2025 Programme

Opening Keynote:
Kevin Rowan, Director of Dispute Resolution, ACAS

Transforming Work: How mediation can be used to align People, Culture and Leadership
David Liddle, Chief Executive, The TCM Group

In today's complex and rapidly changing workplaces, conflict is inevitable - but poorly managed conflict is not. In this keynote, David Liddle, founder of The TCM Group and a pioneer of transformational workplace culture, explores how mediation is no longer just a tool for resolving disputes - it is a vital catalyst for cultural and leadership alignment. Drawing on over 20 years of practice and thought leadership, David will demonstrate how embedding mediation principles into everyday leadership, HR, and cultural practices creates more just, inclusive, resilient, and high-performing organisations. Delegates will discover practical strategies for integrating mediation into organisational frameworks, unlocking the true potential of their people and reinforcing values-led leadership. This session will inspire attendees to see mediation not as an add-on, but as a core driver of transformational change.

BBC Case Study - Implementing Resolution First
Heather Palmer, BBC

Refreshments & Networking


Three Essential Conflict Management Skills for People in Organisations Today and in the Future
Alexandra Efthymiades, Director and Co-founder, Consensio

All working relationships experience conflict at some point. While many relationships manage conflict effectively, others become damaged and need the support of mediators and conflict coaches to help resolve conflict. Today, many organisations are putting more focus and investment into informal resolution, yet employees are still likely to end up in destructive conflict. This interactive session will explore three key conflict management skills that are needed in every organisation, to help all employees build stronger and more resilient working relationships, now and in the future.

CMP

Making mediation an everyday conversation -
Caroline Sheridan, Tracey Fox, David Whincup

Why do so many organisations wait for conflict to escalate before taking action? And why do individuals shy away from the everyday conversations that could make working life less stressful, more collaborative and more fulfilling? In this panel discussion, Sheridan Worldwide’s CEO Caroline Sheridan joins Mediator Tracey Fox and Employment Partner David Whincup to explore the mindsets, beliefs and practical barriers that prevent proactive conflict management. They'll unpack how fear of making a mistake often blocks the development of a resolution culture and suggest that the better way forward involves embedding mediation skills, building confidence and creating workplaces where healthy dialogue is the norm, not the exception.

Lunch & Networking

The Unseen Factor: Navigating Psychological Diversity in Workplace Conflict -
Marie Coombes, CEO, We Restore Calm

Conflict is rarely just about the issue on the table; it's about the unseen differences underneath it. In this interactive session, Marie Coombes explores how psychological diversity - including neurodivergence, mental health variability, trauma, and sensory processing differences - impacts workplace conversations and conflicts. Participants will challenge assumptions, uncover hidden dynamics, and learn why traditional conflict approaches often fail diverse teams. Through live activities and practical strategies, attendees will build an "Inclusive Conversation Toolkit" they can immediately apply. Whether managing a mediation, leading a meeting, or simply having a tough conversation, this session will equip you to create psychologically safe spaces where diverse thinking styles aren't just accommodated, they are actively supported. Come ready to think differently, engage fully, and leave with new tools to make the invisible, visible.

Mediating at the edge - using mediation for sexual harassment and whistleblowing cases
‍Liz Rivers, Mediator, IPOS Mediation
Jane Gunn, Mediator, IPOS Mediation

Sexual harassment and whistleblowing cases are some of the trickiest situations for HR to deal with - handled poorly these allegations can ruin the reputations of leaders and organisations. Given this, you might think that formal investigation is the only appropriate response. Liz and Jane will share real life case studies of how mediation can be used to resolve these delicate situations in a way where everyone is satisfied and nothing is swept under the carpet.

Refreshment & Networking

Before the Break: Mediators Supporting Organisational Climate with Courage and Compassion. An interactive session on early intervention, Ubuntu Round Tables, and building cultures of connection in uncertain times. -
Sarah Boulton, Head of Ubuntu Round Tables Programme and Organisational Development Consultant

In today's context of uncertainty and change, the risk of tension escalating into entrenched conflict threatens to increase. While policies and skills act as anchors and encourage positive behaviour, it's the everyday human experiences- how people feel, connect, and respond under pressure that shape the climate of working life.

Mediators, internal and external, have a vital role in supporting early, compassionate interventions that strengthen trust and connection.

This interactive session explores how to recognise early signals of conflict, lead with courage, and use interventions like Ubuntu Round Tables to support organisations as communities - fostering cultures of understanding, resilience, and repair - before the break.