A Day in the Life of Stephanie Marriott, Midwife Advisor at ICM 

Stephanie Marriott is a midwife from the UK and the latest addition to the ICM Midwives’ Team. She undertook her midwifery education programme at the University of York, completing a three-year direct entry programme in 2009; in 2023 she received a Master’s in Public Health from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. 

Stephanie’s early career took her to the National Health Service (NHS) trust, where she gained experience in all aspects of midwifery, from labour wards to triage, home births, and community care. In the UK, rotational midwifery is common, and she had the opportunity to the learn many skills a midwife might need. 

After several years, Stephanie specialised in a continuity of care model. She worked on a project focused on supporting pregnant women from underserved communities, including refugees, displaced individuals, and those facing social challenges like substance misuse. Over three years, she cared for the same women through multiple pregnancies, building strong connections and seeing the transformative impact of continuity of care. 

She later became a Professional Midwifery Advocate, a role dedicated to supporting midwives in improving clinical practice and following critical incidents. This sparked her interest in education and quality improvement, which led to a secondment as a lecturer at the University of York in 2018. 

Her curiosity about global midwifery and birthing practices around the world then took her to India, where she worked to establish midwifery education programmes, and later to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, with UNFPA, supporting midwives in a humanitarian setting. Stephanie most recently worked in South Sudan with Médecins Sans Frontières, managing maternity care in an internally displaced persons camp severely impacted by climate change. 

Stephanie’s diverse experiences eventually brought her to the ICM, where she now works as a Midwife Advisor. ICM represents the pinnacle of midwifery for Stephanie, and her initial months have seen her work focusing on advancing global midwifery education. 

This is a day in her life:  

I just moved to The Hague for this job, so there isn’t a typical day yet. I’m still settling into my new apartment and learning my way around the city. One constant, though, is cycling to the office—a refreshing way to start the day, even in the rainy Dutch winters. 

The ICM Head Office is an inspiring and collaborative space, with different eeams, including those focused on finance, communications, operations, and midwifery, all working collaboratively toward advancing global midwifery standards and advocacy. Part of our team is online, but most of the midwives’ team, including myself, is based here in The Hague. We are a team of five midwives, each bringing diverse experiences from different settings and countries. There isn’t a set timetable for how we do things in the day, but we tend to do a combination of work alone and work together. Everyone here has been incredibly welcoming, and it’s inspiring to work in an office filled with change-driven individuals from around the world. 

Once at work, my mornings are often spent on individual tasks. Right now, I’m preparing a position paper and webinar on the recognition of prior learning in midwifery education. This involves researching, speaking with stakeholders from countries like Pakistan and Canada, and creating materials for upcoming presentations.  

I am now working alongside Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, the former and first Chief Midwife in England. It’s incredible to collaborate with someone who has had such an impact on midwifery in my home country. 

In the afternoons, I often collaborate with my team. We sit together and share ideas, dividing tasks based on our strengths. One of our ongoing projects involves designing climate resilience training for midwives in South Sudan. We’re focusing on equipping midwives to handle emergencies like floods or extreme heat, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. We also do some representation work, attending meetings and events to advocate for midwifery on a global stage. 

Tuesdays are particularly busy, with our team meeting to align on priorities a focus of the mornings. Other days are more flexible, with smaller group discussions or focused time to update ICM’s resources. The diversity in my work keeps me engaged—every day feels different. 

After work, I often explore The Hague with colleagues who, like me, are new to the city. Whether it’s discovering local restaurants, picking up secondhand furniture, or simply cycling around it’s a fun way to unwind. I’m looking forward to getting back to my old hobbies once I’m more settled in the city—I enjoy swimming, yoga, and salsa dancing. I also make time to stay connected with friends and family around the world. 

Looking Ahead 

Stephanie is excited about ICM’s growing initiatives, including establishing midwifery in countries that lack formal midwifery programmes. These projects are in their early stages but hold great promise for strengthening midwifery globally. 

From her early days in the NHS to her current role at ICM, Stephanie’s dedication to improving midwifery is evident. As midwives, she believes they are not just caregivers but also advocates, educators, and leaders. Stephanie dreams of a world where every country has enough midwives who meet ICM Global Standards.