Midwife Leaders’ Executive Sponsorship Programme 

Annette Evelyn Kanyunyuzi is a midwife and President of the National Midwives Association of Uganda. She has experience in maternal and newborn health, teaching, mentorship, leadership, and policy. Her work includes health systems strengthening and promoting evidence-based practice. She is a member of ICM’s African Regional Professional Committee. Through the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Annette contributes experience in association leadership and midwifery advocacy.

Martha is a midwife and reproductive health specialist with experience in clinical care, advocacy, and leadership. She is the Founder and Executive Director of For Mom and Baby Foundation, where she leads initiatives to improve maternal and child health across Cameroon. A former participant in ICM’s Young Midwife Leaders Programme, Martha has represented her country and organisation on global platforms, advocating for improved health outcomes. Her work focuses on expanding access to quality midwifery care and empowering midwives to lead change in their communities. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Martha brings a strong voice for equity, youth leadership, and midwife-led advocacy.

Beatrice is a professional midwife, researcher, and lecturer at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. With over 15 years of experience, she has led midwifery education, served as department head, and mentored postgraduate students. Beatrice holds a PhD in Midwifery and leads research on digital health, adolescent pregnancy, and antenatal care. She is also President of the Tanzania Midwives Association and works closely with the Ministry of Health on policy and training. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Beatrice brings strong leadership, a passion for midwifery advancement, and a commitment to improving maternal and newborn health.

Elizabeth is a nurse and public health professional with 23 years of experience in sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (SRMNCAH). She is also a trained anatomist with a strong passion for midwifery practice and public health. Elizabeth has worked with Ghana Health Service and international NGOs, and currently serves as the Senior MNCH Technical Advisor for the USAID Integrated Health Partnership activity in Ghana. She is an experienced lecturer and has taught at several universities in Ghana. Her work focuses on health systems strengthening, project management, and stakeholder engagement. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Elizabeth brings strong leadership, collaboration, and technical expertise to support midwives and advance midwifery leadership.

Elizabeth is a senior lecturer and midwife educator, with experience in academic leadership and professional regulation. She has worked with Uganda Christian University and the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council to advance nursing and midwifery education and strengthen decision-making at policy level. Her work focuses on maternal and child health, clinical supervision, and regulatory development. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Elizabeth brings academic expertise, strategic insight, and a commitment to supporting future leaders through education, policy engagement, and international collaboration.

Eunice is a midwife, educator, and health policy advocate with experience in clinical care, education, and leadership. She has worked with the Ministry of Health Kenya and the Nursing Council of Kenya to strengthen midwifery education, curricula, and national standards. Her work focuses on maternal and newborn health, midwifery workforce development, and health systems, and she is particularly committed to improving quality of care through evidence-based training and strategic collaboration. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Eunice brings academic expertise, policy knowledge, and a deep commitment to building the capacity and leadership of midwives in Africa.

Hawa is a midwifery specialist, with experience in education, regulation, and humanitarian response. She has worked with UNFPA Somalia and government partners to train over 3,000 midwives and nurses, develop national curricula and strategies, and improve emergency preparedness. Her work focuses on maternal and newborn health, gender equity, and anti-FGM advocacy. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Hawa brings strategic leadership, lived experience in crisis contexts, and a deep commitment to mentoring future midwifery leaders.

Jainaba is a nurse, reproductive health specialist, and Associate Professor at the University of The Gambia. She has experience in higher education, research, and ethics, and currently heads the Department of Nursing and Reproductive Health. Jainaba mentors students and faculty, serves on the national ethics committee, and co-leads multiple international research projects, including on noncommunicable diseases and health research ethics. She is a fellow of the USAID DHS Programme and a Global Nurses Policy Institute alumna. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Jainaba brings a strong focus on mentorship, capacity building, and advancing research in reproductive health.

Jane is a midwife and public health leader with experience in clinical service delivery, education, and health systems coordination. She works with the Ministry of Health Uganda as Acting Assistant Commissioner for Midwifery Services and has over 20 years of experience across different levels of care. Her work focuses on maternal and newborn health, professional mentorship, and quality improvement. She is particularly committed to ensuring respectful, safe maternity care and building midwifery leadership. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Jane brings dedication to systems strengthening, professional development, and a passion for mentoring the next generation of midwives.

Jemima is a global public health professional and midwife, with experience in leadership, policy, and systems strengthening. She is the Founding President and CEO of the Centre for Health Development and Research (CEHDAR). Jemima has worked with WHO, UNFPA, ICM, and other global institutions to build midwifery systems in over 45 countries, including fragile and conflict-affected settings. Her work focuses on education, workforce development, and maternal health. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Jemima brings global expertise, deep commitment to mentorship, and a strong track record in advancing midwifery leadership.

Margreet is a midwife with academic and clinical expertise. Originally trained in Belgium, she later earned her PhD in South Africa on scaling up midwifery practices. She founded the Healthy Mom and Baby Clinic to provide care to underserved women and now leads Sister Lilian Centre. Her work focuses on improving birthing cultures, professional care, and midwifery systems in South Africa. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Margreet brings a passion for rights-based maternity care and leadership in service delivery.

Nalujja Joselyne is a midwife with over nine years of experience in clinical mentorship, advocacy, and programme coordination. She is General Secretary of the National Midwives’ Association of Uganda and leads the Busoga Local Maternity & Neonatal System. Her work focuses on data-informed approaches, sexual and reproductive health education, and community outreach. She is also the founder of the Afrozuri Foundation. Through the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Nalujja contributes experience in community-based initiatives and professional support for midwives.

Tewodros is a midwife, researcher, and Assistant Professor at the University of Gondar, with experience in education, research, and policy. He is the first Ethiopian midwife to earn a PhD in Midwifery and leads research focused on sexual, reproductive, and perinatal health in development and humanitarian contexts. He has helped establish Ethiopia’s first master’s and PhD midwifery programmes and mentors future midwifery leaders. Tewodros serves on national and global advisory groups and collaborates with Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Tewodros brings academic excellence and a strong commitment to midwifery leadership in Africa.

Geraldine Araceli Guzman Castillo is a Peruvian midwife and public health educator with over 15 years of experience in training, academic leadership, and national health initiatives. She has worked with Peru’s Ministry of Health and universities to promote innovation in SRHR education and clinical simulation. Her work focuses on educational transformation, digital learning, and women-centred care, and she is particularly committed to mentoring emerging professionals. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Geraldine brings a forward-thinking approach to education and a passion for strengthening the next generation of midwife leaders.

Nola Holness is a Clinical Associate Professor and Chair of the Undergraduate Nursing Department at the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She has contributed to midwifery and nursing through teaching, research, service, and clinical practice. Her work focuses on improving maternal health outcomes and addressing vaccine hesitancy among pregnant African American women. She serves as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair and is active in community engagement and mentorship. Through the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Nola brings experience in education, maternal health advocacy, and support for inclusive professional development.

Firdaous Zekaoui is a midwife and public health specialist currently working at the Ministry of Health in Morocco, within the Family Planning Division. She has led national strategies and training initiatives and is also a doctoral student researching access to SRHR services. Her work focuses on equity, reproductive health policy, and inclusive systems, and she is particularly committed to reaching vulnerable communities. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Firdaous brings strong policy expertise, research insight, and a deep belief in experience-sharing to strengthen midwifery leadership.

Sabah Hussein Al-Dhafri is a midwife with experience in maternal and child health service delivery in Yemen. She began her career in 1996 after graduating with a diploma in legal midwifery and worked at Amran Government Hospital. In 2019, she received an honorary doctorate for her work in health advocacy. Through the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Sabah contributes practical experience from providing care and leadership in challenging contexts.

Anna Byrom is a midwife with over 20 years of experience across midwifery practice, education, and leadership. She is founding director of All4Maternity and has supported internationally educated midwives in the UK. She completed a PhD on the Baby Friendly Initiative and received a National Teaching Fellowship in 2019. Anna also leads research on continuity of care and student learning. Through the Executive Sponsorship Programme, she contributes experience in midwifery education and workforce development.

Clare is a midwife and Assistant Director of Midwifery at Ireland’s National Women and Infants Health Programme. She also teaches at University College Dublin. Clare has contributed to national initiatives including the Baby Friendly Initiative, workforce planning, and midwifery guideline development. Her academic background includes advanced training in midwifery, ultrasound, prescribing, and leadership. Clare’s work focuses on quality improvement in maternity care and building a future-ready midwifery workforce. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Clare brings a combination of national-level policy experience and dedication to education and evidence-based care.

Elke is a midwife, researcher, and politician with experience in maternal health, epidemiology, and policy. Now serving in the Dutch Parliament for the Green-Labour Alliance, she brings 25 years of midwifery experience and a PhD in maternal-infant bonding. Her work focuses on sustainable development, health equity, and community care. She is particularly committed to planetary health and reducing disparities in maternal outcomes. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Elke brings political insight, academic rigour, and a global outlook to support midwifery leadership and shape health systems that prioritise women and communities

Irena is a senior midwife based in Estonia with leadership experience in clinical care and education. Her work spans maternity care, midwifery advocacy, and mentoring. Irena supports midwifery services at both the national and facility levels, contributing to better outcomes for women and families. She is dedicated to ensuring safe, respectful, and evidence-based maternity care. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Irena brings leadership experience, clinical excellence, and a strong commitment to advancing midwifery within health systems.

Jacqueline is a midwife and global health leader with experience in clinical care, education, leadership, and policy. She currently serves as the Chief Midwife at ICM, advocating for the midwifery profession worldwide. Previously, she was the first Chief Midwifery Officer for the NHS in England and has held senior roles across health systems and academia. Her work focuses on maternal health, midwifery leadership, and health equity. Jacqueline is particularly committed to ensuring all women receive safe, respectful, and equitable care. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Jacqueline brings global perspective and deep expertise to support midwives and strengthen midwifery leadership.

Jaki Lambert is a midwifery leader and executive coach with over 30 years of experience in clinical practice, education, research, and policy. As Director at RCM Scotland, she supports the midwifery workforce through leadership development and policy engagement. She has worked as a government advisor, a consultant midwife in rural units, and a senior research associate in international public health. Through the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Jaki offers experience in workforce leadership, service development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Jane Sandall is a midwife and social science researcher with experience in nursing, health visiting, and international midwifery. She leads a maternal health research group at King’s College London and co-leads the NIHR ARC South London maternity theme. Her work focuses on safety, quality of care, workforce models, and health equity. Jane has advised NHS England and co-chaired the ICM Research Committee. Through the Executive Sponsorship Programme, she contributes experience in research, policy engagement, and service design.

Kate is a midwife with experience in clinical care, education, and leadership. She has supported midwifery development globally, including leading initiatives to strengthen respectful maternity care and midwife-led services in India. Kate previously worked as a Consultant Midwife in the UK, supporting complex birth planning, national training programmes, and early career midwives. She holds an MSc in Global Maternal Health and currently serves as a Midwife Advisor at ICM. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Kate brings practical knowledge, cross-cultural experience, and a strong commitment to advancing midwifery leadership worldwide.

Liselotte is a midwife and advisor at the ICM. She has experience in clinical care, professional association development, and international collaboration. Before joining ICM, she worked as an independent midwife in the Netherlands and served as international policy advisor for the Royal Dutch Organisation of Midwives, leading several global twinning projects. Liselotte holds degrees in midwifery, cultural anthropology, and medical anthropology and sociology. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Liselotte brings a deep understanding of association strengthening and global partnership building to support midwives and strengthen midwifery leadership.

Sheena Byrom is a midwife with over 40 years of experience, having worked extensively within the UK’s National Health Service. She was one of the first consultant midwives in the UK and helped develop three birth centres in East Lancashire. She co-founded The Practising Midwife journal and the learning platform All4Maternity. Sheena provides consultancy and workshops on respectful maternity care and is the author and editor of several publications on compassionate care and childbirth. Through the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Sheena contributes experience in leadership, education, and advancing respectful maternity care globally.

Stephanie is a midwife with experience in global health, education, and clinical leadership. She works as a Midwife Advisor for the International Confederation of Midwives, supporting midwives, midwifery associations, and models of care aligned with the ICM Professional Framework. Previously, she worked as a midwife and lecturer in the UK and supported midwifery programmes across Asia and Africa, focusing on enabling environments for midwives and respectful SRHR care in humanitarian settings. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Stephanie brings technical expertise, cross-cultural experience, and a deep commitment to advancing midwifery leadership.

Georgia is a midwife and educator with experience in maternal health, midwifery training, and service delivery. She has worked in the Philippines since 2007, where she founded the first licensed midwife-led birth centre in Kalinga and currently serves as Executive Director. Her work focuses on supporting Filipino midwives and strengthening the profession through education and advocacy. She is particularly committed to locally driven solutions that improve maternal outcomes. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Georgia brings practical experience, cross-cultural understanding, and long-standing dedication to midwifery leadership and training.

Goma is a nurse-midwife and health leader with experience in clinical care, policy development, and academic leadership. She currently serves as President of the Midwifery Society of Nepal and has held key national positions, including Director at the Ministry of Health and President of the Nepal Nursing Council. Her work focuses on strengthening SRMNAH services and simulation-based education, and she is particularly committed to gender equality and the rights of women and newborns. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Goma brings decades of experience and a deep commitment to advancing midwifery in Nepal and the re

Joy is a midwife and Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives with over 30 years of experience. She is currently an International Midwifery Specialist at the UN in Bangladesh. Her career spans education, global health, and humanitarian work, with a focus on strengthening midwifery associations and services for vulnerable populations. She authored ‘Global Midwifery’ and supports neurodiverse midwives. Joy has worked to embed midwives in fragile health systems and promote SRHR. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Joy brings deep advocacy experience and a passion for building resilient midwifery leadership structures.

Kiran is a retired professor and the founding president of the Midwifery Society of Nepal. With experience in midwifery education, policy, and association development, she led the creation of the national curriculum framework and midwifery roadmap. Kiran has participated in ICM events, supported post-earthquake mobile health services, and guided the Midwifery Education Institutions Network. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Kiran brings extensive academic expertise and a lifelong commitment to strengthening midwifery leadership in Nepal.

Laxmi is a midwife with over 25 years of experience in clinical care, research, advocacy, and policy. She co-founded the Midwifery Society of Nepal and established Nepal’s first nurse-led birthing centre. Her work focuses on sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially for marginalised communities. She holds degrees in nursing and public health, and a PhD in medicine. She is currently Vice Chairperson of the ICM Board and serves as the Southeast Asia Regional Representative. Through the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Laxmi contributes experience in midwifery development and health system strengthening.

Elizabeth (Zab) is a midwife advisor at ICM, with over 30 years of clinical and education experience. She has worked across New Zealand, the UK, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia in diverse models of care, and holds an MA in person-centred healthcare. Her work focuses on continuity of care, lactation support, and in-service education, and she is particularly committed to intercultural collaboration and midwifery leadership. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Zab brings technical expertise, global insight, and a strong foundation in midwifery care and training.

Elizabeth is an Associate Professor of Midwifery at Flinders University, with 25 years of experience in clinical practice, education, and research. She has worked to humanise birth through social justice-focused research, turning her background in political philosophy toward analysing birth culture. Her concept of the “institutional paradox” and her work on autonomy and relational ethics have influenced international guidelines and policy. Elizabeth is a founding member of the Global Birth Environment Design Network and co-convenes the Humanising Birth Research Network. As part of the Executive Sponsorship Programme, Elizabeth brings academic leadership, policy insight, and a passion for transforming maternity care.