Lorraine Guthrie

As a mediator, Lorraine’s specialist skill is exploring innovative solutions, which are workable and sustainable. She aims to ensure parties are empowered through the dispute resolution process and are better off than when they entered it.

Lorraine’s background is in; family counselling disputes, education, employment and professional association disputes,  social service disputes, and resolving insurance contract disputes.

Lorraine is an accredited mediator and FDR mediator. She spent many years training in crisis prevention and has implemented these training models in schools across NZ. She is a trained family and couples counsellor, as well as a professional supervisor.

Lorraine has worked in education at all senior management levels (primary, special and secondary schools). She holds a post graduate diploma in education management and has been involved in contracts on behalf of Ministry of Education, training Principals in leadership, appraisal and performance management. She has also worked as an advocate at Victoria and Massey Universities, helping to resolve personal and academic disputes.

After the earthquakes in Christchurch, Lorraine sought funding to lead a specialist advocacy service in Christchurch, progressing earthquake insurance contract issues for vulnerable Cantabrians. She has spent many years working in disability and other human rights areas.

Over the past ten years, Lorraine has worked with the accessibility regulations of the Building Act and has crafted guidance documents for MBIE in this specialist area.