Our Trustees
Chair of Trustees – Catherine Dobson
Catherine Dobson qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 1980 and has since dedicated over 30 years to the National Health Service, working across various regions in England. She developed specialist expertise in supporting individuals with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and distress associated with chronic pain. Her holistic approach to improving well-being considers not only the individual’s challenges but also their family dynamics, workplace, and social environment.
Catherine’s practice emphasizes the importance of fostering resilience by focusing on individuals’ strengths rather than solely their difficulties. Her overarching goal has been to enhance the skills and capabilities of individuals, support systems, and communities to help them navigate and overcome challenges effectively.
A central theme throughout her career has been the recognition and management of stress and distress experienced by individuals with mental health conditions, family carers, professional care staff, and the communities in which they live and work. Catherine has also contributed to advancing the field through research with family members of individuals with disabilities, the development of staff training programs, and audits of multidisciplinary team practices and behaviors.
Vice Chair of Trustees – Peter Kenyon
Peter graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1967. He worked as a Community Dental Officer, commonly referred to as a school dentist, from 1967 to 1999. Initially employed by the county council, he transitioned to the National Health Service (NHS) in 1974, where he also served as a staff-side representative for several years.
Peter has been deeply involved in public service and local governance. Until 2006, he was a councillor on the Executive of Burnley Borough Council, where he was responsible for Finance and Personnel matters.
As a dedicated member of his community, Peter serves as a board member and trustee for several local organisations, including Burnley & Pendle Citizens Advice Bureau, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Council for Voluntary Service (BPRCVS), Mid Pennine Arts Association, and Burnley Youth Theatre.
Trustee – Carol Pike
Carol worked in the social housing sector for 15 years, initially as a Housing Officer and later as a Project Manager. Prior to this, she spent a significant period working as a Legal Executive.
Carol is actively involved in her community, serving as a voluntary Director of East Lancs YMCA, supporting Building Bridges in Burnley, and acting as Chair of Governors for St Peter’s CE Primary School, Burnley. She is also a committed member of St Peter’s Church.
Carol plays a prominent role in Girlguiding within Lancashire East, holding various roles at County and Division levels. Her responsibilities include conducting DBS checks, providing membership support, and delivering training for leaders. She also leads two Girlguiding Units.
Trustee – Alex Wrigley 
Alex has over 20 years’ experience working in the housing sector, maily dedicated to ASB and Community Safety. He is currently ASB Lead for Stonewater Housing – a national housing association with over 60,000 homes in communities across the country. Prior to this Alex was Director of Services at BACKUP North West based in Bolton – a charity providing housing and support to young people (16 to 25), who are either homeless or threatened with homelessness. Alex is also the MD of Alex Wrigley Consultancy Limited; a social investment focussed consultancy that helps organisations in the sector empower communities and improve services. Alex is also on the board of Resolve ASB and has held this position since late 2016.
Prior to setting up his consultancy business he gained experience in both Local Authorities and Housing Associations across the country. Primarily based in London throughout his career, he moved back to Greater Manchester in 2020.
He was National Tenancy Enforcement Manager at The Guiness Partnership for 7 years. The Tenancy Enforcement Team at Guiness is one of the biggest specialised Housing Enforcement Teams in the country. Alex also previously sat on the Home Office’s ASB, Crime and Policing Working Group that assisted with the devlopment of the ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Trustee – Ian Clark
Ian has worked in the social housing sector for over 30 years and is currently an Executive Director at a large northern housing association. In 1997, Ian founded Smile, then known as Mediation in Burnley, starting with just one employee and a small amount of grant funding. During his time as a trustee, he guided Smile through its early development, building it into a well-established charity offering mediation services to the local community.
Ian stepped down as a trustee of Smile in 2016 but recently re-joined the charity to help oversee its merger with Resolve ASB. Recognising the potential for Smile’s growth and the importance of ensuring the success of this new partnership, Ian decided to remain involved beyond the merger. His continued support has been invaluable in helping Smile navigate this pivotal period and lay the foundations for its future expansion.
Trustee – Joanne Maclean
Joanne is currently the Head of Streetscene at Burnley Council, and has over 22 years of local government experience. Working at a senior level Joanne’s current role and background is within the policy setting, management and delivery of essential public services related to environmental services, anti-social behaviour & community safety, engineering, parking and CCTV, emergency planning, environmental health & licensing and safeguarding. With a wealth of experience in local government operations, Joanne is responsible for ensuring that Burnley’s public spaces are safe, clean, and well-maintained and supports the council and strategic partners in meeting its ambitions for the town and Lancashire. Joanne is known for her strategic thinking, problem-solving skills and collaborative work with local, regional and national stakeholders to drive forward initiatives that promote community well-being and environmental stewardship. As a corporate coach and currently studying to complete her professional NLP qualification, Joanne is committed to ‘people’ and organisation development. Her role as a Trustee enables her to support a service that has been close to her heart throughout her Burnley career. Other interests include; supporting her football team, walking and spending time with her family.
Our Office Team
CEO – Rebecca Bryant
Rebecca Bryant OBE joined Resolve in October 2018 as their Chief Executive, bringing over 15 years of experience in community safety. Before her role at Resolve, Rebecca worked at Manchester City Council as the Head of Crime and Disorder, where she played a key role in addressing complex issues related to crime and community resilience.
Prior to becoming Chief Executive, Rebecca worked as a Senior Associate with Resolve for several years. She is a highly respected consultant in the industry, known for her extensive expertise in community safety and innovative solutions to tackle antisocial behaviour. Her leadership has consistently driven impactful strategies that support safer, stronger communities.
In April 2023, Rebecca became the Chief Executive Officer of Smile Mediation when it became a subsidiary of Resolve. Her dual leadership role allows her to bring together the strengths of both organisations, ensuring a unified approach to delivering high-quality mediation services and community safety initiatives.
Head of Operations and Business Development – Sarah Griffin
From 1998 to 2007, Sarah worked in a busy bookmakers’ office, where she progressed from cashier to manager. During this time, she developed excellent customer service, team management, and organisational skills, as well as the ability to remain calm and focused in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
In 2006, Sarah transitioned into the support sector, taking on a role as a Support Worker with homeless young people. This experience inspired her to further her education, and she graduated from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) with a BA (Hons) in Care, Communities, and Citizenship. Her studies deepened her understanding of social issues and strengthened her commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals and communities.
Following her graduation, Sarah secured a role as Homelessness Services Lead with Positive Action in the Community, where she worked for 16 years. In this position, she honed her leadership and project management skills, overseeing services that provided vital support to those experiencing homelessness. She also developed expertise in stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and service delivery, ensuring that the organisation met the needs of its clients effectively.
In November 2022, Sarah joined Smile Mediation as Head of Operations and Business Development. Her wealth of experience, combined with her transferable skills in leadership, service improvement, and community engagement, makes her a key asset to the organisation. Sarah is passionate about building strong, peaceful communities and is committed to driving Smile’s mission forward.
Mediation Coordinator/Mediator Wellbeing Facilitator with Administration Responsiblities – Angela Bryan
Mediation Coordinator – Cath Bradley
Mediation Coordinator – Elizabeth Taylor
Liz joined Smile Mediation in February 2024 as Mediation Coordinator, bringing a wealth of experience in customer service, teaching, and leadership. In addition to her primary role as Coordinator, she has also now trained in mediation and assists with mediations, supporting our efforts to resolve conflicts within the community.
Before joining Smile, Liz spent 6 years in the automotive industry as a Customer Service Advisor, where she honed her communication and problem-solving skills. She also worked for two years as a 1-to-1 Teaching Assistant for children with special educational needs, including those with ADD and autism.
In 2016, Liz took a year off to travel to Australia and New Zealand, a journey that broadened her cultural understanding and ignited her love for travel. She has since returned to these countries six times, continuing to explore new experiences.
Earlier in her career, Liz worked for 10 years as a Store Manager, developing strong leadership skills. Her professional journey also includes roles in sports retail and banking, but it was her move to Smile Mediation that truly sparked her passion for helping others.
With her diverse background, Liz is excited to continue her growth at Smile, contributing to our mission to promote peaceful, resilient communities.
Mediation Coordinator with Administration Responsibilties – Ella Regan
Ella left Blessed Trinity Secondary School, Burnley, in June 2022, achieving 8 GCSEs, including a distinction* in Health and Social Care. Unsure of her next steps, she chose to explore different career paths through voluntary opportunities. She gained valuable experience volunteering in a veterinary practice and an estate agent’s office before joining Smile Mediation as an office volunteer in January 2023.
As a volunteer, Ella supported the team with day-to-day tasks, quickly becoming a valued member of the organisation. Her enthusiasm, adaptability, and eagerness to learn gave her a solid grasp of the office environment and prepared her for the next step in her career.
In August 2023, after excelling in her voluntary role, Ella was offered a position as a Business Administration Apprentice at Smile. Over the past two years, Ella has flourished in various roles, consistently demonstrating her dedication and skill. Her achievements were recognised when she was shortlisted for the prestigious Themis Inspire and Achieve Award for Business Administration.
Following the completion of her apprenticeship, Ella was promoted to the role of Mediation Coordinator with Administration Responsibilities in January 2025. This new role allows Ella to combine her organisational expertise with her growing knowledge of mediation, contributing to Smile’s mission to build stronger, more peaceful communities.
Ella’s journey with Smile is a testament to her commitment to personal and professional growth. She is excited to continue developing her skills and supporting Smile in her expanded role.
Smile Associates
Holly Bonfield
Holly is an experienced workplace, community, and family mediator at Smile Mediation, with over 11 years of expertise in conflict resolution. She also delivers training programmes in mediation skills and facilitated conversations, helping both individuals and organisations manage and resolve conflicts that go beyond just one-on-one disputes.
With a diverse background spanning small business policy support, governance, and the Church, Holly possesses a broad understanding of how organisations operate, as well as a deep commitment to helping individuals navigate personal and interpersonal conflicts.
Holly is passionate about using her skills to support people in overcoming challenges, fostering understanding, and building peaceful, resilient communities.
Diane Nicholson
Diane joined Smile Mediation in 2023, bringing a wealth of experience from her background in Offender Management within the Justice System. She has since expanded her expertise to include mediation, coaching, facilitation, and leadership training, working across sectors such as charity, housing, and local authorities. Diane regularly conducts mediation cases and delivers training, drawing on numerous real-life examples to provide practical insights and effective solutions.
Diane holds a Psychology degree and a postgrad certificate in psychology, as well as a Foundation Degree in Offender Management. She also holds a Level 5 Diploma in HR in the Context of Business, combining her psychological knowledge with a solid understanding of organisational dynamics.
Passionate about conflict resolution and building stronger relationships, Diane is committed to supporting individuals and organisations in navigating their challenges and achieving positive outcomes.
Chris Breedon
Based in Nottinghamshire, Chris is an experienced dispute resolution professional with over 40 years’ service in senior management, Human Resources, and training, including a distinguished career with the Royal Air Force (RAF). His areas of expertise include conflict management, equality and diversity, and he currently serves as a trainer, coach, mentor, and strategic manager within the RAF.
With a strong background in leadership, Chris is an ideal mediator, bringing a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and teams in dispute. His “lived experience” of poorly managed conflict enables him to offer a unique perspective and help parties find constructive solutions. Chris is known for bringing people together and fostering improved communication and collaboration.
An experienced trainer, Chris has delivered a wide range of courses to diverse audiences and is highly regarded for his ability to guide people through challenging situations. His problem-solving and leadership skills, combined with his empathetic approach, have earned him much praise. Chris ensures that every mediation is centred on the individuals involved, working to find positive and lasting resolutions.
Chris has been with Smile Mediation since early 2024, continuing to apply his expertise to support individuals and teams in resolving conflicts.
Smile Mediators
Maeve Doody, Steve Martin, Jennifer Yates, Helena Sims, Sarah Griffin, April Pearce, Hannah Ives, Gordon Murray, Francine Setter, Dominic Stanger, Denise Prior, Chris Breedon, Gillian Carmichael Lemaire, Samina Ali, Bill Macharia, Adrienne Watson, Carrie Ryan-Palmer, Linsey Butler, Mick Tribley, Charlotte Graham, Diane Nicholson, Jo Remo, Pauline McKay, Ruth Caroll, Holly Bonfield, Denzil Johnson, Alison Wilkins, Primrose Ante-Bennett, Gary Sheehan, Shola Olaolu, Jasmin Kewal, Teisha Dyal-Glasgow, Yasmeen Suleman, Laura Martin, Linsey Gott, Julia Gawel, Ella Regan, Cath Bradley, Aklima Begum, Liz Taylor, Paul Bracewell, Sofia Safdar, Debbie Eaton, Deborah Rox. Mariam Fakhir, David Ford, Eleanor Greenwood, Anjum Anwar, Claire Kirkpatrick
