – at discounted rates
• Supporting communities of members and helping with isolation
• Keeping you up to date – with developments in best practice, standards, emerging models, resources, case studies etc.
• Promoting you, your practice, and Family Mediation
• Family Mediation Week (we created it, so we remain hugely involved in delivering a top quality programme)
• A Strong Voice – we canvass our members’ views and feed these into FMC and (FMSB)
• to help families in dispute find and make use of high-quality family mediation services;
• to provide a home, a community and a voice for professional family mediators from all backgrounds, working within an interdisciplinary and flexible model of family mediation.
• to support and educate mediators, especially our members, in their provision of professional and sensitive assistance to families in dispute, ensuring that children’s voices are heard;
• to lead the family mediation profession nationally.
• to promote family mediation as the first step in resolving family disputes;
• to implement the regulation of the family mediation profession and to promote best practice;
• to engage our members in an active and supportive community of family mediators.
• to help people in England and Wales to find FMA mediators who work to recognised standards;
• to educate the public and other professionals about mediation, and to promote the values and practice of mediation;
• to provide consultancy and affordable training to family mediators, our fellow family justice and other professionals.
• to continue to develop a robust and flexible interdisciplinary model of family mediation that adapts to meet the needs of families in dispute;
• to help family mediators provide sensitive and professional assistance to families in dispute;
• to continue to develop standards for and to support our members in their provision of professional family mediation services.
• everyone should be given the best opportunity possible to find out about resolving their immediate and extended family disputes in a co-operative way;
• mediators must be able to provide a variety of services to meet ever more complex and entrenched family legal disputes, and must have a commitment to ensuring that the voice of the child is heard;
• mediation sometimes benefits from partnership with other professionals including lawyers, especially in difficult cases;
• mediation is a creative process, involving not only legal knowledge and expertise but also a commitment to co-operation and collaboration;
• mediation gives priority to inclusivity and respecting difference, and a family mediation organisation should do the same;
• family and other forms of mediation are part of a growing worldwide movement to resolve conflicts in a co-operative way.
Our work is supported by a number of very eminent family justice professionals, whose invaluable expertise and goodwill is provided on a voluntary basis. We are very grateful to them for all they do for us.
Mediation is an inclusive process. It is designed to support and empower the participants to make decisions about the issues that they seek to resolve. This principles of self-determination and respect are core aspects of the process. To deliver effective mediation mediators remain impartial and neutral to the participants’ background.
As a membership organisation representing mediators, the FMA is committed to the principles of Equality and Diversity. Our Equality and Diversity statement is available on request.
In 2010 she was appointed to be a High Court Judge. In 2011 the President of the Family Division appointed her a Family Division Liaison Judge on the South Eastern Circuit with responsibility for Kent, Surrey and Sussex and in 2017 for London and Thames Valley. From 2018 – 2023 she chaired the Family Procedure Rules Committee and the Family Justice Council.
Mrs Justice Theis was appointed as the Senior Family Liaison Judge for a four-year period from October 2018. In February 2023 she was appointed to be the Vice President of the Court of Protection for a four-year term. She is the lead judge in relation to applications under the HFEA 2008.
Mrs Justice Theis DBE was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1982 and took Silk in 2003. She was appointed a Recorder in 2000 and was approved to sit as a deputy High Court Judge. From 2005 to 2010 she was head of Field Court Chambers and was Chair of the Family Law Bar Association in 2008 and 2009.
In 2010 she was appointed to be a High Court Judge. In 2011 the President of the Family Division appointed her a Family Division Liaison Judge on the South Eastern Circuit with responsibility for Kent, Surrey and Sussex and in 2017 for London and Thames Valley. From 2018 – 2023 she chaired the Family Procedure Rules Committee and the Family Justice Council.
Mrs Justice Theis was appointed as the Senior Family Liaison Judge for a four-year period from October 2018. In February 2023 she was appointed to be the Vice President of the Court of Protection for a four-year term. She is the lead judge in relation to applications under the HFEA 2008.
Mrs Justice Lucy Theis
FMA President
In 1986 Lisa started a pilot project in London with five family lawyers to extend conciliation on child-related issues to mediation on all issues, including finance and property. Co-founder and first director of the Family Mediators Association 1988 – 1992 and director of training with co-trainers Henry Brown and Felicity White, now a Vice-President. Co-organiser with Neil Robinson and Philippa Johnson of biannual weekends on mediation, science and the arts, held for the last twenty years at Ilam Hall in the Peak District (Lisa’s photo was taken at Ilam in 2010).
Founder member of the European Forum on Family Mediation and of World Mediation Forum. Member of Hague Central Bureau Group of Experts on . Guide to Good Practice – Mediation in International Child Abduction July 2012 www.hcch.net. Trainer and conference presenter in Argentina, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Morocco, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the USA. National Mediation Significant Achievement Award 2022. Publications include Conciliation in Separation and Divorce, Croom Helm 1976 (reissued Routledge 2025), Family Mediation, LexisNexis, 5th edition 2025 (seven editions in other languages), Conversations with Young People in Family Mediation, Bloomsbury 2025, co-author of Council of Europe Guide to Child-inclusive Mediation 2025.
1st class Honours degree in Modern Languages, University of Oxford 1961, Diploma in Social Studies, London University 1967, Certificate of Qualification in Social Work, University of Bristol 1976. A grandmother and great-grandmother! Co-founder and first director of Bristol Court Family Conciliation Service, 1977, the first out-of-court family conciliation service in the UK. Co-founder of the National Family Conciliation Council with its Code of Practice and training programme. Experience in mental health social work and family therapy led to a family systems approach, rather than settlement-seeking negotiations with adults, without recognising the child’s right to be heard. In 1986 Lisa started a pilot project in London with five family lawyers to extend conciliation on child-related issues to mediation on all issues, including finance and property. Co-founder and first director of the Family Mediators Association 1988 – 1992 and director of training with co-trainers Henry Brown and Felicity White, now a Vice-President. Co-organiser with Neil Robinson and Philippa Johnson of biannual weekends on mediation, science and the arts, held for the last twenty years at Ilam Hall in the Peak District (Lisa’s photo was taken at Ilam in 2010).
Founder member of the European Forum on Family Mediation and of World Mediation Forum. Member of Hague Central Bureau Group of Experts on . Guide to Good Practice – Mediation in International Child Abduction July 2012 www.hcch.net. Trainer and conference presenter in Argentina, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Morocco, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the USA. National Mediation Significant Achievement Award 2022. Publications include Conciliation in Separation and Divorce, Croom Helm 1976 (reissued Routledge 2025), Family Mediation, LexisNexis, 5th edition 2025 (seven editions in other languages), Conversations with Young People in Family Mediation, Bloomsbury 2025, co-author of Council of Europe Guide to Child-inclusive Mediation 2025.
Lisa Parkinson
Co-Founder and Vice President
He continues to sit, part-time, in the Family and High Courts but also works in all forms of Non-Court Dispute Resolution in all areas of Family Law. He and Dr Freda Gardner have set up an LLP, GardnerWildblood LLP, to provide psychologically-informed Family mediation in matters relating to money, children and other issues. He also practises in all forms of Family non-court audited resolution as a member of 3PB barristers. He has written in over 20 legal textbooks and is the author of two novels. He is a playwright and a member of a theatre group (‘Fractured Voices’) which performs the plays and films that he writes. He believes, emphatically that Family Court proceedings should be a last resort and that separating couples should be supported and encouraged to find alternatives to litigation. He is immensely grateful to FMA for asking him to be the Vice-President of the association and is determined to do all he can to promote mediation as the better way.
Stephen Wildblood KC was called to the bar at the age of 21. He practised at the Family bar for 27 years, the last 8 ½ in silk. He sat as a part-time judge, a Recorder and later Deputy High Court Judge, for 11 years before being appointed to the Circuit Bench. He was the Designated Family Judge for the Bristol area for ten years before stepping down in November 2023. He continues to sit, part-time, in the Family and High Courts but also works in all forms of Non-Court Dispute Resolution in all areas of Family Law. He and Dr Freda Gardner have set up an LLP, GardnerWildblood LLP, to provide psychologically-informed Family mediation in matters relating to money, children and other issues. He also practises in all forms of Family non-court audited resolution as a member of 3PB barristers. He has written in over 20 legal textbooks and is the author of two novels. He is a playwright and a member of a theatre group (‘Fractured Voices’) which performs the plays and films that he writes. He believes, emphatically that Family Court proceedings should be a last resort and that separating couples should be supported and encouraged to find alternatives to litigation. He is immensely grateful to FMA for asking him to be the Vice-President of the association and is determined to do all he can to promote mediation as the better way.
HH Stephen Wildblood KC
Vice President
An expert for the Hague Conference, he has trained judiciaries in Africa and authored four books. Currently at The Institute of Ismaili Studies, he co-authored Contemporary Trends in Sharia: Critical Debates in Historical Contexts with Professor Hadi Enayat. The book, which features a foreword by the Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, has recently been published as an open-access publication by Bloomsbury, in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. His work bridges Islamic dispute resolution traditions with contemporary ADR practice, while his scholarship encompasses Gandhian studies and diaspora communities. Dr. Keshavjee remains active in advancing intercultural mediation globally.
Dr. Mohamed M. Keshavjee is a London-based barrister (Gray’s Inn) with SOAS LLM (Hons) and PhD, specializing in cross-cultural mediation. He designed HH Aga Khan IV’s global mediation program, training 1,500+ mediators across 25 countries through CEDR and NFM UK partnerships. The 2016 Gandhi King Ikeda Peace Award recipient has keynoted at the World Mediation Forum, OECD conferences, and European Parliament. An expert for the Hague Conference, he has trained judiciaries in Africa and authored four books. Currently at The Institute of Ismaili Studies, he co-authored Contemporary Trends in Sharia: Critical Debates in Historical Contexts with Professor Hadi Enayat. The book, which features a foreword by the Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, has recently been published as an open-access publication by Bloomsbury, in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. His work bridges Islamic dispute resolution traditions with contemporary ADR practice, while his scholarship encompasses Gandhian studies and diaspora communities. Dr. Keshavjee remains active in advancing intercultural mediation globally.
Dr. Mohamed Keshavjee
Vice President
Co-Editor in Chief of the Mediation Theory and Practice Journal, his teaching and research interests fall mainly in the areas of civil justice, mediation and dispute resolution. He is former Chair of the Accreditation and Validation Panel at Relationships Scotland, a Trustee of the Arab Mediation Centre and former Board Member of Scottish Mediation. He won the ADR Academic of the Year prize at the 2024 National Mediation Awards.
Bryan Clark is Professor and Head of the School of Law at Lancaster University. Prior to joining Lancaster, he was course leader of the IMI Accredited, LLM in Mediation and International Commercial Dispute Resolution at Newcastle University.
Co-Editor in Chief of the Mediation Theory and Practice Journal, his teaching and research interests fall mainly in the areas of civil justice, mediation and dispute resolution. He is former Chair of the Accreditation and Validation Panel at Relationships Scotland, a Trustee of the Arab Mediation Centre and former Board Member of Scottish Mediation. He won the ADR Academic of the Year prize at the 2024 National Mediation Awards.
Prof. Bryan Clarke
Vice President
She is a former Co- chair of the Interdisciplinary Alliance for Children and was an Hon. Research Fellow attached to the Centre for the Study of the Child, the Family and the Law, in the Faculty of Law at the University of Liverpool and a former board member (until April 2008) of CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) a non departmental public body.
She is the founder and former Chief Executive of the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) and a trustee since 2005. She is a trained family mediator and a former Chair of The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) with many years’ experience as a medical social worker, family and childcare social worker and children’s guardian. She chaired a joint venture publishing company between BASW and Macmillan Magazines and has served as a Non-Executive Director on both Regional and Area Health Authorities. She was appointed O.B.E. for services to young people in June 2000.
Her many publications include the Department of Health’s Manual of Practice Guidance for Guardians ad Litem and Reporting Officers (H.M.S.O. 1992), Children’s Representation: A Practitioner’s Guide (Sweet and Maxwell, 1995) and Effective Support Services for Children and Young People when Parental Relations Break Down: A Child-Centred Approach (co-author with Christine Lyon and Edward Surrey, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 1999) and Your Shout! The Views of 706 Children and Young People in Public Care (N.S.P.C.C., 2003) which she wrote with June Thoburn as part of the NSPCC’s Review of Legislation Relating to Children in Family Proceedings to which she acted as Independent Consultant.
Your Shout Too!-A Survey of the Views of Children and Young People who have had their Residence and Contact Arrangements ordered by the Courts’ also written with June Thoburn and Sue Bailey, was published by the NSPCC in 2007.
She is a former Co- chair of the Interdisciplinary Alliance for Children and was an Hon. Research Fellow attached to the Centre for the Study of the Child, the Family and the Law, in the Faculty of Law at the University of Liverpool and a former board member (until April 2008) of CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) a non departmental public body.
She is the founder and former Chief Executive of the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) and a trustee since 2005. She is a trained family mediator and a former Chair of The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) with many years’ experience as a medical social worker, family and childcare social worker and children’s guardian. She chaired a joint venture publishing company between BASW and Macmillan Magazines and has served as a Non-Executive Director on both Regional and Area Health Authorities. She was appointed O.B.E. for services to young people in June 2000.
Her many publications include the Department of Health’s Manual of Practice Guidance for Guardians ad Litem and Reporting Officers (H.M.S.O. 1992), Children’s Representation: A Practitioner’s Guide (Sweet and Maxwell, 1995) and Effective Support Services for Children and Young People when Parental Relations Break Down: A Child-Centred Approach (co-author with Christine Lyon and Edward Surrey, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 1999) and Your Shout! The Views of 706 Children and Young People in Public Care (N.S.P.C.C., 2003) which she wrote with June Thoburn as part of the NSPCC’s Review of Legislation Relating to Children in Family Proceedings to which she acted as Independent Consultant.
Your Shout Too!-A Survey of the Views of Children and Young People who have had their Residence and Contact Arrangements ordered by the Courts’ also written with June Thoburn and Sue Bailey, was published by the NSPCC in 2007.
Judith Timms OBE
Vice President
Emeritus Professor Janet Walker OBE
Vice President
Prof. Chris Barton
Vice President
Cherie Booth QC
Vice President
The Board consists of a volunteer team of professionals, elected by the full members of FMA for 3-year terms. Board members devote a huge amount of time and effort to keep this membership organisation at the forefront of family mediation. As well as the full board, we break down the work needed into smaller groups to promote family mediation and build on the success of FMA for our members.
Having qualified as a solicitor in 2003, my journey as a family mediator started in 2010 when I undertook the foundation training with the FMA. In 2011 I set up my own mediation practice, Vollans Mediation, based in Leeds. I became an FMC Accredited Family Mediator in 2015 (under the old system!) and since then have I qualified as a Child Inclusive Mediator and as a Professional Practice Consultant. In the last few years I have concentrated on running the service (which includes managing a Legal Aid contract), also completing a Masters in Conflict Resolution and supervising other mediators, including those working towards their FMC Accreditation. The family mediation field has developed at a rapid pace over the time I have been in practice. It is now possible to call it a profession in its own right with a single approach to quality assurance and self-regulation under the FMC since January 2016. In this context I recognise and appreciate the special position of the FMA, representing family mediators from a diverse range of professional backgrounds. As a board member, I would be keen to continue to promote the FMA as a leading membership organisation with a strong sense of the distinctiveness of family mediation. The FMA is well placed to offer leadership and training in the development of family mediation within the family mediation community itself. It also has a significant role to play in the promotion of family mediation as an effective dispute resolution process to the general public. As a membership organisation, it is important that we maintain professional standards and practice requirements in tension with fostering creative ways of thinking about the work we do. Training, encouraging and welcoming the next generation of family mediators is also a priority. I recognise that the transition from foundation training to accreditation can be particularly difficult and welcome the current Review of the Accreditation Process. With pressure on family mediators to produce cheaper and quicker solutions in the context of narrowly defined family disputes, championing the interests of members who undertake Legal Aid work is vital.
I became an FMC Accredited Family Mediator in 2015 (under the old system!) and since then have I qualified as a Child Inclusive Mediator and as a Professional Practice Consultant. In the last few years I have concentrated on running the service (which includes managing a Legal Aid contract), also completing a Masters in Conflict Resolution and supervising other mediators, including those working towards their FMC Accreditation. The family mediation field has developed at a rapid pace over the time I have been in practice. .Having qualified as a solicitor in 2003, my journey as a family mediator started in 2010 when I undertook the foundation training with the FMA. In 2011 I set up my own mediation practice, Vollans Mediation, based in Leeds. I became an FMC Accredited Family Mediator in 2015 (under the old system!) and since then have I qualified as a Child Inclusive Mediator and as a Professional Practice Consultant. In the last few years I have concentrated on running the service (which includes managing a Legal Aid contract), also completing a Masters in Conflict Resolution and supervising other mediators, including those working towards their FMC Accreditation. The family mediation field has developed at a rapid pace over the time I have been in practice. It is now possible to call it a profession in its own right with a single approach to quality assurance and self-regulation under the FMC since January 2016. In this context I recognise and appreciate the special position of the FMA, representing family mediators from a diverse range of professional backgrounds. As a board member, I would be keen to continue to promote the FMA as a leading membership organisation with a strong sense of the distinctiveness of family mediation. The FMA is well placed to offer leadership and training in the development of family mediation within the family mediation community itself. It also has a significant role to play in the promotion of family mediation as an effective dispute resolution process to the general public. As a membership organisation, it is important that we maintain professional standards and practice requirements in tension with fostering creative ways of thinking about the work we do. Training, encouraging and welcoming the next generation of family mediators is also a priority. I recognise that the transition from foundation training to accreditation can be particularly difficult and welcome the current Review of the Accreditation Process. With pressure on family mediators to produce cheaper and quicker solutions in the context of narrowly defined family disputes, championing the interests of members who undertake Legal Aid work is vital.
Anna Vollans
Co-Chair
In 2013 Claire and Rebecca developed a communications programme, Changing Lives, which secured funding from the DWP Innovation Fund. This aimed to help separated parents work together for the benefit of their children. It was expanded further in 2019, becoming ‘New Foundations’ and again Mediation Now was awarded funding by the DWP through the Reducing Parental Conflict Programme. The course involved children, who were able to share their wishes, feelings, hopes and expectations which enabled parents to think differently about their co-parenting strategy, and reduce their conflict. The external evaluation of the programme showed significant improvement in the 50 families reached. That programme continues to run, on a private fee basis.
Claire is also a Collaborative Lawyer (Resolution trained), a specialist in Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM) and a hybrid/ integrated mediation practitioner.
Claire is also trained as Civil Mediator through ADRg and offers hybrid/integrated and co-mediation. She is a qualified Arbitrator in children and finances cases.
Claire qualified as a Parenting Coordinator in 2019.
She is a mentor to other mediators as their PPC and is 1-2-1 peer mentor for Resolution. Claire is a family law supervisor.
Claire previously sat as the mediator member of the Family Justice Council and is a member of the Local Family Justice Board. Claire also sits on the Family Mediation Council’s training panel and accreditation panel and Resolution’s Children panel.
Family Solutions has funding from What Works in Childrens social care to look at mediation in respect of Kinship providers enabling us to work closely with three Local Authorities to see where mediation supports and assists the most.
Claire currently speaks on issues of non-court resolution and offers training courses for Family Mediators Association.
Claire has worked in family law since 1990, she qualified as a solicitor in 1998. Together with Rebecca Hawkins and another local lawyer/mediator in 2007 they founded Mediation Now (now known as Family Solutions) and between 2007 and 2010 Claire combined her mediation and legal practice. In 2010 she stepped down as a Director of her legal practice to focus on mediation, working as a Consultant until 2015 when she left to concentrate solely on mediation and reducing parental conflict for children.
Family Solutions focuses on non court resolution, offering legally aided and privately funded mediation, collaborative practice, Arbitration, Parenting Coordination and supervision.
In 2013 Claire and Rebecca developed a communications programme, Changing Lives, which secured funding from the DWP Innovation Fund. This aimed to help separated parents work together for the benefit of their children. It was expanded further in 2019, becoming ‘New Foundations’ and again Mediation Now was awarded funding by the DWP through the Reducing Parental Conflict Programme. The course involved children, who were able to share their wishes, feelings, hopes and expectations which enabled parents to think differently about their co-parenting strategy, and reduce their conflict. The external evaluation of the programme showed significant improvement in the 50 families reached. That programme continues to run, on a private fee basis.
Claire is also a Collaborative Lawyer (Resolution trained), a specialist in Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM) and a hybrid/ integrated mediation practitioner.
Claire is also trained as Civil Mediator through ADRg and offers hybrid/integrated and co-mediation. She is a qualified Arbitrator in children and finances cases.
Claire qualified as a Parenting Coordinator in 2019.
She is a mentor to other mediators as their PPC and is 1-2-1 peer mentor for Resolution. Claire is a family law supervisor.
Claire previously sat as the mediator member of the Family Justice Council and is a member of the Local Family Justice Board. Claire also sits on the Family Mediation Council’s training panel and accreditation panel and Resolution’s Children panel.
Family Solutions has funding from What Works in Childrens social care to look at mediation in respect of Kinship providers enabling us to work closely with three Local Authorities to see where mediation supports and assists the most.
Claire currently speaks on issues of non-court resolution and offers training courses for Family Mediators Association.
Claire Webb
Co-Chair
I am a keen runner, and love hiking, yoga and pilates. I have two lovely black Labradors I enjoy walking, and like to read, knit and go to the theatre. I currently volunteer to teach English one on one as a foreign language, which has been an interesting new challenge!
Rebekah Gershuny
Secretary
I have been married to Lewis, a family barrister, for a really long time, having met him on my first day at university. My life is based in London with Lewis, with occasional forays to Kidderminster and France.
I am most interested in people, but words run a very close second – reading, writing and performing them – and I know that sometimes all the words can get in the way of the people.
and as the administrator of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (now the IA of Family Lawyers). I still have some legal publishing clients, but spend most of the working week seeing family mediation clients with my splendid co-mediator Sheila Turner. I have found the mediation community a warm and supportive place to be based and would like to help it stay that way. My favourite jobs at present are actually being a grandma – currently three grandchildren, but not done yet – and as the mother of four young men (not all that young any more) and the mother in law of three very wonderful young women. I have been married to Lewis, a family barrister, for a really long time, having met him on my first day at university. My life is based in London with Lewis, with occasional forays to Kidderminster and France.
I am most interested in people, but words run a very close second – reading, writing and performing them – and I know that sometimes all the words can get in the way of the people.
Philippa Johnson
Treasurer
She is deeply committed to facilitating processes that empower participants to create meaningful, lasting solutions. Her expertise in navigating high-conflict and complex safeguarding cases, supported by extensive training in various language and restorative practices and frameworks, underscores her ability to manage challenging situations with care. Beyond her mediation practice, Carlie’s passion extends to education, as she continues to deliver training in restorative interventions and conflict resolution to organisations across both the public and private sectors.
She is deeply committed to facilitating processes that empower participants to create meaningful, lasting solutions. Her expertise in navigating high-conflict and complex safeguarding cases, supported by extensive training in various language and restorative practices and frameworks, underscores her ability to manage challenging situations with care. Beyond her mediation practice, Carlie’s passion extends to education, as she continues to deliver training in restorative interventions and conflict resolution to organisations across both the public and private sectors.
Carlie Norris
Board Member
Oliver Dobson
Board Member
Catherine was a Finalist at the National Mediation Awards 2022, and her company, Stratford Family Mediation, was a winner at Stratford Herald Business and Tourism Awards.
Catherine is a Taekwondo black belt, an enthusiastic amateur gardener (Chair of the local gardening club), and everyday plays badminton and walks her beloved dogs, Betsy and Tuppence.
Cathy Frances
Board Member
Tom has been an accredited by the Family Mediation Council to undertake All Issues Mediation, and is also a child-inclusive and hybrid mediator. He conducts mediation for a variety of different individuals regarding both children and financial issues and is a big proponent of the mediation process for resolving family disputes. He regularly meets with children for child-inclusive mediation as part of the mediation process.
He is also a member of Resolution and a Resolution Accredited Specialist in Complex Financial and Property Matters for high income households or where there are substantial assets. This is in addition to being accredited for Children Law where there are disputes between parents or relatives. He is a trained collaborative lawyer too, which involves working closely in person with both parties and their lawyers to resolve issues.
Tom advises a variety of individuals on financial matters. He often represents client on complex financial matters, be that because of business interests, asset protection, inheritance, trusts or overseas assets. Many of his cases have an international element and he can assist in advising on Spanish assets in particular as he speaks Spanish.
Tom regularly deals with children disputes between parents or other family members, including when one parent may wish to leave England or Wales, or if a child has been abducted and taken overseas.
Tom focuses on trying to resolve matters without going to Court wherever possible and establishing a dialogue between parties. He specialises in a number of issue-resolution options to offer the best option for his clients. He finds this often results in a far more amicable settlement for a family.
Tom joined Goodman Ray’s Divorce and Matrimonial Finance Department in August 2015, having spent over 4 years working at a family firm in the West End. He studied Law and Spanish at the University of Sheffield and is a fluent Spanish speaker having also studied Law at The University of Granada in Spain. He qualified as a solicitor in November 2009 after training and subsequently being taken on as a solicitor at a regional firm in Yorkshire.
Tom has been an accredited by the Family Mediation Council to undertake All Issues Mediation, and is also a child-inclusive and hybrid mediator. He conducts mediation for a variety of different individuals regarding both children and financial issues and is a big proponent of the mediation process for resolving family disputes. He regularly meets with children for child-inclusive mediation as part of the mediation process.
He is also a member of Resolution and a Resolution Accredited Specialist in Complex Financial and Property Matters for high income households or where there are substantial assets. This is in addition to being accredited for Children Law where there are disputes between parents or relatives. He is a trained collaborative lawyer too, which involves working closely in person with both parties and their lawyers to resolve issues.
Tom advises a variety of individuals on financial matters. He often represents client on complex financial matters, be that because of business interests, asset protection, inheritance, trusts or overseas assets. Many of his cases have an international element and he can assist in advising on Spanish assets in particular as he speaks Spanish.
Tom regularly deals with children disputes between parents or other family members, including when one parent may wish to leave England or Wales, or if a child has been abducted and taken overseas.
Tom focuses on trying to resolve matters without going to Court wherever possible and establishing a dialogue between parties. He specialises in a number of issue-resolution options to offer the best option for his clients. He finds this often results in a far more amicable settlement for a family.
Tom joined Goodman Ray’s Divorce and Matrimonial Finance Department in August 2015, having spent over 4 years working at a family firm in the West End. He studied Law and Spanish at the University of Sheffield and is a fluent Spanish speaker having also studied Law at The University of Granada in Spain. He qualified as a solicitor in November 2009 after training and subsequently being taken on as a solicitor at a regional firm in Yorkshire.
Thomas Brownrigg
Board Member
Neil has an abiding interest in the interrelationship between mediation, peacebuilding, song and sustainability and has now published a series of 17 “Conversation Pieces” for Family Law to encourage deeper thinking and dialogue. Though “semi-retired,” he is delighted to be still part of the mediation and FMA com Following graduation from Oxford University in Jurisprudence, and upon qualification as a solicitor, I practiced both family law and commercial litigation, and was a Partner at Nabarro LLP, now part of CMS.
Neil Robinson
Board Member
She is also a civil and commercial mediator, a family consultant to the collaborative law process, a lecturer and mediation trainer. She is the Director and founder of Mediation North West.
She was re-elected to the Board in 2004. Between 2005 and 2012 she became the National Mediation representative on the Family Justice Council before re-joining the Board in 2012 and is currently the FMA’s representative on the Family Mediation Council. During her various time on the Board she has worked on committee’s for PPC’s, Complaints, Legal Aid, FMA accreditation (SMS), Membership, Education, Standards and Ethics, Conferences and Special events and Marketing, Beverley is a PPC, an FMC competence assessor and undertakes child inclusive mediation. She is also a civil and commercial mediator, a family consultant to the collaborative law process, a lecturer and mediation trainer. She is the Director and founder of Mediation North West.
Beverley Sayers
Board Member
I am also experienced in child inclusive mediations. I understand the process and challenges of the profession having worked in this capacity for many years.
Having spent a lifetime in the profession I have a wealth of contacts and connections with people in the Family Justice system which I feel will be of benefit to the board and FMA in general. I have trained dispute resolution practitioners both in England and internationally. I have presented extensively on the benefits of alternative ways of resolving family disputes outside of the court process. I am passionate in promoting the mediation process and I want to bring all of my passion to promoting the FMA.
I was a member of Resolution`s DR committee for many years and a past chair of Law Net. I am a member of Resolutions collaborative law working party and the European Collaborative Network. I will bring all this experience to the board and FMA. I have a wealth of knowledge dealing with complex financial and children matters. I have worked with some of the top London Family Practices. I am an experienced mediator and I am known for my ability to safely manage high conflict cases. I am also experienced in child inclusive mediations. I understand the process and challenges of the profession having worked in this capacity for many years.
Having spent a lifetime in the profession I have a wealth of contacts and connections with people in the Family Justice system which I feel will be of benefit to the board and FMA in general. I have trained dispute resolution practitioners both in England and internationally. I have presented extensively on the benefits of alternative ways of resolving family disputes outside of the court process. I am passionate in promoting the mediation process and I want to bring all of my passion to promoting the FMA.
William Hogg
Board Member
I hosted several thousand radio shows on the BBC, and have presented and produced multiple successful podcast series, prior to becoming a mediator. I therefore have a very wide skillset around communications, media management, corporate messaging and high-quality content creation. I media train businesses and individuals, and specialise in helping people to feel confident around microphones, cameras and the digital space – be that on a simple Zoom call, or doing a live interview with Radio 4. I have extensive experience of talking to the media and have full home audio and video studio facilities in order to do so. I also still have many high profile contacts within the media. I hope I would bring a fresh perspective to how the FMA communicates, both in terms of the work it does, as well as the wider family mediation profession. I am keen to raise the profile of what we all do as mediators. All too often, it is not represented in the media during discussions around divorce and separation. As a male mediator, I am also passionate about bringing more diversity to the profession. I was a Co-Chair of school governors for 11 years and have also worked closely with many charities, large and small, over the years. I feel I have a range of skills to bring something fresh and different to the board and the association, and be part of moving it forward.
I hosted several thousand radio shows on the BBC, and have presented and produced multiple successful podcast series, prior to becoming a mediator. I therefore have a very wide skillset around communications, media management, corporate messaging and high-quality content creation. I media train businesses and individuals, and specialise in helping people to feel confident around microphones, cameras and the digital space – be that on a simple Zoom call, or doing a live interview with Radio 4. I have extensive experience of talking to the media and have full home audio and video studio facilities in order to do so. I also still have many high profile contacts within the media. I hope I would bring a fresh perspective to how the FMA communicates, both in terms of the work it does, as well as the wider family mediation profession. I am keen to raise the profile of what we all do as mediators. All too often, it is not represented in the media during discussions around divorce and separation. As a male mediator, I am also passionate about bringing more diversity to the profession. I was a Co-Chair of school governors for 11 years and have also worked closely with many charities, large and small, over the years. I feel I have a range of skills to bring something fresh and different to the board and the association, and be part of moving it forward.
Nick Coffer
Board Member
Our Administrative Team
FMA is run with the help of Northern Networking Events (NNE). NNE is a professional organisation providing support to various membership organisations and has been brilliantly assisting FMA with administrative support since 2011. For any enquiries, please contact our friendly and efficient administrative team. Call the FMA telephone number 01355 244 594 or e-mail to info@thefma.co.uk
