University of St Andrews

Who are the Mediators?

The Mediators are students and staff members from The University of St Andrews who have undertaken formal mediation training that has been accredited by Scottish Mediation. The Mediators receive regular refresher training and reflective practice to enhance their mediation skills.

The Mediators act impartially and separately from University Schools and Services. They are solely interested in helping you reach a mutually acceptable solution. They will create a safe and supportive environment so that you can talk about what has happened, how it has affected you and others involved and collaboratively search for options and find agreeable outcomes.

Student mediators are part of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies and studying an MLitt/MPhil in Peacebuilding and Mediation. Our staff mediators are:

Ruth Unsworth

Ruth Unsworth is the Head of Mediation and Wellbeing. She has worked at the University for over 14 years. Ruth is a qualified Mediator and is registered with Scottish Mediation. Ruth is also accredited as a Therapist by the 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. 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 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 developed the Wellbeing, Counselling and Mental Health Matched Care framework that received accreditation from APPTS (a service development, quality improvement and accreditation network for services providing psychological therapy to adults in the UK run by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in partnership with the British Psychological Society). Ruth has many years’ experience of working with students; providing therapy and helping to resolve disagreement or conflict situations.

Ruth is the Chair of the University Mental Health Taskforce, Co- Chair of the Equally Safe Group. She is on Universities Scotland Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Group and is on the Research Advisory Board for the national research into Thriving Scottish Learners.

Rebecca Swarbrick

Rebecca Swarbrick is Deputy Head of Mediation for Mediation and Wellbeing, training mediators and running conflict resolution workshops. She is a qualified and experienced mediator, registered with Scottish Mediation. Rebecca has an M(Phil) 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

Ruth Woodfield is a Professor of Equalities & Organisation in the University of St Andrews Business School.  

She has worked at St Andrews 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 AVP 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, that highlighted the need for the Mediation Service.  

Ruth has research expertise in equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace generally and higher education in particular. In her career, she has worked with staff and students in a number of roles that have required listening, facilitating, problem solving and support skills.

Louise Nixon

Louise Nixon has worked at the University since 2006, first starting as a 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 as well as other public sector bodies, all within the HR profession, prior to joining the University.

Louise completed a certificate in National Certificate in Workplace Mediation in 2010 and refresher mediation training in 2021 and actively continues CPD. She led a number of 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 totally independent and confidential from her role at the University. With an Undergraduate Degree in Organisational Behaviour and a Masters in HRM, Louise is interested in people-centred initiatives. She likes to help and facilitate people to take ownership and resolve conflict constructively. Louise is a member of the Mental Health Task Force and Equally safe working groups as well as 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

Julie Brooks is Director of Postgraduate Programmes in the Business School.

She has worked at the University of St Andrews 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 prior to 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 and facilitated conversations between various people and across organisations. She spent 7 years living in Russia and is a fluent Russian speaker. While living in Russia she was involved in negotiations between Russian and US government officials at the regional and national level. During her time in Scotland and prior to taking up her current role, she worked as the Community Planning Coordinator for Fife, a role that worked between Fife Council, NHS Fife, the Fife Police and CVS Fife. Her current role requires listening, facilitating, problem solving and support skills both in 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

Boyka Bratanova is Senior Lecturer in Management in the Department of Management. She has worked at St Andrews 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 alternative conflict resolution, such as mediation. 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

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 both student and staff wellbeing and improving practices with respect to 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 influence his approach to mediation and facilitates honest and pragmatic discussion to achieve constructive conflict resolution. Undertaking accredited training has allowed Jason to build upon these skills and he is keen to continue to develop these through being an active member of the University Mediation service.

Leon Watson

Leon Watson is a Scottish Mediation accredited mediator, having completed his 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. Mediations 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, as well as mediating a wide range of disputes.

Anna Stefaniak

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 specializes 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

Euan Crabb is the manager in the School of Chemistry. 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 HE 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 and with this comes the experience of managing and resolving disputes, which are key skills to mediation. Euan has successfully 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 the Angus, Dundee, and Perth areas. Euan also enjoys playing golf and regularly plays around the Brechin and St Andrews areas. He said that it's a source of good exercise, even if the golf is not always very successful.

Andrew Duff

Andrew is a cleaner in the Main Library. He has worked for the University for two years. He 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

Louise Soutar is an Executive Officer working within the Office of the Principal.

She joined the University in 2018 and has worked on several high-profile projects including the relocation of the majority of professional services staff to Walter Bower House at the Eden Campus. Drawing on 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 lend themselves well to the mediation process and, 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 within this area.

Daniela Balslev

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 be in a better position 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 one can learn the skills that change a dispute into an opportunity for growth.