By Olivia DeWan 
Roisin Mc Daid brings nearly two decades of experience across family support, child protection and workplace relations to her practice, Coast Mediation and Consultancy, where she specialises in family and workplace conflict.
What was your first job? My first job was as a Social Care Worker in a High Support Residential Service for teenage girls in care, operated by the HSE (now Tusla). While it was a challenging role, particularly as I was not much older than some of the young people I was caring for, it was also incredibly rewarding. The experience shaped my understanding of resilience, relationships and the importance of support, and ultimately laid the foundations for my career in social care leadership, mediation and helping families navigate difficult transitions. What are your main priorities and goals in your current role? My main priority is to provide every client with a seamless, person-centred and trauma-informed service that helps them navigate conflict, challenges and major life transitions with compassion, dignity and a sense of control. I am passionate about helping people find constructive solutions outside of the court process wherever possible, reducing the emotional, financial and relational costs that can arise from adversarial approaches. What pushed you to pursue a career in this field? Having experienced a failed mediation process and a contentious family law matter myself some years ago, I became acutely aware of the challenges faced by people who want to avoid the court system but feel they have no realistic alternative. I could see the significant missed opportunities that exist when people are not provided with high-quality, professional support to resolve conflicts constructively. Combined with my professional background in child protection, family support and conflict resolution, this experience sparked a passion for mediation and its potential to achieve better outcomes for individuals and families. As the mediation profession continues to grow in Ireland, it felt like the right time to contribute to the development of a strong, high-quality mediation sector and to build a service grounded in best practice, professionalism and compassion. How do you motivate yourself and your team? As I currently work independently, I motivate myself by reflecting on how much my practice has developed since I established it in 2024. I take confidence from that progress and from the impact the work is having with clients. In one sentence, how would you define success? Success, for me, is measured by the extent to which I can help people move through conflict with clarity and dignity, while achieving outcomes that are fair, sustainable, and genuinely improve their lives. How do you relax? I relax by exercising, running, sea swimming, going to the sauna, and spending quality downtime with family and friends. What is your favourite (non-business) book? My favourite non-business book is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? The best piece of advice I have been given is to be curious, not furious, and to respond rather than react. It is something I rely on both personally and professionally, particularly when supporting individuals through conflict, where emotions can run high but clarity is essential. How do you handle adversity? I tend to handle adversity by taking a solution-focused approach and looking for opportunities to learn and grow from the experience. What are the aspirations for the future of the business? I aspire to grow Coast Mediation and Consultancy while contributing to the ongoing development of high standards and best practices in mediation and conflict resolution in Ireland. I am particularly interested in how training, collaboration and shared professional standards can help improve outcomes for individuals and families.
Read more 60 Seconds With:
John Newell, Finance & Operations Director for Java Republic
Paul Walsh, Director of Transformation Solutions at Expleo Ireland
