Dr Robyn Maude started nursing training in 1971 and then became a midwife in 1975. She has diverse experience as a midwife in Australia and New Zealand, including work in remote rural settings, hospital-based practice, and community-based lead maternity care, professional leadership, midwifery education and academia. Her research interests are focused on activities that promote and protect physiological birth, and on the promotion of health and wellbeing for women and babies. Her work in intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart has led to international research collaborations in Scandinavia, Europe, UK and Australia. Robyn’s expertise is acknowledged professionally. She is a member of the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) (ministerial appointment), Deputy Chair for the Midwifery Advisory Committee for the Council of Deans Nursing and Midwifery for Australia and New Zealand, and Lead for the ‘Grow Our Own’ Nursing and Midwifery Postgraduate Education partnership between the National University of Samoa and VUW.

Dr Holloway is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington. She has held multiple senior nursing leadership roles over the last two decades and is the current co-chair of the National Nursing Leadership group. This is a peak nursing body in New Zealand representing senior leaders from across the nursing sectors of policy, regulation, employment, professional bodies and education working to progress their commitment to equity through the development of a sustainable nursing workforce. Kathy is also a Fellow of the College of Nurses Aotearoa, and served as a ministerial appointment to Nursing Council of New Zealand for seven years.  Through her research and national leadership roles, Kathy is involved in clarifying the potential of nursing expertise to improve the patient experience and inform workforce planning models.

Naomi is a Lecturer in Midwifery at the University of South Australia, with experience teaching theoretical and clinical courses in the Undergraduate program, along with theoretical teaching in the post-graduate space. Naomi has a Bachelor in Midwifery, Graduate Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health, a Masters in Midwifery, and is currently undertaking her PhD in ‘Developing conflict resolution strategies and building resilient midwifery students: A mixed methods study’. Naomi is also a Clinical Midwife with a wealth of experience working across all spectrums of the perinatal period.

Lois McKellar is the Professor of Midwifery and Head of Midwifery at the Australian Catholic University. She has been a midwife and senior academic for many years and is passionate about research which is translational and informs practice and education. She is committed to outstanding education for midwives and has undertaken numerous studies regarding midwifery education. Lois was a co-founder for the Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium and co-led a Delphi study to ascertain priorities for Australian midwifery education. She also provided consultation to the ICM and WHO to develop a Bachelor of Midwifery in India. Her current research focusses on developing evidence-based strategies to improve the well-being of women through co-design approaches. Lois is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Governor’s Leadership Foundation.

Alicia Carey is a dedicated Nurse, Midwife, and Academic, currently employed as the Head of Discipline – Midwifery at Charles Sturt University, NSW, Australia. With a diverse clinical background including remote and rural practice, Alicia brings a wealth of practical experience to her academic leadership. As an early career researcher, Alicia is currently undertaking a PhD focused on exploring midwives’ educational preparedness and perceptions in providing maternity care to sexual and gender diverse people. Her research aims to inform inclusive education and practice within midwifery, contributing to more equitable and affirming healthcare environments. Alicia is passionate about advancing midwifery education, supporting the next generation of midwives, and advocating for inclusive, person-centred care across all communities.