Amanda Bucklow MCIArb was born in 1959 and began her corporate life working for RTZ as a metals trader, dealing primarily with international sales. She was a member of the first team from a western zinc producer to undertake direct negotiations with the Chinese government.

Amanda's communication skills led to her advising others on how to communicate generally, helping executives to understand their roles, dealing with culture change, testing competencies, devising risk assessment strategies and coaching managers in the development of personal management skills.

Having held several management positions, Amanda formed facilit8 communications ltd in 1999, of which she is Director and Principal Consultant. The company provides a service to develop the communication skills of senior executives both internally and externally to sustain synergy between co-operating parties. Amanda invites people to engage their personal passions and energy as they participate in teams to reflect and learn from one another and to accomplish meaningful work. This is a powerful tool for inspiring authentic dialogue, system-wide learning and empowering creative thinking and action.

Amanda has developed mediation and facilitation programmes and has pioneered training methodologies and developed several training courses which integrate mediation soft skills within various industry sectors. In all her work she emphasises the need to check understanding, challenge assumptions and gather information, thereby enabling adjustments to strategies and plans. Her clients include large corporates, governmental and quasi governmental organisations.

Amanda is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb). Amanda has been a CEDR accredited mediator for eight years and has a very extensive experience. Work has included cases involving insurance claims, employment disputes, professional negligence, partnership disputes, trusts, matrimonial, landlord and tenant, IT, franchises and publishing disputes.

Amanda's outside interests include managing an Italian travel company; she is a qualified Dolphin Trainer and ardent supporter of the Global White Lion Protection Trust.