Ruth Chapman
I am a founding member of Dunedin Community Mediation with a background in education, unions and mediation. Before my retirement I was the University Mediator at the University of Otago.
I was part of the small group which took up the challenge offered by the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies to develop a mediation service in Dunedin for those who might not otherwise be able to access it.
We launched in 2014 and my roles, then and now, were as a board member and as Mediator Co-ordinator, leading the panel of mediators who provide their services voluntarily to support and develop our kaupapa.
Daniel Fridberg
I have been a board member since 2021.
Originally from Israel, over the past 20 years, I have practiced and specialised in a wide range of conflict resolution practices including mediation; negotiation; dialogue group facilitation; peacebuilding project management and evaluation; public participation and consensus building processes; research; training and teaching.
I hold a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Otago, a BA in Psychology and an MA in Conflict Research, Management and Resolution from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
I am the head of programme of the Graduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution (level 7) at Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga and the founder of the Otago Peer Mediation Centre – a peer mediation service for the student community of the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic.
I am honoured to be a board member of DCM and am happy to support the mediators’ professional development in any capacity I can.
Jo Oranje
I am the Board’s newest member, having joined in January 2022.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Graduate Diploma in Second Language Teaching, a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and a PhD in Applied Linguistics/Education (2016), all from Otago.
My postgraduate research focused on the role of culture in language learning and the intercultural communicative approach to language teaching.
I think DCM’s key strength is making highly experienced and qualified mediators available at no cost.
Please feel comfortable making enquiries with DCM if you are in a challenging situation that you feel unable to productively resolve yourself.
Max Reid
Max joined the DCM team as Manager in late 2018.
The only paid member of the team, Max is employed for 8 hours per week to manage the intake of mediation requests and inquiries, allocate these to our volunteer mediators where appropriate, and lead DCM’s fundraising and promotional activities.
Originally training in conflict resolution through an Industrial Relations degree many (many!) years ago, Max has held various paid and voluntary roles in the health and social services sectors over the past 20+ years. Max is currently a Portfolio Manager with Whaikaha | the Ministry of Disabled People.
Tushar Robins
I joined the Dunedin Community Mediation (DCM) Board in 2017 as the Secretary.
I was involved with the Dunedin Multi-Ethnic Council from 2004 to 2011 and during that time served on the committee as a member, the Secretary and the President.
After joining the Board I attended training organised by DCM, and am a member of the mediator and coaching groups. I am grateful to the DCM for their ongoing mentorship and training, to help us to continually improve our skills.
It is a privilege to be a part of DCM and to help empower people in the community to resolve their own disputes.
Alan Shanks
I have been a board member since 2014 and am currently the board chair.
I have a Post Graduate Diploma in not-for-profit Management and a Ministry Internship Diploma in Theology, and was a marriage celebrant for 35 years.
My employment history includes banking, a legal executive, General Manager of a Hotel and Conference complex, Mortgage Broker, and an Executive Officer of a not-for-profit organisation.
My community service past and present has included, a school trustee, treasurer for the Maranatha Fellowship Trust and St John Ambulance Taieri Sub–Centre, board member on the Saddle Hill Foundation Trust, Otago Mental Health Support Trust and Multiple Sclerosis Society Otago.
My responsibility on the board includes Finance, Funding and Marketing.
To be associated with the organisation is a real privilege and I am committed to giving of my time at a governance level where people can receive support from skilled mediators in order that conflicts can be resolved.
Carolyne Smith
I am a founding member of DCM, and became a board member in 2014.
I have a degree in Psychology and Physical Education from Birmingham University, a Master’s in Education, and a Postgraduate certificate in Educational Psychology as well as a PhD from Otago University.
I have enjoyed a varied career, mostly in education at all levels, with a foray into managing the Dunedin Youth Hostel in the early 80s, when I first arrived from the UK.
For 17 years I was a mediation trainer for the New Zealand Peace Foundation until 2013, and for the past 23 years I have been, and still am, a Restorative Justice facilitator, managing meetings between the victims and offenders in the Justice system.
On the board I share a responsibility for publicity, and am responsible for organising DCM courses for new mediator training.
I hope that DCM encourages people to try and solve their disputes with others, rather than using any of the alternative behaviours such as ignoring, which are seldom effective.