Professional Background

Fiona has a strong business background having worked for the greater part of her career at Board level for major PLCs. She was Group Human Resources Director of Cable and Wireless plc 1991-6, which was a FTSE top 20 global telecommunications company with over 50 businesses and 60,000 employees worldwide, and subsequently of International Computers Ltd (ICL PLC)(now part of Fujitsu) 1997-2001. Previously, Fiona was Personnel Director of Mercury Communications Ltd from 1984 -1991, which grew from 200 to over 10,000 employees and was Europe’s fastest growing Company.

In her early career Fiona held senior positions in the public sector, as a Director and Non-Executive Director within the National Health Service (NHS). While working in industry, Fiona gained invaluable expertise in general business projects, mergers & acquisitions, disposals, partnerships, complex employment, change management and pension issues. Fiona is also very able and experienced at working globally within different cultures.

 

Professional Skills

  • Lead mediator with both business and people skills.
  • Coach on interpersonal relationships, post mediation situations and in conflict situations.
  • Consultant on the use of mediation, dispute resolution processes and policies (including in disciplinary and grievance policies), and conflict management systems.
  • Instigator and designer of a number of dispute resolution processes and mediation schemes.
  • Trainer on mediation and conflict resolution skills.
  • Conference speaker and presenter on Conflict Management, the Use of Mediation and the mediation skill set in business, organisations, employment and workplace, the NHS and pensions sector.
  • Author of articles and commentaries on Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Conflict management.
  • Key contributor to the book ‘Effective Conflict Management’ – a publication for the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
  • Key contributor to the book ‘How to master Negotiation’- a publication for business negotiators.

 

Current Appointments

  • CEDR Director, CEDR Mediator 2004 to present date
  • CEDR Chambers and Lead Faculty member
  • ACAS Panel Arbitrator 2006
  • Faculty member and Coach – Henley Business School 2008
  • Director, People Matter Consultancy Limited
  • Trustee, John Constable Educational Trust and Governor, Moat School, London.

 

Corporate Career – Board Level Roles

  • ICL plc, (International Computers Limited) now part of Fujitsu, Group Human Resources Director 1997-2001 (30,000 employees)
  • Group Human Resources Director, Cable and Wireless plc 1991-1996 (60,000 employees)
  • Personnel Director of Mercury Communications Limited 1984 to 1991(10,000 employees)
  • Pension Trustee and Chair-  Cable and Wireless plc 1991-1996 and ICL plc Pension Trustee 1997-2001
  • Non-Executive Adviser to Mannaz, Denmark 2003-2008

 

NHS Executive and Non-Executive roles

  • Personnel Director, Towers Hamlets Health District 1982-1984
  • Personnel Director, Hospitals for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street 1979-1982
  • Non-Executive Director of St George’s Healthcare Trust from 1992-1999.

 

Qualifications

  • Certificate in Coaching, Henley Business School, Reading University 2006
  • Accredited CEDR Mediator 2003
  • Graduate- Advanced Management programme, Harvard Business School, USA 1995
  • FCIPD, Fellow Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development 1978
  • Member Institute of Health Management 1978
  • BA Honours, History, York University 1974.

 

Awards
Winner of European Woman of Achievement Award 1992.