ABOUT RUTH
Ruth came to mediation through three quite different pathways
Three disciplines — law, human resources, and psychotherapy — brought Ruth to mediation. The work she does would not be possible without all three
The law taught her precision: how to analyse a situation clearly, understand its organisational and legal dimensions, and cut through to what actually matters. Human resources, both in-house and as a consultant in private practice, gave her thirty years of working with organisations at every level — she understands how workplaces function, how culture shapes conflict, and how leadership decisions ripple through teams in ways that are rarely straightforward. And psychotherapy gave her something neither of those could: the capacity to sit with what lies beneath the surface, the emotions and assumptions and unspoken histories that keep people stuck long after any formal process has tried to move them on.
What Ruth has learned across more than 620 mediations is that conflict at work is almost never really about what it appears to be about. And being right — which most people in conflict desperately want to establish — almost never brings relief.
What does bring relief is being genuinely heard, and finding a way to take honest responsibility for your part in how things arrived where they did. That is harder than it sounds. It takes a structured process, the right conditions, and enough time for real reflection to happen.
Ruth works with individuals and teams across every sector and at every level of an organisation — from frontline workers to executive leadership.
CREDENTIALS & BACKGROUND
A rare combination of disciplines. In service of one outcome: lasting resolution
Ruth Levy is a nationally accredited mediator, former barrister and solicitor, and qualified psychotherapist — a combination that is genuinely rare in workplace conflict resolution. With over 25 years in workplace relations and HR, and more than 620 restorative mediations conducted, she brings both exceptional depth of experience and a highly refined methodology to every engagement.
The model has been formally recognised as a distinct dispute resolution process in Professor Laurence Boulle's authoritative textbook, Mediation and Conciliation in Australia — Principles, Process, Practice (2023 edition) — a significant acknowledgement of its intellectual rigour and real-world impact.
What makes this approach different?
Ruth holds the legal and emotional dimensions of a conflict simultaneously — something most mediators cannot do. Her background as a barrister and solicitor gives her precision in understanding the organisational and legal stakes. Her psychotherapeutic training gives her the capacity to work with what lies beneath the surface: the feelings, assumptions, and perceptions that keep people stuck long after any formal process has concluded.
This is not mediation as dispute management. It is mediation as genuine transformation — and the outcomes reflect that.
CAREER BACKGROUND
Law
Ruth began her career as a litigation lawyer, practising for nine years in South Africa and Australia. She holds a BA and LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand and is admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in both South Africa and Australia.
HR & Organisational Development
Ruth moved into HR and organisational development across professional services, higher education, government, and not-for-profit sectors — including senior HR roles in legal, forensic accounting, and university settings.
Psychotherapy
Ruth holds a Diploma from the Australian College of Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy and has practised at the Yarra Counselling Service in Melbourne and the North Coast Medical Clinic in Byron Bay.
Restorative Mediation
Since 2015, Ruth has presented the Restorative Mediation model at professional conferences across Australia. In 2023, the model was formally recognised as a distinct dispute resolution process in Professor Laurence Boulle's landmark textbook.
QUALIFICATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- BA and LLB, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
- Admitted to practice: barrister and solicitor, South Africa and Australia
- Diploma, Australian College of Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy
- Nationally Accredited Mediator (NMAS)
- Member, The Law Society of New South Wales
- Member, Resolution Institute (RI)
- Affiliate Member, Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Real outcomes, in their own words
“Ruth’s restorative mediation process was one of the most emotional, challenging, rewarding and unique experiences I have ever been through. Not only that, but two years later, my relationship with my colleague is one of the strongest and most supportive in my workplace — and has enabled me to not only feel valued but to do my job to the best of my ability. I will be forever grateful for the experience and for the amazing work Ruth does. She changed the way I see relationships and, hence, she has changed my life. I would encourage anyone — considering mediation or not — to engage in this process with Ruth.”
Participant - Restorative Mediation
THE EXPERIENCE OF TRANSFORMATION
“I was initially quite a sceptic of a mediation process and was not keen to engage in one. Prior to the mediation I was highly anxious and apprehensive. From Ruth’s call to consider alternative viewpoints, whilst also validating and honouring my experience, I was prepared to do the unthinkable — see my aggressor as a human that I valued, and my own role in creating the dynamic we were now faced with. It was healing on both a colleague and personal level. The wider team around us have also breathed a sigh of relief.”
Participant - Restorative Mediation
“Thank you Ruth for your support and making me feel like I can go back to work again. This process was the culmination of the hardest first year I have ever experienced in community services employment in my 25-year career, and I can truly say that I feel I can carry on for the first time in 12 months. It’s a huge relief.”
Participant - Restorative Mediation, Community Services Sector
“Thank you for your effort with helping me see past myself over the past two days. I'm very excited about what is ahead for us. To my colleague — I'm looking forward to getting to know you better over the coming months. I am totally committed to our success, both professionally and as friends.”
Participant - Restorative Mediation
“I feel so much better having talked through our differences. Many of the things I thought were so important were not, and I feel confident that we will be able to work it out now from this new and lofty platform. You have shown us that there is an easier way.”
Participant ยท Restorative Mediation
THE QUALITY OF RUTH'S PROCESS
“Ruth, thank you sincerely for the professionalism, care, and expertise you brought to the mediation process. Your ability to guide discussions with calmness, fairness, and respect created a space where I believe we felt genuinely heard and understood. The thoughtful way you managed each stage of the process helped maintain focus and encouraged constructive dialogue throughout. I am truly grateful for the integrity and dedication you demonstrated.”
Participant - Restorative Workplace Mediation
“The model for this process was excellent. The opportunity to speak privately with Ruth on Day 1 was very helpful. Working through the homework questions together on Day 2 provided an excellent platform to break down the tension, self-reflect, hear and see each other from a different and more positive perspective, and agree to change.”
Participant - Restorative Mediation
“The process was fantastic. Ruth is a very professional person but also willing to validate feelings and empathise with both parties. Ruth's framework is great — I have already recommended her to colleagues and other organisations who might benefit from her intervention”
Participant - Restorative Mediation
“I have never experienced a mediation like this. I was very moved by its many layers of value. Thank you for your care, skill and commitment to holding us and the process with safety and integrity.”
Participant - Restorative Mediation
FEEDBACK FROM ORGANISATIONAL CLIENTS
“The process of restorative mediation enabled the breakdown of barriers that had existed for years between both parties. The process is not burdensome and allows for healing to occur. Ruth is exceptional in her practice and brings an absolute wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. I highly recommend her if real, lasting resolutions are desired.”
Client - Restorative Mediation
“Thank you Ruth for successfully leading and completing such a difficult process. I thank you for your sensitivity, eloquence, leadership and methodical approach in resolving issues within a large group. Your process has improved the dynamics within our faculty significantly, and I now have hope that this new connection within our team will only get better.”
Client - Group Mediation, Education Sector
“Ruth ran the mediation sessions with the utmost professionalism and care. We are very grateful for the work she has done for us and would not hesitate to call on her again if needed.”
Client - Restorative Mediation
“I am writing to say a big thank you for assisting in the mediation between two of my team. It has made a big difference within our organisation and the positive results we have had since.”