Chief Executive of the Civil Mediation Council to Step Down

After eight years of dedicated service, Paul Adams will be stepping down as Chief Executive of the Civil Mediation Council (CMC) this autumn. Paul’s tenure has been marked by a period of significant growth, transformation, and a steadfast commitment to the values of mediation.

The CMC is pleased to announce that Victoria Harris, currently serving as Deputy CEO, will succeed Paul and formally assume the role of Chief Executive on 3 November. Victoria brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the CMC’s mission, ensuring a smooth and confident transition.

Tributes from the CMC’s current and former Chairs highlight Paul’s lasting legacy and influential leadership, acknowledging the considerable strides the organisation has made during his time at the helm.

In a personal message below, Paul reflects on the progress made under his leadership and the increasing recognition of mediation’s role in resolving conflict constructively and collaboratively.

“After eight years as Chief Executive of the Civil Mediation Council, it feels both surreal and deeply satisfying to say that it’s time for me to move on. When I first joined the CMC back in 2017, I couldn’t have imagined quite how much the organisation, and the wider mediation community, would evolve in that time.

I’ve had the privilege of serving under four remarkable Chairs – Sir Alan Ward, Sir David Foskett, Rebecca Clarke and Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho, each of whom has brought their own wisdom, energy, and vision to the CMC. Long standing Deputy Chair Tom Thomas, is another without whom CMC would not have thrived as it has. Working alongside them, and with such a passionate and committed membership, has been one of the great privileges of my professional life.

When I began, the idea of integrating mediation into small claims below £10,000 was seen by some as wildly optimistic, a ‘pipe dream’, but in 2019, we made it a central goal in our strategy. Fast-forward to today, and its government policy, that journey, from ambition to reality, perfectly captures what’s been so special about this sector: our belief that practical, positive change is possible.

Over these eight years, CMC has grown in every sense. Our membership has quadrupled, and our Executive has become a fully professionalised team covering every aspect of the organisation’s work. We’ve amalgamated with the Professional Mediators’ Association (in 2017) and later with the Peer Mediator Network (in 2023), strengthening our voice across the entire mediation landscape, from civil and commercial practice to young people learning to resolve conflict constructively.

The National Mediation Awards has flourished into a celebration of excellence that gets bigger and better every two years, and our annual conference has truly taken off; attendance this year will be double what it was as recently as 2022! As I step down, the CMC stands on the threshold of chartered status, ready to enter the next stage of its evolution.

I’m also especially proud of how our Board and membership have become more diverse. Rebecca Clarke’s appointment as the first female Chair in 2021 marked a real milestone, and that spirit of inclusion now runs right through the organisation.

More than anything, I’ve been inspired, constantly, by the passion and dedication of the mediators I’ve met. This is a profession full of people who genuinely care about helping others find understanding and resolution, and that’s something that has never ceased to move me.

I’m proud that, together, we’ve made real progress in professionalising the profession, giving mediation the recognition and structure it deserves. Most importantly, I believe that this progress has delivered a genuine public benefit; staying true to the CMC’s charitable purpose of promoting access to justice and better ways of resolving disputes.

None of what we’ve achieved would have been possible without the support of our Board, our volunteers, and our members. I’ve learned something from every one of you, and it’s been a privilege to lead such a thoughtful, passionate community.

As I step aside, I couldn’t be more confident about the CMC’s future. Victoria Harris, our Deputy CEO, will be taking over the role. Many of you already know Victoria well; she’s played a vital role in so many of the innovations we’ve introduced in recent years and her deep understanding of the sector will serve the organisation brilliantly.

The CMC is stronger, more united, and more influential than ever. It’s been a genuine honour to play a part in that journey — and I’ll always remain one of its biggest supporters.

Thank you all for your trust, your partnership, and your belief in mediation’s power to make a difference.”

Paul Adams

Chief Executive, Civil Mediation Council

Further details, including Paul’s full message and comments from colleagues, will be shared by the CMC in the coming weeks.

October 15, 2025

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