Lorraine Guthrie

Profile
Mediation, advocacy, counselling and project facilitation professional with 20+ years’ experience working across accessibility and building audit projects, disability advocacy and case management, and as a consultant providing education and professional development services.
Recently completed 11 years as CEO of BarrierFree NZ Trust. I was instrumental in progressing the organisation from a charitable trust offering advocacy services to a commercial model providing training, technical guidance, research and consulting services to local and national government and the design and construction industries. In 2020 I led and supported the Trust’s merger with CCS Disability Action.
An Accredited Family Dispute Mediator and Accredited General Mediator with extensive knowledge of different conflict resolution and coaching and training models backed by 10 years’ experience providing family dispute resolution and commercial mediation services and specialist work with alienated youth.
Accredited Facilitator and Advanced Trainer – Life Space Crisis Intervention Institute (LSCI).
Accredited Facilitator and Trainer – Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI).
Accredited Facilitator and Trainer – Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI).
I’ve recruited and managed teams of up to 40 staff, including employing the long-term unemployed in my role as Director of South Canterbury Airport Services. SCAS provided facilities management services to Air New Zealand and Timaru District Council and currently to NZ Post.
I am interested in further management, mediation and advocacy roles/contracts. I am interested in areas which help to improve the wellbeing of children, families and individuals and advancing an equitable society with good Human Rights records.