Who are the mediators?
The mediators are University students and staff who have completed formal mediation training that has been accredited by Scottish Mediation. The mediators:
- Receive regular refresher training and reflective practice to enhance their mediation skills.
- Act impartially and separately from University Schools and Services.
- Are solely interested in helping you reach a mutually acceptable solution.
- Create a safe and supportive environment so that you can talk about what has happened and how it has affected you and others involved.
- Help you search for options and find agreeable outcomes, collaboratively.
Student mediators are part of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies and studying a Master of Letters (MLitt) or Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Peacebuilding and Mediation.
The University's staff mediators are:
-
Ruth Unsworth is the Head of Mediation and Wellbeing and has worked at the University for over 14 years.
She is a Qualified Mediator, registered with Scottish Mediation, and accredited as a Therapist by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BACBP), the lead organisation for cognitive behavioural therapy in the UK.
Ruth has used mediation in a range of settings. She has worked with homeless young people, public sector and third sector agencies, each with their own priorities, to develop services for young homeless people in and around Glasgow.
Ruth has many years’ experience of working with students, providing therapy, and helping to resolve disagreement or conflict situations.
As a minister of the Church of Scotland, she has used mediation skills to develop different support groups for people impacted by domestic violence and drug abuse. More recently, she has worked with congregations who had to decide whether to unite and whether to give up buildings they loved.
She also worked in Zambia with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Government educational officials, teachers, parents and children seeking to find a solution to different perspectives of conduct.
Ruth worked in Student Services as a therapist and as a manager.
Ruth also developed the Wellbeing, Counselling and Mental Health Matched Care framework. This received accreditation from the Accreditation Programme for Psychological Therapies Services (APPTS), a service development, quality improvement and accreditation network for services providing psychological therapy to adults in the UK. APPTS is a collaboration between the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the British Psychological Society.
Ruth is:
- Chair of the University Mental Health Taskforce
- Co-Chair of the Equally Safe Group
- a member of the Universities Scotland Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Group
- a member of the Research Advisory Board for the national research into Thriving Scottish Learners
-
Rebecca Swarbrick is Deputy Head of Mediation for Mediation and Wellbeing. She trains mediators and runs conflict resolution workshops.
She is a qualified and experienced mediator, registered with Scottish Mediation. Rebecca has a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Reconciliation and Conflict Resolution from Trinity College Dublin and has worked for small charities and schools.
Rebecca loves both the simplicity of the process and the rich complexity of conversation that arises in mediation and is forever in awe of the courage of participants.
She lives in the East Neuk, enjoying coastal walks, writing and mediating her children’s daily disputes.
-
Ruth Woodfield is a Professor of Equalities and Organisation in the University of St Andrews Business School.
She has worked at the University for eight years. She is a qualified mediator and has completed mediation training at the University of St Andrews, accredited by Scottish Mediation.
Ruth was Co-Head of School in Management between 2017 and 2019 and was seconded to the Principal’s Office as Assistant Vice-Principal (Diversity) at the University between 2019 and 2021. In the latter role, she co-led on the development of the People Strategy consultation and development, which highlighted the need for the Mediation Service.
Ruth has research expertise in equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and in higher education in particular. She has worked with staff and students in various roles that have required listening, facilitating, problem-solving and support skills.
-
Louise Nixon has worked at the University since 2006, first starting as a Human Resources (HR) Officer, moving roles over time, to her most recent position as the Deputy Director of HR.
She has experience of working in many private sector organisations and other public sector bodies, all within the HR profession, before joining the University.
Louise completed a National Certificate in Workplace Mediation in 2010 and refresher mediation training in 2021, and engages in continuing professional development.
She has led workplace mediations as an individual mediator as well as engaging in co-mediation and many facilitated meetings using the principles of mediation to help resolve conflict. More recently, Louise has been involved in student mediation.
Like with all other mediators, the role of mediation is independent and confidential from her role at the University.
With an undergraduate degree in Organisational Behaviour and a Masters in Human Resource Management, Louise is interested in people-centred initiatives. She likes to help people to take ownership and resolve conflict constructively.
Louise is a member of the Mental Health Task Force, Equally Safe working groups, and many other working groups that help drive change. She is keen to get involved in new initiatives and delighted to be part of the Mediation service as a qualified mediator.
-
Julie Brooks is Director of Postgraduate Programmes in the Business School, at the University of St Andrews.
She has worked at the University for 19 years. She is a qualified mediator and has completed mediation training at the University of St Andrews, accredited by Scottish Mediation.
Julie has worked in the public, private and voluntary sectors before taking up her role in the Business School. The common thread throughout her career has been working in roles that involve communication, empathy and listening skills, facilitating conversations between various people and across organisations.
She spent 7 years living in Russia and speaks fluent Russian. While living there, she was involved in negotiations between Russian and US government officials at the regional and national level.
During her time in Scotland and before starting her current role, she worked as the Community Planning Coordinator for Fife, a role that worked between Fife Council, National Health Service (NHS) Fife, Fife Police and CVS Fife.
Her current role requires listening, facilitating, problem-solving and support skills when working with students and colleagues. Becoming a qualified mediator has allowed her to bring these skills together more formally and put them into use to benefit the University and the wider community.
-
Boyka Bratanova is a Senior Lecturer in Management in the Department of Management at the University of St Andrews.
She has worked at the University for eight years. She has completed mediation training at the University of St Andrews, accredited by Scottish Mediation.
Boyka’s background is in Social Psychology. Her research examines social inequalities and the tensions arising from them. Through her research activities and life experience, Boyka has developed a keen interest in mediation as an alternative conflict resolution.
She firmly believes in the benefits that the mediation process can bring to participants, including finding optimal resolutions, strengthening relationships, and personal growth.
-
Jason McNulty is an Education Focused Lecturer and current Co-Director of Wellbeing in the School of Chemistry and has completed mediation training at the University of St Andrews, accredited by Scottish Mediation.
Jason’s roles in Chemistry focus on student and staff wellbeing and improving equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Each of these roles requires good listening and communication skills, empathy and being supportive.
Jason’s experience in these roles influences his approach to mediation and facilitates honest and pragmatic discussion to achieve constructive conflict resolution. Undertaking accredited training has allowed Jason to build on these skills. He is keen to continue to develop them as an active member of the University Mediation service.
-
Leon Watson is a Scottish Mediation-accredited mediator, having completed his Master of Laws (LLM) in Conflict Resolution and Mediation at the University of Strathclyde.
Much of his previous experience involved working with the Strathclyde Mediation Clinic, where he is the youngest lead mediator.
Leon was drawn to mediation through his undergraduate studies in Politics and International Relations. Mediation core principles, especially those of self-determination and informality, align closely with Leon’s values and he is passionate and optimistic about the potential mediation offers participants.
As a member of the Mediation Service, Leon delivers accredited training programmes, bespoke training workshops, and mediates a wide range of disputes.
-
Anna Stefaniak is a Lecturer in Social Psychology at the School of Psychology and Neuroscience.
Before coming to St Andrews in 2022, she worked at Carleton University in Ottawa, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Loyola University Chicago, and the University of Warsaw. She has completed mediation training at the University of St Andrews, accredited by Scottish Mediation.
Anna is a social psychologist and specialises in intergroup attitudes and behaviour, prejudice and its reduction, and social justice. Her interest in conflict resolution comes primarily from interest in intergroup conflict and reconciliation.
Participating in the mediation training allowed her to gain a better understanding of conflict and conflict resolution at the individual and professional levels, and to apply her knowledge of psychology and identity processes in shaping human behaviour to these domains.
-
Euan Crabb is the manager in the School of Chemistry at the University of St Andrews. He joined the University in 2023 from the University of Aberdeen where he was a Senior Administrator within the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture.
Euan entered Higher Education from a Local Authority background where he was a peripatetic instrumental teacher for Angus Council for 25 years, teaching brass instruments to primary and secondary-aged children.
Although relatively new to the University, Euan has a lot of experience in managing others. This includes managing and resolving disputes, which are key skills to mediation. Euan has completed mediation training at the University of St Andrews, accredited by Scottish Mediation.
Euan has a music background and is still an active musician in and around Angus, Dundee, and Perth, in Scotland. Euan also enjoys playing golf and regularly plays around the Brechin and St Andrews areas. Euan says: "It's a source of good exercise, even if the golf is not always very successful."
-
Andrew is a cleaner in the Main Library. He has worked for the University for two years and has completed mediation training at the University of St Andrews, accredited by Scottish Mediation.
An active musician, Andrew graduated with a Masters degree in Composition from Leeds Conservatoire.
He lives in the Howe of Fife with his wife and two young children.
-
Louise Soutar is an Executive Officer working in the Office of the Principal at the University of St Andrews.
She joined the University in 2018 and has worked on several high-profile projects including the relocation of most professional services staff to Walter Bower House at the Eden Campus.
With many years of experience in internal and external communication, she enjoys working on complex organisational change projects, engaging directly with staff and students and bringing people together from across the University to work on shared issues. The skills gained from this activity can be applied to the mediation process.
Following completion of the mediation training at the University of St Andrews, accredited by Scottish Mediation, Louise hopes to bring this collaborative approach to her work in this area.
-
Daniela Balslev is a cognitive neuroscientist, a lecturer in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience and a case worker for University and College Union.
She completed mediation training at the University of St Andrews, accredited by Scottish Mediation. She enrolled in the course to assist her colleagues in her role as a trade union case worker. She has since realised that conflict is a natural part of most human interactions and that we can all learn the skills that change a dispute into an opportunity for growth.
