About Veritas Mediation Academy
Meet Veritas Mediation Academy
At Veritas Mediation Academy, we train the next generation of mediation professionals with a practical, human, and high‑quality approach.
We are a specialist, accredited school in mediation. Our commitment is to deliver rigorous, up‑to‑date training that reflects the realities of professional practice and prepares you for a confident career as a mediator.
Our team consists of highly experienced mediators who combine their extensive practice knowledge with a genuine passion for teaching and mentoring.
We believe mediation is not just a profession, but a tool for positive social transformation. That is why we equip our learners to do more than resolve disputes — we prepare them to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people who come to mediation.
Get to know our team
Stuart M. Hanson BMus (Hons), FMCA, PPC, QTLS, MSET, FSoM, JP
Head of Quality & Learning
Stuart is an accredited family mediator (Family Mediation Council) and a civil, commercial, and workplace mediator (Civil Mediation Council). He is also a Professional Practice Consultant (PPC), Legal Aid internal supervisor, and qualified teacher with QTLS status, underpinned by a Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training.
At Veritas Mediation Academy, Stuart leads on quality assurance, curriculum development, and training delivery. He mentors aspiring mediators and oversees the academic standards of the Foundation Training and CPD programmes.
A Fellow of the Society of Mediators and member of both Resolution and the Society for Education and Training, Stuart currently serves on Resolution’s national Legal Aid and Family Mediation Committee. He was previously a family magistrate in Leeds and has held leadership positions with the College of Mediators.
Stuart has twice received a National Mediation Award (2018 and 2024), and in 2024 and 2025 was shortlisted respectively for Resolution’s Innovation Champion and Legal Aid Practitioner of the Year awards. He is also the External Reviewer for the LLM in Digital Dispute Resolution at Leeds Beckett University.
Lesley Dudleston FMCA, DET
Quality & Learning Manager & Lead Trainer
Lesley is an FMCA-accredited all-issues mediator and qualified trainer. She delivers foundation training and ongoing CPD, with a focus on reflective practice, client-centred approaches, and mediator confidence. Lesley plays a key role in developing the Academy’s training and assessment materials and brings over 25 years’ experience in research and strategy to the Academy.
Dawn Stainer BA (Hons), FMCT, PGCE (from January 2026)
Head of Assessment & Online Safety Coordinator
Dawn is a multi-skilled mediator and senior educator with a legal background and extensive assessment expertise. She holds roles with several awarding bodies as an assessor and internal verifier, and serves as a moderator for Civil Mediation Council qualifications. She delivers mediation and education training in the UK and internationally and is a family mediator registered with the Family Mediation Council.
Gokhan Ozkan PhD
Virtual Learning Environment Lead
Gökhan is a PhD-qualified learning scientist and international instructional design consultant. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Learning Sciences from Boğaziçi University and specialises in creating AI-enhanced, learner-centred digital education systems. As the designer of the Veritas Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Gökhan brings theoretical knowledge to life through intuitive, research-informed design. In addition to his role at Veritas, Gökhan works with the NATO Defence College, contributing to digital innovation in defence education.
Jan Coulton LLB (Hons), FMCA, PPC
Trainer
Jan is one of the UK’s most respected family mediators, with over 30 years’ experience and a background as a qualified solicitor. She is an FMCA-accredited mediator, Professional Practice Consultant (PPC), and a two-time winner of the National Mediation Award for Family Mediation. Jan is a director of the Family Mediation Council. She leads accredited training for aspiring mediators and delivers specialist courses in intergenerational, inheritance, and elder mediation. Jan continues to support practitioners across England through her PPC services and ongoing mentoring.
Eugene Opperman B Proc, LLB
Trainer
Eugene is a South African attorney, accredited mediator, and a specialist in family law with over 23 years of experience in family mediation, child maintenance, domestic violence, and children’s matters such as parenting plans and care arrangements. He is also the co-founder of the Institute for Social Development & Justice, advocating for accessible, socially responsive dispute resolution. Eugene is affiliated with several professional mediation bodies in South Africa and the UK, and is fluent in both English and Afrikaans.
Allison Borchardt B Cur
Disability Support Officer & Trainer
Allison is a qualified nurse and accredited mediator with a strong commitment to inclusive, person-centred practice. She holds a BCur degree in Nursing Science from the University of Stellenbosch and is accredited with both the Social Justice Association of Mediators (SJAM) and ADR Network SA in South Africa. At Veritas Mediation Academy, Allison develops course content and delivers training with a focus on accessibility and learner wellbeing. As the Academy’s Disability Support Officer, she works closely with students who require additional support to ensure equitable access to all aspects of training.
Dorian Ramirez Sosa PhD
Head of Admin & Finance
Dorian oversees the operational and financial management of the Academy. Originally from Mexico, Dorian holds a PhD from the University of Leeds. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dorian plays a key role in supporting the organisation in meeting its administrative and compliance responsibilities.
Nadia Chalkley BA
Student Support Coordinator
Nadia is a communications specialist with expertise in international student relations and public engagement. Holding a BA in Communications from the University of Johannesburg, her experience spans marketing, fundraising, radio broadcasting, and cross-cultural communications. She has worked across Africa in roles requiring adaptability and clear communication, contributing to higher education by enhancing enrolment processes, orientation programmes, and student exchanges. At Veritas, Nadia ensures learners are guided and supported throughout their training journey, helping them achieve their goals.
The Veritas Mediation Academy way
Commitment to excellence
We deliver high-quality, up-to-date and accredited training programmes, developed by experts in mediation and conflict resolution.
Professionalism
We promote an ethical, rigorous and professional approach throughout all of our courses and interactions.
Inclusivity
Our training is open to a wide range of professionals, from newcomers to experienced individuals in legal, social and educational fields.
Lifelong learning
We believe in training as an ongoing journey that enables professionals to grow and respond to new challenges.
Social impact
We train mediators who are able to turn conflict into dialogue, making a meaningful and positive contribution to society.
Supportive approach
We support our learners every step of the way, with a warm, human and accessible approach.
Start your journey today
