Consultancy Team
RTC has two full-time Peace and Conflict Advisors based in the UK. We also have a team of international consultants we draw on for specific projects. All are experienced practitioners and facilitators with knowledge and experience of living and working in conflict situations.
Peace and Conflict Advisors
Dr Vesna Matovic
Dr Vesna Matovic is responsible for the management and development of the Applied Conflict Transformation Studies Programme (ACTS). Vesna holds a doctorate in Psychology and has worked for many years as a consultant, trainer and facilitator on conflict issues. She has experience of working with organisations and networks around the world; particularly in the Balkans, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. Vesna's areas of interest are integrating the theory and the practice of Conflict Transformation, applying action research methodology to peacebuilding, transformative mediation, and learning and change. Prior to her position at RTC, Vesna was a Programme Coordinator with Nansen Dialogue Network.
Joan McGregor
Joan McGregor is responsible for managing, developing and tutoring on RTC’s programme of courses. Joan is a South African who was active in the nonviolent resistance to apartheid and in social reconstruction in the post apartheid era. Before joining the staff of RTC, Joan worked for 10 years as a freelance trainer and organisational development consultant focusing on community development, human rights and reconciliation within Southern Africa and internationally with NGOs and community based organisations. Joan has an MA in Peace and Reconciliation from Coventry University.
International Consultants
Dehka Ibrahim Abdi
Dehka Ibrahim Abdi is a peace practitioner based in Mombasa, Kenya, working as a consultant to government and civil society organisations. She is a founding member of the Wajir Peace and Development Committee, the Coalition for Peace in Africa, and ACTION (Action for Conflict Transformation. In 2007 Dekha was awarded the Right Livelihood Award by the Swedish parliament.
Sunday Okello Angoma
Sunday Okello Angoma is from Uganda and is currently studying for a PhD in Post-Conflict Social Reconstruction with a focus on Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan at the University of Birmingham. He attended the Strengthening Policy and Practice course in 2001 and has since tutored on WWC from 2004 – 2006. He has also worked with RTC in Uganda, Cambodia and Serbia. Sunday’s areas of expertise are northern Uganda, Southern Sudan, and the Great Lakes Region.
Paul Clifford
Paul Clifford has worked with RTC for 17 years and has experience of working in some of the world’s most violent conflicts, including Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Kosovo. He has worked directly on the conflict as a mediator and facilitator of talks, and as an adviser to governments and groups who are in conflict with governments.
Simon Fisher
Simon Fisher was the founder of RTC and director until 2005. Simon has worked in many countries as adviser, facilitator, trainer and mediator with local and international agencies, with governments and at the UN and has wide, first-hand experience of conflict, development and change. Simon’s priority for many years has been to help develop and sustain active networks of committed peace workers at global and regional levels. His books include: Working with Conflict: skills and strategies for action, and Spirited Living: waging conflict, building peace.
Diana Francis
Diana Francis is a freelance facilitator, trainer and consultant. She specialises in working with groups of people involved in or affected by political (especially inter-ethnic) conflict, facilitating training, dialogue and strategy workshops. She was President of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation for eight years, and is currently Chair of the Committee for Conflict Transformation Support. She has worked extensively in the post-communist world (especially the former Yugoslavia and the Caucasus region of the former Soviet Union), and also in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Mary Lou Leavitt
Mary Lou Leavitt has been active in the field of peace campaigning and non-violence training since the late 1970’s. She was employed by Quaker Peace & Service in the UK from 1980 to 1999, initially as a campaigner/ educator on peace and disarmament issues and later as Peace Secretary and Assistant General Secretary for British Quakers at the national level. Mary Lou is a former Co-Director of RTC. She retired as Co-Director in March 2006 and now works freelance as a trainer, facilitator and programme planner/ evaluator in the field of conflict transformation.
Bridget Walker
Bridget Walker is a former Co-director of RTC. She has an MEd in Adult Education & Community Development and has been working in the development sector for over 20 years. Her background is largely in international development and has extensive experience of working in humanitarian relief and conflict-affected areas. Bridget now works freelance and delivers training and facilitation in the following areas: strategic planning, evaluation, organisational development and gender training.