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Margaret Bouchier, Director of Advanced Working Solutions Limited, is a leading Irish mediator, facilitator, investigator and trainer. Since 2004, she has mediated extensively throughout Ireland and, more recently, internationally, the majority of her cases resulting from referrals and recommendations.
In addition to her case work, Margaret has a broad experience in developing policies for statutory-based, semi-state and professional member organisations including: Dignity at Work; Standards and Practice; Codes of Ethics; and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults.
Margaret’s client organisations include: private sector organisations (service industries/ information technology/ financial services/media/manufacturing/agri and construction sector); voluntary bodies and member organisations; public sector and semi-state bodies; hospitals and care providers; and families.
Margaret has been actively involved in the development of standards in mediation in Ireland and internationally through her roles in The Mediators’ Institute of Ireland, the Elder Mediation International Network (EMIN) and, the Kennedy Institute Workplace Mediation Research Group (KIWMRG). In May 2016, Margaret was awarded the EMIN Sherren Leadership Award for her contribution to the development of ethics in Elder Mediation.
Margaret is an Advanced Member of The Mediators’ Institute of Ireland, an Advanced Certified Mediator of the Elder Mediation International Network (EMIN) and is recognised by the International Mediation Institute (IMI).
Margaret is an accredited Mediator (IMI Certified, CertEM, MII Advanced Mediator) Â with extensive experience both in Ireland and, more recently, in Europe. Her client organisations include government departments, semi-state bodies and private organisations and businesses, hospitals, healthcare providers and academic institutions. Margaret specialises in conflicts within and between teams and interpersonal workplace disputes and is experienced in working with diverse groups and multi-issue conflicts. Representative mediations include: constructive dismissal case by a manager against the organisation following organisational change; protracted dispute between the Operations Manager and Managing Director in the construction industry; dispute arising from an allegation of bullying and harassment against a staff nurse by the family of a long-stay patient with capacity issues; dispute over Intellectual rights to a documentary film; personal injury claim following workplace accident.
Margaret works across the different models of mediation, drawing on aspects and adapting her style as appropriate to best support the parties in mediation. Â She is flexible in approach, determining the most appropriate framework to each case and adapting as required. Margaret works in accordance with the Mediators' Institute of Ireland's Code of Professional Conduct / Ethics and the Elder Mediation International Network Code of Ethics.
Workplace conflict is expensive, both in terms of personal cost (professional reputations and relationships, stress, anxiety etc.) and organisational costs (reduced productivity, absenteeism, loss of skills staff, legal damages etc.). All too often workplace disputes accelerate into polarised positions which become further entrenched by the introduction of rights-based procedures such as investigation, arbitration and litigation. Mediation, as an interest-based process, supports parties in dispute in engaging in a more appropriate way that takes account of both personal and organisational needs. Margaret specialises in organisational mediation, delivering effective solutions to what are often complex, multi-party conflicts including: Management/staff conflict; Senior Management disputes; Staff/patient conflicts; Disputes arising from personal injury claims; Conflicts arising from intercultural issues and performance issues; Difficulties arising from organisational change; Allegations of bullying and harassment;Â
Provided on request.
Advanced Working Solutions Limited: Founder and Director: March 2016 to present
Working Solutions: Founder and Principal: 2004 to March 2016
Erwin Bouchier Professional Solutions:Â Founder and Partner: 2014 to present
Chambers Ireland/Courts Service Business and Commercial Mediation Scheme: MII Nominated Mediator: 2015 to present
Elder Mediation International Network: Director and Chair of Ethics Committee: 2012 to present
Kennedy Institute Workplace Mediation Research Group: Co-Founder and Member: From 2014
The Civil Liabilities and Courts Act, 2004: MII Nominated Mediator: April 2005
The Mediators’ Institute of Ireland: various roles incl. Executive Committee Member, Council Member, Communications Director and Registrar: 2005 to 2012
Provided on request.
Certificate in Contract Law: HarvardX: August 2020
Terry O'Connell - Real Justice Australia: Restorative Practice Training: May 2017
MSSc Work-Based Learning (Mediation Studies)(distinction): Queens University Belfast: 2013
Certified Elder Mediator: Elder Mediation International Network: 2012
IMI Certification: International Mediation Institute: 2009
MATA: International Advanced Mediator Training: September 2008
Conflict Coaching: Cinnie Noble: 2007
Practitioner Member Status: The Mediators’ Institute of Ireland: 2006
Workplace Conflict Management: Integrated ADR Organisational Design: Monique Bond: 2006


Professional Training in Organisational and Workplace Mediation: University College Dublin: 2004
Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills Training: University College Dublin: 2003
Examples of training include:
National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland: Workplace Mediation and Investigation – Perspective of an External Practitioner: November 2017 (Guest lecturer)
National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland: The Mediation Process: January 2017 (Guest lecturer)
St Angela’s College Sligo, Ireland: Elder Mediation – Ethics in Practice: February 2017 (Guest lecturer)
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland: Mediator Skills and Practice Module of Post-Graduate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution Studies Programme: 2015 – 2016
National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland: Employment Relations – The Mediation Perspective: October 2016 (Guest lecturer)
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland: Mediator Skills and Practice Module of Post-Graduate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution Studies Programme: 2014 – 2015
St Angela’s College Sligo, Ireland, Masters in Conflict Management: Bridging the Mediation Research-Practice Gap: June 2016
Indiana University: Cross-Cultural Conflict and Dispute Resolution: June 2015 (Guest lecturer)
Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon: Mediation Training and Management Training: 2011-2012
Polaris HR: Mediation Training and Management Training: 2008-2010
Burtenshaw Kenny Associates: Management Training and Dignity at Work Training: 2008-2010
Harnett Tannam Consultancy: Â Intercultural Training: 2007-2010
The Elder Mediation International Network World Summit: Bristol, UK: The Fundamental Role of Ethics in Elder Mediation: May 2018
The Mediators Institute of Ireland Annual Conference, Dundalk, Ireland: Workplace Mediation – Building a Shared Understanding of Underlying Needs and Interests: 2016
World Mediation Summit, Madrid, Spain: Bridging the Gap Between Workplace Mediation Research and Practice: 2016 (joint presentation with Dr Deirdre Curran and Treasa Kenny)
The Elder Mediation International Network World Summit, Linz, Austria: The Ethics of Intervention in Elder Mediation: 2016
The International Academy of Law and Mental Health Congress, Vienna, Austria: Developing Ethical Standards in Elder Mediation: 2015
Union Syndicale Federale Congress, Dubrovnik, Croatia: Conducting a Fair and Valid Workplace Investigation: 2015
The Mediators Institute of Ireland, Annual Conference: Using Research to Shape the Future of Workplace Mediation: 2015 (joint presentation with Dr Deirdre Curran and Treasa Kenny)
The Kennedy Institute, Maynooth University, Ireland: Bridging the Research-Practice Divide: 2015 (joint presentation with Dr Deirdre Curran and Treasa Kenny)
The Elder Mediation International Network, World Summit,Halifax, Canada: The Role of Standards and Ethics in Elder Mediation: 2014
- ADR Across the Globe: Excerpts from The World Mediation Summit: Workplace Mediation: Using Research to Shape the Agenda in Ireland: Cambridge Scholars Publishing: 2018: Chapter Co-Author
- Kennedy Institute Workplace Mediation Research Group: Balancing Confidentiality and Transparency in an Ombudsman Mediation Service: Sponsored by the Financial Services Ombudsman: Co-Leader Research Team: 2017
- Irish Academy of Management: Balancing the Requirements for Confidentiality and Transparency in a Mediation Service: Co-Author
- Kennedy Institute Workplace Mediation Research Group: Shaping the Agenda for Workplace Mediation Training, Standards and Practice: Sponsored by the Mediators Institute of Ireland: Researcher: 2016
The Mediators' Institute of Ireland (The MII) Code of Ethics and Practice
The Elder Mediation International Network Code of Ethics
The Mediators' Institute of Ireland (The MII) Complaints Procedures and Disciplinary Procedures
The Elder Mediation International Network Complaints Procedures
AIG Professional Indemnity insurance of €1,500,000.00 for the provision of mediation, facilitation, training and/or employment investigation