ICM Welcomes Alison Eddy as Its New President
The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) is pleased to announce that Alison Eddy has been elected as the new President of ICM for the 2027-2029 triennium, following the Council vote on 11 June 2026 at the ICM Council Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. Alison’s presidential tenure will begin at closing ceremony of ICM’s 34th Triennial Congress on 18 June 2026.
Alison will begin her tenure alongside ICM’s new Board:
- Treasurer: Robert Bark
- Alliance Board Member: Neel Shah
Regional Board Members:
- Africa: Eunice Atsali
- Americas: Deepali Upadhyaya
- Eastern Mediterranean: Loubna Naji
- Europe: Lia Brigante
- Southeast Asia: Paridhi Jha
- Western Pacific: Allison Cummins
ICM also extends its sincere gratitude to outgoing President Sandra Oyarzo Torres and the outgoing Board for their leadership, commitment and service to ICM. During her tenure, Sandra led ICM with deep dedication to midwives, women, newborns and communities, while helping guide the Confederation through a period of growth, transition and renewed global advocacy for the midwifery profession.
Alison Eddy is an experienced midwife from New Zealand with more than two decades of experience in clinical practice, leadership, governance, education and advocacy. She currently serves as Chief Executive of the New Zealand College of Midwives, where she has contributed to national strategies, policy development, professional frameworks, funding models, and initiatives to strengthen midwifery practice and maternity services.
At country level, Alison has worked closely with education providers, regulators, multidisciplinary groups, Māori midwives, consumer representatives and health sector leaders to strengthen midwifery standards, improve working conditions and support the integration of midwifery within the health system. Her work has included advocacy for fair pay, improved funding and contracting models, rural midwifery workforce support, maternal immunisation, cultural safety, equity, and continuity of midwife models of care.
Alison has also served as ICM Regional Board Member for the Western Pacific region, where she has represented midwifery in international forums, supported regional engagement with Member Associations, and contributed to ICM’s governance. She has been a member of the ICM Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, and has represented midwifery through roles including the Lancet Commission on Maternal and Newborn Health and the Burnet Institute Midwifery Research Advisory Group.
Ahead of the Council vote, Alison emphasised the importance of collective leadership, strong governance, equity, and a united global voice for midwifery. Her leadership approach is grounded in listening, relationship-building, consensus and respect for the diverse realities faced by midwives and Midwives’ Associations around the world.
“ICM exists because midwives chose collaboration over isolation, and collective voice over silence. Its mission, to strengthen midwifery worldwide in the interests of women, newborns, and families, is as urgent today as it has ever been,” said Alison.
“I do not see the role of President as an individual one. I see it as a collective endeavour, one that depends on strong relationships, shared values, and the ability to bring people together around a common purpose. Unity within ICM does not mean uniformity; it means working with respect for our differences while remaining anchored in what we share,” she added.
As Alison begins her term, ICM enters a new triennium focused on strengthening midwifery worldwide at a time when the profession faces growing global challenges, including workforce shortages, conflict, climate-related disasters, rising overmedicalisation, underinvestment in the health workforce, and continued barriers to midwives practising to their full scope.
Under Alison’s leadership, ICM will continue to work with its members to advance the profession, strengthen Midwives’ Associations, support evidence-based standards, and advocate for investment in midwives and midwifery models of care.
“I am proud to be a midwife. I am proud of our profession. And I am honoured to serve as President of the International Confederation of Midwives, in service to you, and the global midwifery community,” said Alison.
ICM warmly welcomes Alison Eddy as President and looks forward to working with her, the new Board, Member Associations and partners to advance midwifery worldwide during the 2027-2029 triennium.