Agenda
(subject to change)
08:30
Visit the exhibition and enter the competition
09.00 – 09.25
Knitting and crochet for wellbeing Workshop
Amanda Hutcherson, Knitting for all with midwife, experienced HE teachers and lifelong knitter
09.45
Chair’s opening remarks
Sue Macdonald, Maternity and Midwifery Festival Programme Curator and Editor, Mayes Midwifery
10.00
What a difference a midwife makes…
Dr Jenny Hall, Midwifery Educator, Researcher and Editor
10.20
Challenging midwifery – surviving and thriving
Dr Sally Pezaro, Assistant Professor, Coventry University
10.40
Q & A
10.55. – 11.40 BREAK, NETWORKING AND EXHIBITION VIEWING
11.40
The language of loss
Dr Beth Malory, Lecturer in English Linguistics, University College London
12.00
Cultural perspectives of perinatal loss
Alicia Burnett, Tommy’s Midwife; Founder of Black Baby Loss Awareness Week; Author and Campaigner
12.20
Q & A
12.35
Standing up for Midwives Rally
Neil Stewart, Editorial Director, Maternity & Midwifery Festival
12.45
MIDWIFERY & MATERNITY TRAILBLAZER AWARDS
13.00 – 14.00 LUNCH, MEET THE EXPERT TALK, NETWORKING AND EXHIBITION VIEWING
13.30 – 13.45 MEET THE EXPERT
13.30 – 13.45 MEET THE EXPERT –
Making the move to digital – maternity resources for universities and trusts
Dr Anna Byrom, Director, All4Maternity and Neil Stewart, Editorial Director, MATFLIX/ Maternity & Midwifery Forum
STREAM A: MAIN ROOM
STREAM B: ROOM
STREAM C: ROOM
Questions from the audience follow each presentation
14.00 – 14.30
A1: Waterbirth for the 21st century – practical skills required for safe care in water
Dianne Garland, founder, MidwifeExpert; Author, Teaching waterbirth for the 21st century – love, skills and knowledge
B1: Student Voices Symposium
The realities of being a student midwife in 2026
Jainaba Hughes, Tilly Cairns and Bonita Tittrea, First Year Student Midwives, University of Birmingham (confirmed)
An hour-long session bringing together student midwives from the region who will talk about different aspects of their journey and things that matter to midwives of the future.
C1: Women & Infant Health
Working together to improve neonatal care and supporting women and families
14.35 – 15.05
A2: Doulas, women and midwives working together
Sally Ann Beresford, Doula, Author, Educator
B2:
C2: Women & Infant Health
Reset & renew – building sustainable healthy habits in high-stress roles
Amanda Whitehead, Holistic Health and Nutrition Coach
15.05 – 15.25 FINAL EXHIBITION VIEWING, NETWORKING AND COMFORT BREAK
15.25 – 15.55
A3: Clinical practice
Achieving the best in postnatal care
Sarah Milnes, Midwifery Lecturer and Admissions Lead, University of Leicester
B3: Professional Issues
NMC unpacked: What It means for midwives and students today
Dr Jacqui Williams, Senior Midwifery Advisor (Education) Nursing and Midwifery Council
C3: Women & Infant Health
Psychoeducation as preventive perinatal mental health care: reframing parental understanding to Improve outcomes
Edidiong Ishola, Founding Partner & Perinatal Mental Health Expert, MIKEDCAREs
16.00 – 16.30
A4:
Strengthening place of birth conversations: a midwife-led approach to improving choice and confidence
Sam Todd, Consultant Midwife, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Dayna Wright, Midwifery Led Services Matron, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
B4:
Sponsored presentation – to be announced
C4: Women & Infant Health
Working with perimenopause
Speaker to be announced