Mediation NI’s New Business Marketing and Administrative Executive
Aaron Kelly has joined Mediation NI as the new Business Marketing and Administrative Executive. He’s here to help tell Mediation NI’s story, spread the word about our vital work, and hopefully not break the printer too early on. But his path to this role wasn’t exactly conventional.
A Winding Road to Marketing
Like many, Aaron’s career path wasn’t exactly a straight line. When the pandemic hit, he was working as a cashier at a Belfast-based credit union. With business slowing down and opportunities scarce, he saw an opportunity to do more than just wait for the storm to pass.
“I wasn’t alone in thinking “I’m going to lose my job” so I decided to take over our fledgling social media platforms,” he recalls. “Opportunities were scarce, so I thought, if I make myself indispensable, maybe I’ll have a better shot at staying on.”
That gamble paid off. At least in experience. When the hoped-for full-time role didn’t materialise, he was back to square one; sending out CVs, chasing leads, and collecting more rejections than he’d care to count. Following on from numerous setbacks and false setbacks, Kia Designs – a luxury interior design studio – took a punt on him. “Walking into the world of interior design with zero prior knowledge was… interesting,” he says with a laugh. “But I figured, fortune favours the bold and all that. Basically, I just threw myself into it.”
With no formal marketing qualifications, Aaron is entirely self-taught, learning the ropes on tools like Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Semrush by getting stuck in and figuring it out as he went along.
Finding the Right Fit at Mediation NI
When the opportunity arose at Mediation NI, Aaron knew it was the right move.
“Their mission – helping people manage, resolve, and transform conflict – just made sense to me,” he explains. “We live in a world where conflict is almost inevitable, but how we handle it is a choice. Mediation NI is all about giving people the tools to make better choices.”
The organisation’s values of Integrity, Respect, Justice, Nonviolence, Creativity, and Courage resonated deeply with him.
“Without sounding overly conceited, I saw myself in those values,” Aaron says. “The chance to be part of something that actively encourages positive change was too good to pass up.”
Bringing Mediation to the Forefront
In his new role, Aaron will be leading Mediation NI’s marketing efforts, focusing on branding, digital engagement, and outreach. But his main challenge, as he sees it, lies in helping businesses and community groups understand that mediation shouldn’t just be a last resort, but rather a strategic tool.
“A big part of my job is showing organisations that mediation shouldn’t just be restricted to fixing problems when they arise,” he explains. “It’s about weaving it into their governance structures as a proactive safeguard i.e., something that prevents minor disputes from snowballing into costly, time-consuming crises.”
Simply put, his goal as Mediation NI Business Marketing Executive is to help Mediation NI grow, connect with the right people, and make a real impact.
Beyond the Office
Outside of work, Aaron is completing a BA (Hons) in Arts and Humanities with The Open University. Further study is on his radar, but with a young family, he’s keeping his options open.
“I’d love to do a Masters in marketing or even some sort of post graduate diploma,” he says. “But between work, study, and family life, something’s got to give. We’ll see how it plays out.”
For nearly two decades, he has also volunteered with Project Zambia, a Belfast-based charity which works in partnership with host communities in Lusaka, Zambia.
“When I think about the fact that I’ve been involved in some way with Project Zambia for almost 20 years, that makes the grey hairs on the back of my neck stand up,” he jokes. “In another life, I was responsible for prepping volunteers ahead of trips to Zambia and also acted as a lead volunteer with travelling groups, working in partnership with our host communities. My involvement these days is more of a passive one, helping out where and when I can, but it’s still a huge part of who I am.”
Looking Ahead
Now, as he embarks on this new chapter with Mediation NI, Aaron is eager to make an impact.
“I’m excited to get stuck in, help grow the organisation, and hopefully make a real difference,” he says. “And if I can do that without breaking the printer too early on, even better.”
“I’m ready to hit the ground running. Here’s hoping it’s in the right direction.”
