A question for the non-North Americans. Does the term "Dispatcher" have a different meaning outside of the US? In the US airline world, a "dispatcher" is a licensed individual who is (jointly) responsible for preparing flight plans, calculating fuel loads and will be monitoring the progress of the flight and is in communication with the flight crew to provide weather updates, diversion planning etc. In my world, at least, a dispatcher, as I know the term wouldn't be likely to be present plane-side.
This discussion seems to be discussing a position I would describe more as a "gate agent".