Our Team

The Consensio team is comprised of the UK’s most experienced conflict management and mediation practitioners.

We are a team of workplace mediators, trainers, coaches and consultants who have worked together for many years. Consensio was set up in 2007 by Anna Shields and Alex Efthymiades.

Anna Shields – Director & Founder


Click here to contact Anna
Anna is one of the UK’s most experienced workplace mediators, who has worked in the conflict resolution field for 15 years. Anna started professional life in executive search at Heidrick and Struggles and as a founding partner at Hammond Haspel. Her interest in conflict dates back to studying International History and Politics at Leeds University. She also has a Diploma in Conflict Resolution/Mediation (Distinction) from Birkbeck, holds two mediation accreditations and is certified with the International Mediation Institute. Anna writes a monthly column for Forbes and she is a regular contributor to HR publications, including Personnel Today and Training Journal.

Anna loves solving Japanese logic problems, playing rusty tennis, cooking for, and spending time with friends and family, and of course mediating!

International Mediation Institute - Consensio Partners - consensiopartners.co.uk

Alex Efthymiades – Director & Founder


Alex Efthymiades - Consensio - DirectorClick here to contact Alex
Alex has over 15 years of experience in the field of organisational conflict resolution and mediation. She has two Master’s degrees, including an M.A. in Organisational Psychology from Columbia University, New York. Whilst living in New York, she became a community mediator in the South Bronx, where she experienced the benefits of resolving conflict through dialogue. Alex has also worked internationally, at the American Red Cross in New York, at a centre for women’s rights in Honduras, and at the United Nations in Geneva. Alex is an accredited workplace mediator, accredited mediation supervisor, and conflict coach. She is regularly interviewed for, and is a regular contributor to HR publications, including The HR Director, People Management and HR Magazine. 

When Alex isn’t working, you’ll find her practicing handstands or doing puzzles with her children, sharing her husband’s home-cooked food with friends, or finding her balance by doing vinyasa yoga and pilates. She loves sunshine.

Alice Mitchell – Operations Manager


Alice is a History graduate, a highly organised, experienced and detail orientated Operations Manager. She spent more than ten years supporting the internationally renowned Australian artist, Tim Maguire, running his extremely busy art business.

She loves bbqs and picnics with friends and family, house renovations, spending time in the garden (in an attempt to be more green-fingered), international travel to warm sunny places, true crime documentaries & running.

Claire Scott – Administrative Assistant


Claire is a creative, organised and logical thinker who thrives on working with processes.  She spent over 15 years working as a merchandiser within the retail industry.

She enjoys cooking, walking, travelling to sunny climates, and spending time with family and friends.

Tania Coke – Senior Consultant


Tania has been working with Consensio since its inception, as a mediator, trainer and writer. Currently her work with Consensio focuses on writing articles and researching new ways to think and act in the face of conflict. Tania’s approach to conflict management draws on a career that spans management consultancy and the performing arts. She discovered mediation in 2003, and has since built her practice as a workplace, commercial and community mediator. Now based in Tokyo, she runs mediation and conflict-management workshops in Europe and in Asia. She has accreditations from Mediation UK, CEDR and the Institute of Leadership and Management.

Tania loves the leaves of the ginkgo tree, the colour of persimmon fruit, and the sight of a new moon. Her favourite thing is waking early, making a cup of tea and then going back to bed.

Carolyn Graham – Senior Consultant


Carolyn is one of the UK’s most experienced workplace mediators and trainers. Carolyn has worked as a senior consultant with Consensio since the company’s inception. Prior to that she worked for 25 years as a senior executive in the arts and entertainment industry, in commercial and not-for-profit sectors. She became a CEDR-accredited mediator in 2002 and has mediated hundreds of workplace and employment disputes since then.

Carolyn’s interests include being a season ticket holding supporter of Arsenal FC, singing in the choir Eclectic Voices, cooking, salsa dancing and collecting jewellery.

Macarena Mata – Senior Consultant


Macarena has been working in the field of conflict resolution for the past 12 years. She works as an accredited mediator (workplace, family and community), trainer and conflict coach. Macarena has lectured on conflict theory and self-awareness and reflective practice at Birkbeck College, and is supervisor to LLM students at the University of Hertfordshire. She is also a Professional Practice Consultant and supervisor to mediators. She has been a member of the Board of Trustees with Mediation Hertfordshire for four years, and is member of the College of Mediators, National Family Mediation, Association for Conflict Resolution and Mediators Beyond Borders.

Macarena enjoys walking in the forest with her husband; watching movies about true events, science fiction and meaningful stories; travelling and discovering new places; cooking and eating with friends; tending to her vegetable beds in the garden, and much more!!!

John Gray – Senior Consultant


John is an organisational development consultant and executive coach. John’s specialist coaching areas include leadership, individual performance and effectiveness, organisational change, and strategic planning. John also offers conflict coaching; and his other professional roles include supervision of coaches and mediators; training in supervision skills, and in conflict management; teaching coaching for the Academy of Executive Coaching; and he is an Associate with the University of York’s Centre for Applied Human Rights. As a coach he is accredited by both the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and the International Coaching Federation.

John’s interests include running, walking, reading, painting, parenting, 70’s & 80’s music, grassroots green actions and travel. 

Kisane Prutton – Senior Consultant


Kisane is a Chartered Psychologist (Occupational), Chartered Scientist, accredited coach and qualified mediator. She has been working with public and private sector businesses for over 20 years, assisting them to improve performance by focusing on the human factors. Specialising in conflict resolution, mediation and conflict coaching, Kisane also provides executive coaching, change management support and training.

Kisane is undertaking a part-time Ph.D. in the psychology of peace-building and she is a guest lecturer at a number of universities. Kisane’s interests include cooking, photography, tennis and walking.

Danielle Ratcliffe – Senior Consultant


Over 15 years ago, Danielle was inspired by the power of conflict resolution to prevent homelessness in young people.  She worked for a youth charity and established a project that offered services to over 200 mediation and housing services across the UK. Today, Danielle is a qualified trainer, workplace mediator and community mediator.  She has worked across commercial, public and charity sectors, and is noted for her calm and diplomatic approach. 

Danielle’s interests include the theatre, family time, pilates, relaxing with friends and travelling when she has time!

Colin Moulds – Senior Consultant


Colin has been working in the field of workplace mediation for the past 14 years. He works as an accredited workplace mediator across private and public sectors, in charity and also church settings. Colin is also an experienced trainer and coach in the field of conflict transformation. Prior to his involvement in mediation, Colin worked in the private sector at senior management levels looking after Customer Experience and Business Improvement.

Colin’s interests include football, DIY, enjoying time with his grandchildren and gardening.

Nikki Robson – Senior Consultant


Nikki is a highly experienced trainer, coach and accredited workplace mediator. Formerly Head of Learning & Development and Head of Corporate Development in a large public sector organisation, Nikki has worked with senior leaders and their teams helping them to deliver objectives more effectively. Her particular focus is on leadership development and delivering business change. Nikki combines her extensive experience of organisational challenges with an engaging and inclusive approach to resolving conflict. She is also an accredited mediation supervisor.

Nikki is active in her local community in a number of voluntary roles. She enjoys cooking, walking, gardening and eating with friends. She is also a Zumba fitness instructor.

Johanna Whelehan – Senior Consultant


Johanna is a highly experienced workplace mediator, facilitator and trainer, and is passionate about improving workplace conversations and relationships. She has a background in languages and legal publishing, and comes from an executive role as Head of Resolution. She has designed and delivered conflict management, L&D and coaching solutions for some of the UK’s biggest brands, as well as governmental departments and NHS Trusts. Johanna also has extensive proficiency in the design and implementation of in-house mediation schemes.

Johanna is an avid reader of fiction, enthusiastic train traveller and flat white consumer. She cycles and swims often.

Jane Hack – Customer Experience Manager


Jane is a communications specialist with over 20 years of experience. She has worked in a variety of senior roles in both small and large organisations, across the public and private sectors. Jane holds a CIM Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing, and has also studied Psychology.

Jane is an avid Auntie. When she’s not running around after her nieces, you can find her at Pilates or spending time with friends. She loves to be beside the seaside and tries to take in the sea air at least once a month, rain or shine.

Barry Smith – Client Development Manager


Barry is passionate about customer engagement and always strives to put the customer at the heart of everything he does. He has 30 years of experience in sales and marketing leadership, and understands the unique needs of clients, resulting in enduring partnerships built on trust and respect.

Barry is very active outside of the office; he is a keen cyclist, on and off-road, and he also runs and attends gym classes. His other passion is acting, and he is a regular supporting artist in TV & Film, and has recently starred in a number of short films.

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