Regional Professional Committees

Association: National Midwives Association of Uganda

Role in the RPC: Practising midwife

Association: Midwives Association of Zambia

Role in the RPC: Regulator

Concepta Kwaleyela is a midwife from Zambia with experience in midwifery education, regulation, and research within higher education. She works in academic leadership and is involved in maintaining standards and quality assurance in midwifery education and practice. Within the RPC, Concepta contributes strong regulatory insight and experience in bringing together professional associations, regulators, and policymakers to strengthen safe and appropriate midwifery practice.

Association: Midwifery Association of Kenya

Role in the RPC: Regional Chair and Educator

Florence Munoru is a midwife, educator, and researcher from Kenya with experience in midwifery education, research, and capacity building. She works in higher education and supports competency-based training aligned with national and international standards. Within the RPC, Florence provides regional leadership, strengthens collaboration across Africa, and supports evidence-informed approaches to education, research, advocacy, and midwifery practice.

Association: Rwanda Association of Midwives

Role in the RPC: Emerging leader

Association: Association burkinabè des sages-femmes et maïeuticiens

Role in the RPC: Regulator

Mariam Nonguierma Zorome is a midwife from Burkina Faso with extensive experience in professional regulation, leadership, and advocacy. She has played a key role in establishing the national regulatory body for midwives and supporting governance within the profession. Within the RPC, Mariam contributes regulatory experience and mentorship, sharing lessons from Burkina Faso’s journey to strengthen professional regulation and support the next generation of midwives.

Association: Association Nationale des Sages-Femmes d’État du Sénégal

Role in the RPC: Educator

Marie Anne Bigué Sarr is a midwifery educator from Senegal with experience in both clinical practice and long-standing teaching roles in national training institutions. She has worked in midwifery education leadership and is actively involved in professional association work. Within the RPC, Marie Anne contributes to strengthening midwifery education by sharing expertise, building networks among educators, and supporting improvements in the quality of training in Senegal and across Africa.

Association: Society of Midwives of South Africa

Role in the RPC: Researcher

Sheila Clow is a midwife and researcher from South Africa with experience across clinical practice, postgraduate education, curriculum development, and health systems work. Her research focuses on intrapartum care, physiological birth, and knowledge translation, alongside long-standing involvement in guideline development and ethics. Within the RPC, Sheila contributes research expertise by supporting regional research capacity development and advising on priorities for midwifery research in Africa.

Association: Ethiopian Midwives Association (EMwA)

Role in the RPC: Researcher

Tewodros Seyoum is a midwife and researcher with experience in midwifery education, research, and practice across Ethiopia, Sweden, and Australia. His work focuses on midwife-led models of care and improving maternal and newborn health through research and academic collaboration. Within the RPC, Tewodros contributes research expertise and supports efforts to strengthen the midwifery profession in Africa in line with the ICM Professional Framework.

Association: Asociación de Parteras Profesionales

Role in the RPC: Emerging leader

Association: Canadian Association of Midwives

Role in the RPC: Regional Chair and Educator

Deepali Upadhyaya is a midwife, educator, and clinician from Canada with experience in midwifery education, research, and clinical practice. She teaches in a bachelor-level midwifery programme while remaining actively engaged in care, and contributes to national work on midwifery education and scholarship. Within the RPC, Deepali provides regional leadership and supports evidence-informed approaches to strengthening midwifery education, leadership, and practice across the Americas.

Association: Jamaica Midwives Association

Role in the RPC: Practising midwife

Deveree Stewart is a midwife and educator from Jamaica with over 30 years of clinical experience in midwifery and nursing. She has contributed to the development of midwifery education programmes in Jamaica and the Caribbean and has experience in regulation and professional standards. Within the RPC, Deveree brings the perspective of practising midwives and helps raise shared concerns to inform discussions on education, practice, and regulation.

Association: Trinidad and Tobago Association of Midwives

Role in the RPC: Practising midwife

Kathyann Thomas Elbourne is a practising midwife from Trinidad and Tobago with long-standing experience across clinical practice, education, and leadership. She has worked in mentoring, training, and community engagement, alongside advocacy on maternal and newborn health. Within the RPC, Kathyann contributes practical insights from Caribbean midwifery, shares updates on education and policy, and supports midwives’ engagement with ICM standards and professional development.

Association: Canadian Association of Midwives

Role in the RPC: Regulator

Louise Aerts is a regulator from Canada with extensive experience in health profession regulation, governance, and executive leadership. She has led major regulatory reforms and organisational integration within nursing and midwifery regulation and works with a strong focus on equity, fairness, and public protection. Within the RPC, Louise contributes a clear regulatory perspective to support informed discussion and decision-making.

Association: Colegio de Matronas de Chile A.G. Consejo Regional Magallanes

Role in the RPC: Regulator

Maria Isabel Velich Uribe is a midwife and nurse from Chile with extensive experience in sexual and reproductive health, neonatology, and public health. She has held leadership roles at regional and national levels and has contributed to policy, regulation, and oversight of sexual and reproductive health services. Within the RPC, Maria Isabel brings long-standing regulatory experience and a strong commitment to advancing midwifery and addressing inequalities across health systems.

Association: Colegio De Obstetras Del Peru

Role in the RPC: Regulator

Association: National Association of Certified Professional Midwives

Role in the RPC: Researcher

Association: Association Marocaine des Sages Femmes

Role in the RPC: Researcher

Association: Iranian Scientific Midwifery Association

Role in the RPC: Regional Chair and Regulator

Farah Babaey is a midwife and health policy specialist from Iran with over 35 years of experience across service delivery, regulation, and health policy. She has led national midwifery policy, workforce, education, and regulatory frameworks and works closely with regional and global partners. Within the RPC, Farah contributes strong policy leadership and fosters collaboration to advance evidence-based midwifery education, regulation, research, and leadership across the region.

Region: Eastern Mediterranean

Association: Iranian Scientific Association of Midwifery

Role in the RPC: Educator

Farzaneh Golboni is a midwife and health education specialist from Iran with over 21 years of experience in midwifery education and health promotion. She works with the Ministry of Health and has contributed to national and international initiatives in sexual and reproductive health and professional regulation. Within the RPC, Farzaneh brings extensive knowledge of Iran’s midwifery education system and shares practical insights from her national and international experience.

Association: Somaliland Nursing and Midwifery Association

Role in the RPC: Emerging leader

Jama Egal is a midwife and educator from Somaliland with experience in midwifery education, research, and professional leadership. She has been involved in establishing academic programmes, strengthening regulation, and supporting evidence-informed improvements in maternal and reproductive health. Within the RPC, Jama contributes perspectives from Somaliland, supports regional engagement, and helps share progress and priorities to strengthen midwifery education, regulation, and practice.

Association: Midwifery Association of Pakistan

Role in the RPC: Educator

Musarrat Rani is a midwife and educator from Pakistan with extensive experience in midwifery education, programme development, and service delivery across academic and community settings. She has contributed to national midwifery policies, curricula, and training initiatives, including the development of Pakistan’s bachelor-level midwifery programme. Within the RPC, Musarrat contributes strong education and policy experience to support collaboration and the advancement of midwifery practice across the region.

Association: Iran Scientific Association of Midwifery

Role in the RPC: Regulator

Nahid Khodakarami is a midwife, researcher, and regulatory leader from Iran with extensive experience across education, research, and health policy. She has worked in academic teaching, reproductive health research, and national regulation, contributing to professional standards and evidence-based policymaking. Within the RPC, Nahid brings strong regulatory and policy expertise to support safe, high-quality midwifery practice and strengthen professional standards across the region.

Association: National Yemeni Midwives Association

Role in the RPC: Practising midwife

Association: Lebanese Order of Midwives

Role in the RPC: Researcher

Sarine El Daouk is a midwife and researcher from Lebanon with experience across clinical practice, academia, and public health. Her work focuses on maternal and reproductive health research, quality assurance, and translating evidence into practice through collaboration with national and international partners. Within the RPC, Sarine contributes research expertise and a strong commitment to advancing professional standards and midwifery leadership.

Association: Midwives Section, Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation

Role in the RPC: Regulator

Association: Israel Midwives Association

Role in the RPC: Emerging leader

Gila Zarbiv is a midwife and researcher from Israel with experience in continuity of midwife care, policy, and professional development. Her work focuses on how health systems enable midwives to practise to their full scope through evidence-informed and relationship-based models of care. Within the RPC, Gila contributes expertise in implementation science and continuity of midwife care to support collaboration, leadership, and global standards for midwifery practice.

Association: Estonian Midwives Association

Role in the RPC: Practising midwife

Irena Bartels is a midwife from Estonia with long-standing experience across clinical practice, education, leadership, and research. She has worked in curriculum development, research ethics, and service leadership, and is currently involved in clinical management and mentorship. Within the RPC, Irena brings the perspective of practising midwifery and supports collaborative, values-based work that reflects the diversity of midwifery contexts across Europe.

Association: Associação Portuguesa dos Enfermeiros Obstetras

Role in the RPC: Practising midwife

Isabel Maria Fonseca Ferreira is a practising midwife from Portugal working across community-based and integrative women’s health services. Her work spans the full life course, alongside teaching, advocacy, and research on models of care and women’s experiences. Within the RPC, Isabel Maria contributes a strong practice-based perspective and supports efforts to strengthen midwifery visibility, professional networks, and respectful, woman-centred care.

Association: Royal College of Midwives

Role in the RPC: Regional Chair and Educator

Jayne Marshall is a midwifery educator from the United Kingdom with extensive experience in curriculum design, academic leadership, and pedagogical research. Her work focuses on innovative education approaches and preparing future midwifery leaders. Within the RPC, Jayne contributes education expertise and supports the development of midwife leadership across Europe, including initiatives that strengthen student engagement and regional collaboration.

Association: Danish Midwives Association

Role in the RPC: Researcher

Katja Schrøder is a midwife and researcher from Denmark with experience in academia and postgraduate midwifery education. Her research focuses on professional wellbeing, organisational culture, and the organisation of maternity care, with a strong commitment to woman-centred approaches. Within the RPC, Katja contributes research expertise, supports cross-country collaboration, and provides advisory input to inform evidence-based discussions and decision-making.

Association: Deutscher Hebammenverband (German Midwives Association)

Role in the RPC: Researcher

Michaela Michel-Schuldt is a midwife and researcher from Germany with experience in midwifery education, health systems, workforce policy, and organisation of care. She works in higher education and is involved in postgraduate teaching and research development. Within the RPC, Michaela contributes strong research expertise, supports capacity building, and helps strengthen evidence generation to inform midwifery education, regulation, policy, and practice across Europe.

Association: Malta Midwives Association

Role in the RPC: Regulator

Association: Society of Midwives of India

Role in the RPC: Regulator

Ani Grace Kalaimathi is a midwife and regulator from India with extensive experience in nursing and midwifery education, regulation, and bioethics. She works within the state nursing and midwifery council and has contributed to reforms in licensing, continuing education, and digital registration systems. Within the RPC, Ani Grace contributes regulatory experience and shares insights on strengthening governance and professional standards in midwifery.

Association: Bangladesh Midwifery Society

Role in the RPC: Practising midwife

Asma Khatun is a practising midwife from Bangladesh with experience working in rural health services and professional leadership. She has served in leadership roles within the Bangladesh Midwifery Society and is currently completing further studies in midwifery. Within the RPC, Asma contributes the perspective of midwives working in resource-constrained settings and is strengthening international collaboration and communication as an emerging leader.

Association: Indonesian Midwives Association

Role in the RPC: Regional Chair and Emerging leader

Feri Anita Wijayanti is a midwife and lecturer from Indonesia with experience in education, leadership development, and advocacy for sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health. She is currently undertaking doctoral studies and is committed to supporting young midwives to take on leadership roles. Within the RPC, Feri contributes strategic leadership, coordination, and clear communication to support collaborative work and advance ICM’s priorities across the region.

Association: Indonesian Midwifery Association

Role in the RPC: Researcher

Kusmayra Ambarwati is a midwife and public health researcher from Indonesia with experience in maternal and child health, policy research, and community-based programmes across Southeast Asia. Her work includes research, monitoring and evaluation, and evidence-based advocacy on breastfeeding, nutrition, gender, and inclusion. Within the RPC, Kusmayra contributes regional research expertise and supports collaboration on ethical, inclusive, and evidence-informed midwifery policy and practice.

Association: Midwifery Society of Nepal

Role in the RPC: Practising midwife

Maiya Shobha Manandhar is a midwifery educator from Nepal with experience in teaching, clinical supervision, and student research within a national academic institution. She is involved in midwifery education networks and professional association governance. Within the RPC, Maiya Shobha contributes education-focused perspectives, shares country-level progress and challenges, and supports regional collaboration on midwifery education, practice, and regulation.

Association: New Zealand College of Midwives

Role in the RPC: Practising midwife

Claire MacDonald is a practising midwife from New Zealand with experience in continuity of midwife care across community, rural, and hospital settings. She also works in an advisory role supporting professional guidance, policy, and governance while remaining clinically active. Within the RPC, Claire contributes experience from a midwife-led continuity-of-care system and supports collaborative approaches to strengthening autonomous midwifery practice across the Western Pacific.

Association: Hong Kong Midwives Association

Role in the RPC: Educator

Elce Au Yeung is a midwifery educator from Hong Kong with experience in academic leadership, curriculum development, and regulation. She leads midwifery education at institutional level and has contributed to professional standards through roles in education and governance. Within the RPC, Elce contributes expertise in midwifery education and supports regional collaboration, including work examining changes in education following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Association: Fiji Midwifery Society

Role in the RPC: Educator

Association: Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives Inc

Role in the RPC: Regulator

Florminda Tejano is a midwife and educator from the Philippines and serves as dean of a school of midwifery in Northern Mindanao. Her work focuses on midwifery education, curriculum development, and integrating the ICM Essential Competencies into training programmes. Within the RPC, Florminda contributes experience from the Philippine midwifery education and regulatory system, sharing insights on professional regulation and educational reform in a developing context.

Association: Cambodian Midwives Association

Role in the RPC: Practising midwife

Association: New Zealand College of Midwives

Role in the RPC: Practising midwife

Association: Australian College of Midwives

Role in the RPC: Regional Chair and Regulator

Paula Medway works in senior midwifery leadership within the South Australian Government and serves on Australia’s national nursing and midwifery regulatory board. Her work focuses on policy development, regulation, and enabling midwives to practise to their full scope across all settings. Within the RPC, Paula contributes strong expertise in policy and regulation, supporting system-level approaches to improving midwifery and maternity care.