Board of Directors

Ryan Compton is a distinguished leader in the mediation sector, recognized for his expertise, determination, and unwavering commitment to accessibility. As the Chair of the College of Mediators, Ryan has been a pivotal board member since 2018, driving the development of professional standards, digital infrastructure, and sector-wide inclusivity.

With a portfolio of thousands of successful mediations, Ryan is a multi-disciplinary expert accredited in several key areas:
- Family Mediation: Specialising in complex financial settlements and child arrangements.
- Civil & Commercial: Resolving business and legal disputes.
- Disability Mediation: A pioneer in the field, Ryan co-founded the national standards for disability mediation and leads initiatives focused on equality and diversity.
- Coaching & Training: An accomplished mentor and trainer, providing specialised disability awareness and professional development.

Ryan’s professional journey is defined by a unique perspective and incredible personal resolve. As the first blind mediator accredited by the Family Mediation Council in England and Wales, he has transformed personal challenges into a professional masterclass in active listening and process management.

Beyond the mediation room, his impact is felt through:
- Collaborative work with the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
- Nine years of dedicated service as a Samaritans volunteer.
- Named Community Mediator of the Year (2019) by the College of Mediators and the Civil Mediation Council.

Today, Ryan leads Access Mediation Services, where he continues to champion the belief that mediation should be accessible to all. His work across various industry working groups ensures he remains at the forefront of mediation practice, constantly evolving the landscape of dispute resolution.

Martin is a Chartered Accountant who moved into commercial, community and workplace mediation when he qualified as a commercial mediator after training with CEDR. Martin is a Civil Mediation Council (CMC) Registered Mediator, is an Expert Determiner with the Academy of Experts, as well as being a member of the Society of Mediators.

Chris Makin joined the Board early in 2021 to help develop civil & commercial mediation in the College. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, of the Chartered Management Institute and of the Academy of Experts, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is accredited as a mediator by the Academy of Experts and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and is also an accredited expert determiner (a specialised form of arbitration). After a 20-year career as a general practitioner, from sole trader to partner in an international firm, he has been a full-time forensic accountant and expert witness for over 30 years. Having spent far too long with lawyers and in courts of law (in which, regrettably, he is still active!) he is a keen advocate of mediation (120 to date) and expert determination (40 to date). At ICAEW he has served on the forensic committee and the ethics advisory committee, and he continues to serve on the investigation committee at the Academy of Experts. He also serves as a volunteer counsellor for chartered accountants with ethical and disciplinary problems.

Hugo Besterman joined the Board in 2022 as a specialist in SEND Mediation. Whilst he has experience of mediating in other contexts, education is his area of expertise. In addition to completing around 50 mediations per year, he supervises and mentors a growing team of mediators. He created a popular SEND-specialist training course that he delivers to mediators (accredited by the College and CMC), along with a range of bespoke workshops that he has devised for other parties in mediation e.g. council officers, teachers, and parent groups. Before training as a mediator, he spent 14 years as a biology teacher in several different types of school. During his teaching career, he held positions in senior leadership and took on significant responsibility for the pastoral care of pupils. On top of his busy mediating schedule, he travels widely to present to key stakeholders in the education sector about the benefits of using mediation to resolve disputes in schools. Hugo is passionate about education in the broadest sense, especially the rights of children and young people to have access to it, regardless of their circumstances. He has dedicated his career to helping schools, families and education authorities foster constructive relationships.

Prof. Andrew Goodman LLB MBA PhD FCIArb FInstCPD FRSA has 44 years’ experience as an independent commercial barrister and nearly 30 years as an international consulting mediator (CEDR 1993). He is an award-winning thought leader in the field of mediation and mediation advocacy, and practices in up to 20 jurisdictions both as a mediator and an IMI Mediation Advocate, trainer and consultant. Andrew holds a number of visiting academic posts and advises governments, Bars, corporations and institutions on conflict avoidance and dispute management systems. He is a Master of the Bench of the Inner Temple and a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators.

Martha has been helping people to resolve problems for almost 30 years, both as a barrister and a mediator. She trained in mediation at the same time as being called to the Bar, and for many years practised in both spheres, adapting her skills according to which hat (or wig and gown!) she was wearing.

In 2016 she retired from the Bar, wishing to focus all her energy on mediation as the preferred option for conflict resolution, recognising the benefits of a non-adversarial, user-friendly and accessible forum.

She is currently Chief Operating Officer at Global Mediation Limited, specialising in the development and promotion of SEND mediation, dedicated to helping to resolve disagreements and improve relationships between local authorities and families with children or young people with special educational needs or disabilities.
In these exciting time for mediation, Martha is keen to work as a representative of the College of Mediators with members, Government and other professional organisations to spread the word as to the positive impact mediation can have on all areas of dispute.

Louisa Spicer joined the Board in June 2024. Having previously practiced as an employment lawyer she moved into working in HR in 2007, with a focus on contentious employee relations.

She qualified as a workplace mediator in 2019 and champions mediation as a restorative approach to help employees resolve conflict constructively, rather than relying on rigid formal procedures that seldom improve relationships between those involved. She is pleased to serve as a representative of the College of Mediators, working to expand the role of mediation in a wider range of conflict while also supporting members in their mediation practice.