Helping People Find a Way Forward, Together

Emma is a theatre director, trainer, mediator and coach with over 20 years’ experience designing and delivering training across the NHS, British Red Cross, the legal profession and the education sector. Her expertise lies in positive communication, leadership, team management and courageous conversations.
A qualified teacher and member of the Higher Education Faculty at Shakespeare’s Globe, Emma was formerly Senior Teaching Fellow at Bath Spa University. She has taught at leading drama schools including the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, LAMDA and ArtsEd.
Emma is also Artistic Director of Moving Stories Theatre Company, which creates adaptations of Shakespeare and socially engaged work — including recent projects with Women’s Aid and St Martin’s homeless charity.

Irvine is an Emeritus Professor of Educational and Child Psychology with a distinguished career spanning more than four decades across teaching, advising, research, and leadership. He has worked as a teacher, psychologist, and Principal Educational Psychologist, and served as a Government Advisor and University Course Director responsible for training the next generation of educational and child psychologists.
A specialist in school leadership and decision-making, Irvine’s doctoral research explored effective leadership in education. His pioneering work on listening to children, school systems, SEND, coaching and mediation has influenced national practice. He is the author of over 100 journal articles, book chapters and books, including The Philosophical Life Compass (2021), The Little Box of Big Questions (2012), and Resolving Disagreement in Special Needs (2003).
Irvine is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and the Higher Education Academy, and has received national recognition for his contributions to psychology and education. As a qualified life coach and mediator, he brings academic rigour, practical insight, and a long-standing commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.

Les is an experienced organisational leader with a career spanning the UK, Europe and the USA. He has held senior roles across sectors including supply chain, manufacturing, the NHS, and both local and national government.
He brings deep expertise in lean leadership, coaching, strategic alignment and policy deployment, and plays a central role in shaping and delivering Global Mediation’s operational strategy.

Ashleigh is a board-level marketing leader with over 20 years of experience building high-performing teams, brands and digital ecosystems. She brings a strategic mindset that fuses creativity, data and technology to drive meaningful commercial outcomes.
Her career spans the full spectrum of marketing — from brand and digital to demand generation and commerce — with a proven track record of scaling global teams, shaping strategy, and delivering measurable growth. Known for her clarity, curiosity and commercial focus, Ashleigh leads with energy and purpose, ensuring Global Mediation continues to connect with the people who need us most.

Suraiya is the Mediation Director at Global Mediation, where she leads the team of Senior and Associate Mediators and upholds the exceptional standards of practice that define our service. With over 25 years of experience in education, teacher training and leadership, she brings specialist expertise to mediation — particularly in the area of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
A CMC-accredited mediator with specialist SEND accreditation, Suraiya is driven by a belief in the power of inclusive communication. She creates safe, respectful spaces for open dialogue, always placing the voices of children and young people at the heart of the process. She is on the panel for the CoM Practice Standards Committee and also for the SEND Mediation Assessors/DfE.
Her deep commitment to social inclusion is reflected in her research and leadership. She has led Home Office research into the barriers faced by excluded groups, published work on disability and inclusion, and previously served as a Disability Equality Lead, championing accessibility and equity across her organisation.

Adam is a practising criminal barrister and a CEDR-accredited mediator with over two decades of legal and mediation experience in both the UK and US. He founded Global Mediation in 1999 and continues to lead the organisation’s strategic direction.
Adam’s background in law, coupled with his belief in the power of impartial dialogue, has shaped Global’s reputation for calm, professional and human-centred mediation services.

Jeff is an accredited mediator and the Chief Financial Officer of Global Mediation. With over 30 years of commercial and financial experience, he brings a rare blend of analytical insight and human understanding to the organisation.
As CFO, Jeff oversees Global’s financial strategy, helping the business deliver thousands of mediations each year for local authorities, businesses and individuals across the UK. A qualified accountant and experienced adviser, he previously ran a successful accountancy firm supporting owner-managed and family-run businesses.
Jeff brings this practical, people-focused approach into his work as a mediator — resolving commercial and workplace disputes with calm authority and a focus on lasting outcomes.

Emma is a theatre director, trainer, mediator and coach with over 20 years’ experience designing and delivering training across the NHS, British Red Cross, the legal profession and the education sector. Her expertise lies in positive communication, leadership, team management and courageous conversations.
A qualified teacher and member of the Higher Education Faculty at Shakespeare’s Globe, Emma was formerly Senior Teaching Fellow at Bath Spa University. She has taught at leading drama schools including the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, LAMDA and ArtsEd.
Emma is also Artistic Director of Moving Stories Theatre Company, which creates adaptations of Shakespeare and socially engaged work — including recent projects with Women’s Aid and St Martin’s homeless charity.

Irvine is an Emeritus Professor of Educational and Child Psychology with a distinguished career spanning more than four decades across teaching, advising, research, and leadership. He has worked as a teacher, psychologist, and Principal Educational Psychologist, and served as a Government Advisor and University Course Director responsible for training the next generation of educational and child psychologists.
A specialist in school leadership and decision-making, Irvine’s doctoral research explored effective leadership in education. His pioneering work on listening to children, school systems, SEND, coaching and mediation has influenced national practice. He is the author of over 100 journal articles, book chapters and books, including The Philosophical Life Compass (2021), The Little Box of Big Questions (2012), and Resolving Disagreement in Special Needs (2003).
Irvine is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and the Higher Education Academy, and has received national recognition for his contributions to psychology and education. As a qualified life coach and mediator, he brings academic rigour, practical insight, and a long-standing commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.

Les is an experienced organisational leader with a career spanning the UK, Europe and the USA. He has held senior roles across sectors including supply chain, manufacturing, the NHS, and both local and national government.
He brings deep expertise in lean leadership, coaching, strategic alignment and policy deployment, and plays a central role in shaping and delivering Global Mediation’s operational strategy.

Ashleigh is a board-level marketing leader with over 20 years of experience building high-performing teams, brands and digital ecosystems. She brings a strategic mindset that fuses creativity, data and technology to drive meaningful commercial outcomes.
Her career spans the full spectrum of marketing — from brand and digital to demand generation and commerce — with a proven track record of scaling global teams, shaping strategy, and delivering measurable growth. Known for her clarity, curiosity and commercial focus, Ashleigh leads with energy and purpose, ensuring Global Mediation continues to connect with the people who need us most.

Suraiya is the Mediation Director at Global Mediation, where she leads the team of Senior and Associate Mediators and upholds the exceptional standards of practice that define our service. With over 25 years of experience in education, teacher training and leadership, she brings specialist expertise to mediation — particularly in the area of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
A CMC-accredited mediator with specialist SEND accreditation, Suraiya is driven by a belief in the power of inclusive communication. She creates safe, respectful spaces for open dialogue, always placing the voices of children and young people at the heart of the process. She is on the panel for the CoM Practice Standards Committee and also for the SEND Mediation Assessors/DfE.
Her deep commitment to social inclusion is reflected in her research and leadership. She has led Home Office research into the barriers faced by excluded groups, published work on disability and inclusion, and previously served as a Disability Equality Lead, championing accessibility and equity across her organisation.