Who We Are
Our committee brings together leading voices in mediation, family law, and parenting support to champion separated parenting programmes. Through trusted standards and a national directory, we help parents navigate separation more positively, so children build resilience, resolve conflict, and thrive through healthier family transitions.
SPPDBoard of Trustees
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Helen AdamWells Family Mediation
MoreHelen Adam
Accredited Family Mediator & Professional Practice Consultant. The National Mediation Awards Family Mediator & Child-Inclusive Mediator of the Year 2022. Chairs the Family Solutions sub-Group of the national Private Law Working Group.
Helen is a former family solicitor and now a family mediator, working exclusively with families who separate. She also chairs the Family Solutions Group, whose report ‘What about me?’ specifically recommended a coordinated body of separated parent programmes, to raise their profile and promote greater attendance generally. Helen has seen first-hand in many mediations the positive impact on decision-making when a parent (or both) attends a separated parent programme. She is an advocate for making these important support services much more widely known and accessible following any parental separation.
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Elizabeth CoeNational Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC)
MoreElizabeth Coe
Chief Executive Office of NACCC since 2012. Prior to joining NACCC Elizabeth was a Director at Cafcass covering the East Midlands and later London.
Elizabeth Coe is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC), a role she has held since 2012. With a background as a Director at Cafcass, overseeing services in the East Midlands and London, Elizabeth brings a wealth of expertise in family support and child welfare. Her leadership at NACCC continues to improve access to safe, supportive environments for children and families navigating separation.
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Beverley SayersMediation North West
MoreBeverley Sayers
Accredited mediator & professional practice consultant. Co-chair of the Family Mediators Association and a director of the Family Mediation Council. Also sits on the Family Solutions sub-Group of the national Private Law Working Group.
Beverley Sayer is an accredited family mediator and Professional Practice Consultant with extensive experience supporting families through separation. As Co-Chair of the Family Mediators Association and Director of the Family Mediation Council, she plays a pivotal role in shaping professional standards and practices in family mediation. Beverley also serves on the Family Solutions sub-group of the national Private Law Working Group, contributing her expertise to improve outcomes for separating families across the UK.
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James EvansNova Law
MoreJames Evans
Head of Strategic Growth at Nova Law
James Evans is Head of Strategic Growth at Nova Law, a pioneering legal-tech platform combining AI and human expertise to support people through separation and family law challenges. He works at the intersection of family law, technology and modern service delivery, helping professionals adopt innovative, client-centred approaches that deliver both improved outcomes and sustainable growth.
James has worked in and around the family law sector for over seven years, building trusted relationships with law firms, barristers, mediators and organisations across the family justice system. Alongside his role at Nova Law, James acts as a brand ambassador for Family Law Partners, supporting the identification and growth of consultants who share the firm’s commitment to humane, ethical and forward-thinking family law practice, and actively championing its values within the wider legal community.
James is an award-winning contributor to innovation in family law. He has been shortlisted for more than ten industry awards and is a previous winner of the Working in Collaboration Award at Resolution’s Family Law Awards and Innovation in Family Law at the Family Law Awards. He is a trusted voice on non-court dispute resolution, client experience and the future of family law services.
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Katie DeansOur Family Wizard
MoreKatie Deans
Business development lead at Our Family Wizard
With a strong background in product management and user experience, Katie is dedicated to enhancing the platform’s features to better support families navigating the complexities of co-parenting. Her focus on accessibility ensures that families of all backgrounds can benefit from the platform’s resources, making it a vital tool for over one million parents and family law professionals globally
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Yasmin Khan-GunnsKeystone Law
MoreYasmin Khan-Gunns
Senior Family Law Associate at Keystone Law & Award-Winning Family Lawyer. Recognised in The Legal 500 for Family Law. Legal Commentator & Advocate for Family Law Reform.
Yasmin is a family lawyer specialising in high-net-worth financial and complex children cases. She is also a legal thought leader, publishing widely on key family law issues and driving public awareness initiatives.
Through her Instagram platform, @londonfamilysolicitor, Yasmin makes family law more accessible to thousands. She is committed to mentoring aspiring lawyers and supporting separated families through SPPD’s mission to raise awareness and access to separated parent programmes.
SPPDAdvisory Board
(who have experience of running separated parenting programmes)
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Heather RutherfordThe Parenting Partnership
MoreHeather Rutherford
Parenting educator & co-parenting specialist, founder of The Parenting Partnership
Heather Rutherford is a parenting educator and co-parenting specialist and founder of The Parenting Partnership. With a compassionate approach, Heather guides separated parents to build positive, cooperative relationships that prioritize their children’s needs and well-being. Her work helps parents focus on positive parenting strategies that improve communication and build emotional resilience, creating a foundation for healthy family dynamics during challenging times.
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Marcie ShaoulThe Co-Parent Way
MoreMarcie Shaoul
A co-parenting expert, author of The Co-Parenting Method and winner of Resolution’s Champions of Family Justice Award 2023 for innovation
Marcie Shaoul is a co-parenting coach and founder of The Co-Parent Way. She specialises in guiding separated parents to establish cooperative, child-focused relationships. Marcie is the author of The Co-Parenting Method and was awarded the Resolution’s Champions of Family Justice Award for Innovation in 2023. Her work empowers parents to navigate co-parenting challenges constructively, creating healthier outcomes for children of separated families.
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Adelé BallantyneThe Eleda Consultancy
MoreAdelé Ballantyne
A psychotherapist and counsellor & winner of Resolution’s Working in Collaboration Award 2021
Adele Ballantyne is a psychotherapist, counsellor, and founder of The Eleda Consultancy, specializing in support for separated parents. With a focus on collaboration and effective communication, Adele empowers parents to navigate separation constructively. She was honoured with Resolution’s Working in Collaboration Award in 2021, recognizing her innovative approach to family support. Adele’s expertise helps families foster healthier dynamics during and after separation, benefiting both parents and children.
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Denise IngamellsKent Family Mediation
MoreDenise Ingamells
Accredited mediator & Professional Practice Consultant. Main author of the Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP). Winner of Resolution’s John Cornwell Award in 2022 & Family Law Awards Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner of the Year 2012
Denise Ingamells is a prominent family mediator and Head of Mediation at Kent Family Mediation Service. Accredited since 2002, she is known for her work on the Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP), which has benefited over 250,000 parents. Denise has received multiple awards, including the John Cornwell Award from Resolution, recognizing her significant contributions to family law and mediation