Susan joined mediation1st in 2007. She was the first mediator to join Martin on the mediation1st panel. For more than a decade, mediation1st was Susan, Martin and Mandy. The reputation that mediation1st was able to build up in those years stands as a testament to Susan's skill and ability.
She was a brilliant mediator. Kind, but firm when she had to be. Compassionate, but also commercial. A small selection of feedback from her mediations appears below, and speaks for itself. In that first decade the National Mediator Database maintained a league table of all mediators in the UK, based on client feedback, and Susan climbed that table to be ranked in the top five mediators in the country. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of people whose lives are no longer blighted by the shadow of a dispute because of Susan's skills.
Susan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the Summer of 2024. Typically, she carried on mediating with the same excellent results that she achieved throughout her career. Even in her last days she was anxious to know that her future mediation bookings had all found new mediators. She died peacefully on the afternoon of 9 June 2025, surrounded by family and loved ones.
Susan leaves a husband, Michal, and our thoughts are with him and with Susan's family and friends.
We at mediation1st have lost a colleague and a friend. We will carry on, because we have to, and because we know that Susan would be the first to tell us to get on with it! But right now there's a hole in our mediator panel, and we shall never quite fill it.
Rest in peace, Susan.
A small sample of Feedback received about Susan:
"I honestly feel very blessed that you were our mediator yesterday. You were an integral part in making it a success for us and I'm indebted to you for bringing this family saga to a close. I will never forget your kindness, patience and empathy Susan".
"Susan was instrumental to the resolution of this matter in a hostile environment between both clients and unfortunately between the legal advisors. She managed throughout to keep the mediation on track when both parties felt that the mediation would fail, fully explaining issues to the client in a way which was understood and with candour which was appreciated. Feedback from the client was wonderful and her style was well received."
"Thank you for your hard work in achieving a settlement in what was a difficult case. The clients particularly appreciated your understanding of their position. I will definitely instruct you again as all the occasions I have used you, you have always interacted with the clients to make them feel at ease and clearly put in the effort to achieve a settlement. That is appreciated."
"Susan far exceeded our expectations. Thoroughly professional, courteous and very pleasant. Her warm, natural style put us at ease and her professionalism and knowledge gave us total confidence. Very happy with the outcome. Many, many thanks."
"Susan has a lovely empathetic manner and has patience in spades full. No one feels rushed or under pressure but yet momentum is maintained. She was just what the parties (who could not have been more different in their respective natures) needed."
“An exceptionally gifted mediator. Client handling was second to none. Exudes empathy which drew both lay parties into the process as active participants in difficult circumstances."
"As a mediator myself, I was very impressed with Susan's immediate empathy with the clients and her unflappability (if that's a word) during the entirety of a 9 hour mediation in what was quite an involved and long running dispute".
"Susan was very empathetic with my clients and helped them realise the importance of looking forward and not at events which had happened in the past. Susan was very professional and I think we would have struggled to settle without Susan's experience and invaluable advice/suggestions."
"Without Susan we would still be going to court. Her hard work, perseverance, wit and humility managed to bring both parties together to a final solution. Thank you."
"I am grateful to you for the technical mediation skills that you brought and the thoughtful and compassionate way in which they were applied. I have worked with a number of elite mediators and without wishing to "blow smoke" you are head and shoulders above the others."
"Susan is a very skilled mediator and managed to be sensitive and kind while remaining completely professional".
"I am so pleased this is all over. Woke up this morning feeling like I had won the lottery. Really you never know what life will throw at you but I am so pleased it threw you our way. Your skill shone through.”
"My client was vulnerable and very sensitive given the nature of the claim and the mediation was handled with absolute sensitivity, understanding and care from Susan".
"Susan was on the day the consummate professional, very helpful and a pleasure to deal with. An email a few days after just following up on the day's events and making sure I was ok. A wonderful, helpful lady."