Meet The Team

Steven has been involved in Special Educational Needs since 2014 and has overseen the conversion of approx. 3000 Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) and the transition of approx. 1000 young people across various stages of education.

Steven has several years of experience in numerous aspects of administration and has interacted with multiple Local Authorities and has a keen eye for detail which has aided him in writing, annotating and critiquing of approx. 300 EHCP’s.

Steven has a great interest in technology, in both software and hardware and enjoys building his own computers, creating websites and designing his own software to help with everyday tasks.

Dominic is the managing director of Collis Mediation Ltd. Dominic comes to mediation from a commercial background, having spent much of his 30yr career at the most senior level in industry.  As a mediator, Dominic is often instructed in complex, multi-dimensional, high-value commercial disputes and SEND.

Dominic has a very direct and solution-focussed approach to mediation which is built on his proven experience having chaired in excess of 3,500 mediations to date, placing him as one of the most experienced mediators in the country.

His judicious outlook taken alongside his knowledge, skills and expertise transfer seamlessly into SEND Practice where he has become a respected maven on statutory process, to point that he is a UK Registered Expert Witness in SEND. 

Dominic is on the Board of Director's of the CMC, a CMC Accredited SEND Mediator, Fellow member of the Chartered Management Institute, Trustee and Founding Panel Member of the Society of Mediators and his organisation is a CMC Approved Training Provider and Ministry of Justice Approved Mediation Provider. 

Dominic has a strong sense of social responsibility and ensures that the business operates with compassion, empathy and positive effect for the environment and society as a whole. This is done through both various charitable donations,  sponsorships and internal initiatives and pledges. 

Dominic is an adoptive parent of siblings and is a single figure golfer. When not on the golf course, he likes to spend his free time in the kitchen. 

Nicola comes to Mediation from a Legal background, having practiced Criminal Law for 11 years before completing a PhD in Social Sciences. 

Nicola has a wealth of experience in SEND Mediation & Disagreement Resolution as well as experience in managing complex Appeals at First Tier Tribunal. Nicola also delivers CMC Accredited SEND Training Courses and Workshops across the country to SEND Professionals and organisations.

As a SEND Parent, Nicola possesses a unique insight into the stress and anxiety parents often face when engaging with statutory processes and procedures within the world of Education, in particular when embarking on the Appeals process. 

Nicola has attended a number of courses and workshops with the National Autistic Society and the National Health Service concerning Autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorders and Speech, Language & Communication development.  

Nicola is a UK Registered Expert Witness in SEND and a registered member of the Civil Mediation Council, College of Mediators, CiLEX , Restorative Justice Council and Neurodiversity in Law.

With regard to personal interests and hobbies, Nicola is a keen equestrian and has adopted a number of rescue ponies from Redwings Horse Charity. Nicola is a Trustee for Oaks Meadow CIO which promotes green spaces designed to improve social emotional and mental health for children and adolescents living in rural areas. Nicola also likes Travelling, in particular to the Far East and French Polynesia.

Nancy comes to mediation from a Nursing & Midwifery background. Nancy has also been a research fellow, a director in a successful family business, a consultant and qualified trainer in the public, private and third sector.

Nancy trained as a SEND Mediator in 2015 and is on the SEND Register, which is jointly maintained by the CMC and CoM. Nancy has worked for Collis Mediation Ltd for four years as a SEND Mediator and also takes part in training and mentoring newly qualified mediators. 

Nancy places great emphasis on creating a calming space, where all participants can feel safe in sharing their experiences, thoughts and fears with each other in order to find a way forward together. 

As well as SEND, Nancy is accredited in Civil & Commercial, Workplace & Employment, and  International Online Mediation. She has specialist mediation training in restorative facilitation, mental health and working with the vulnerable and elderly in community practice. 

Nancy works primarily by way of connected (online & telephone) mediations and trains other mediators in using Zoom. She is a registered Mediator with the CMC, member of Society of Mediators and on the board of the Association of Northern Mediators.

Nancy has a genuine interest in others and shows a great depth of resilience, patience and humility. Nancy enjoys spending her free time with family, in particular with children and baking.

Rosie comes to mediation from an education background having occupied the senior positions of Headteacher and Vice Principal for Inclusion in mainstream primary and secondary schools, respectively. Rosie also has extensive experience of working in Specialist provisions e.g., for deaf children.

Rosie is an Accredited SEND Mediator and is on the jointly maintained CMC and CoM SEND Register of professionals. Rosie has undergone extensive training in ‘Special Educational Needs’ and ‘Bridging Extreme Differences.’ 

Alongside her SEND practice, Rosie also facilitates Workplace, as well as Community Mediations and delivers training in Mediation Skills.

In addition to her career in education, Rosie qualified with the Royal Institute of British Architects with a post graduate RIBA part 2 and designed a small building in South London. 

She has also completed the ‘Women Transforming Leadership’ programme and the Oxford Programme in Negotiation at the Said Business School at Oxford University, as well as the Advanced Mediation Workshop: ‘Mediating Complex Disputes’ at Harvard Law School.

When not working, Rosie relaxes by being in, on or under water: including rowing, swimming, and taking water taxis on the Thames, as well as being an avid photographer and walker.

Bruce practises as both a SEND mediator and a commercial mediator. On commercial matters he deals with shareholder and director disputes, intellectual property, and general contract disputes.

Prior to embarking on a career as a mediator, Bruce spent twenty years in business and built two businesses from start-up to sale. On the long journey from starting a business, building a team and eventually passing the business on to new owners, Bruce has managed numerous negotiations and resolved many disputes.

Bruce’s education experience comes from spending over ten years as a school governor, including four years as Chair of Governors. He has sat on the selection and interview panel for numerous education leadership appointments, including several headteacher appointments. Bruce uses his finance and business experience to deliver a specialist course for legal professionals called "Maths for Smart Lawyers", which he designed to help lawyers become as comfortable with numbers as they are with words.

Bruce is an ADR Group Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator, a Civil Mediation Council Registered Mediator, an accredited SEND mediator and a member of the Society of Mediators.

Bruce designed and built the house where he now lives with his family. When not working or looking for another house to rebuild, Bruce enjoys windsurfing, flying trapeze and running.

Martin comes to SEND Mediation from a career in Education, including Outdoor Education, Mainstream and Specialist Provision. Since the 2014 SEND reforms he has worked in the public sector initially with the conversion to EHCP process and then in SEND management including significant experience in SEND, working collaboratively with families and settings, SEND Mediaitons and appeals to the first tier tribunal.

Martin is a Commercial and Civil Mediator and an Accredited SEND Mediator and is on the jointly maintained CMC and CoM SEND Register of professionals and a member of the Society of Mediators.

Martin has an in depth knowledge of SEND and legal frameworks that it sits within and is adept at helping others to understand the world of send and the challenges that can prevail.

Martin has a lifelong love of the outdoors and enjoys fell running, biking, walking, kayaking and triathlon. He is a qualified coach in a number of areas and is currently chair and head coach of the local Junior Triathlon Club.

Pip (Philippa) comes to SEND Mediation from a career in central government, via international conflict and the United Nations. Her early career was spent in Whitehall, before living and working in several conflict-affected countries (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Kenya), delivering programmes on the ground that sought to address the root causes of conflict. Pip uses the experience and skills she developed in international conflict environments to reduce the negative effects of conflicts closer to home and she continues to support and train UN teams.

Pip has been a Samaritans volunteer for 25 years and loves her role because it’s an opportunity to be there for someone when they really need it. A key thread throughout her career has been listening and supporting difficult conversations to be held. Her ability to communicate with people from all walks of life, at times of extreme stress, gives her a highly effective mediation style.

Pip is practical, calm and incisive.  A CEDR-trained, CMC-registered mediator, Pip now focuses on SEND mediation and also workplace and team mediations.  She quickly builds rapport with parties and works flexibly to create a problem-solving environment where constructive discussions can be held.  She routinely receives excellent feedback from clients for delivering strong results and for her collaborative, empathetic approach to supporting relationships that have become fractious and dysfunctional.

Pip is also an active trainer and delivers training both for new mediators and for managers who want to apply the mediation skill-set to support early resolution in their teams. Course participants have praised her encouraging and supportive approach to training, creating a space where they feel safe to take risks and try out their developing skillsets.

When not working, Pip loves cooking (and eating), tootling on her clarinet and saxophone and is learning to sail. Originally from Fiji, she loves to travel to warm countries and hopes that, after about 5 years of trying, this year will be the year that she finally manages to complete a Cryptic Crossword!

Zeina comes to SEND Mediation from a career in Local Authority SEND Management which began when she joined a Pathfinder Local Authority in 2013, shortly before the SEND Reforms came into force. Zeina has extensive experience in SEND Mediations, SEND Tribunal Appeals, as well as complex case management, working collaboratively with young people, parents and families to resolve disputes.

Zeina’s interest in SEND began when she worked in a Designated Special Provision in a mainstream school. She then went on to complete an MA in Child Studies – the focus of which was to put children and young people at the centre of policy and practice development, across education, health and care. Zeina’s research explored the barriers to inclusion that young people with SEND face in mainstream secondary school.

Zeina has previously worked in the voluntary sector being involved in policy and research projects on the experiences of unaccompanied young refugees and the impact of Welfare Reform on charities and the vulnerable groups they support. 

Originally from the Middle East, Zeina enjoys visiting family abroad; this also helps maintain her linguistic skills (Arabic and French). More recently Zeina has taken a keen interest in health and wellbeing, practising Pilates and Meditation alongside regular Acupuncture and Reflexology treatments. Her young family keeps her busy, but when the opportunity arises, Zeina enjoys concerts, festivals, and musical theatre.