Member Spotlights
MBBI calls its members Peace Builders. Our members contribute their time utilizing their skills and experiences to participate in Collaboration Regions and our Programs. We hope that through our Spotlights, our members, individually and collectively, will inspire you as much as they inspire us to continue the important work.
A growing number of international requests reach MBBI for partnerships, services, and projects. Help us build our capacity to say “yes” to these requests; consider joining us as a Peace Builder. For more information on how to become involved and for internship and volunteer opportunities, please contact us at info@mediatorsbeyondborders.org.
Leaving Room for Action and Dialogue. Member Spotlight: Barry Simon
Barry Simon is a mediator, investment consultant professional, and founder/host of conversationsforpeace.com from Portland, Oregon. He also serves as the President of the United Nations Association of the USA for…
Read More 
Allowing People to Tell Their Stories. Member Spotlight: Kathryn Sainty
Kathryn Sainty worked as a district registrar for 17 years in Canada, and, 14 years into the job, she started thinking about her next steps. She knew that she did…
Read More 
Rebranding and Recreating Yourself as a Mediator: Member Spotlight Avinder Laroya
Avinder Laroya, accredited mediator, licensed solicitor, chartered Arbitrator (MCIarb), FRSA, is a specialist in international dispute settlements. Based out of London, UK, and Geneva, Switzerland, Avinder is a founding partner…
Read More 
Keeping the Home Intact Through Mediation and Therapy. Member Spotlight: Sandra Hitchcock
Sandra Hitchcock is from South Africa and is a family mediator and relationship therapist and in this article she sheds light on her experience mediating conflicts for over 20 years. Sandra…
Read More 
Having Difficult Conversations. Member Spotlight: Danae Woodward
Danae Woodward has worked as an attorney for 30 years and as a mediator for 15 of those years. She works in the employment sector, representing discriminated against employees and…
Read More 
City Planning and Peacebuilding. Member Spotlight: Lloyd Talbot
Lloyd Talbot works as a city planner in Winnipeg, where he uses mediation largely to unite different communities of people, as well as to make peace between the natural environment…
Read More 
Mediation and Emotions. Member Spotlight: Lorenzo Colombani
“Mediation, whether it is commercial, business, or family mediation, all of those three types have the same principle. Every time emotions are paramount. As a mediator, you are dealing with…
Read More 
Restorative Justice and Conflict Transformation. Member Spotlight: Kelly Rico
Kelly Rico is a member of MBBI Canada and was on their Board of Directors between January 2020 through January 2021. Her experience with Restorative Justice (RJ), community mediation and…
Read More 
Breaking the Silence and Creating Safe Spaces. Member Spotlight: ElsaMarie D’Silva
ElsaMarie D’Silva is an ardent activist against sexual and gender-based violence, and the founder and CEO of the Red Dot Foundation, which was initially launched as Safecity (a tech platform launched…
Read More 
Embracing Social Change through Medicine and Negotiation: Member Spotlight Kathy Orchen
Kathy Orchen, a physician’s assistant, is a Quality Assurance Program Manager at Zufall Health Center in New Jersey, USA, and has worked in public health for over 40 years. Zufall…
Read More