Beacons of Hope and Courage: Midwives Leading with Compassion

Beacons of Hope and Courage: Midwives Leading with Compassion

Join the RCN Foundation as we celebrate the International Day of the Midwife with a powerful and uplifting webinar exploring the impact of compassionate leadership in maternity care.  

The 60-minute webinar will be chaired by Nina Khazaezadeh, Regional Chief Midwife for London, and is hosted in partnership with NHS England and The King’s Fund. It will include a dynamic panel discussion followed by a Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with our speakers. 

The panel will be led by three influential leaders in health and equality who will explore how midwives can lead with courage, compassion and commitment in today’s complex health landscape. 

Secure your place 

The webinar will take place on Friday 1 May 2026 from 9am-10am.  

To register, click here.

The webinar will be streamed live. If you are unable to join, a recording of the webinar will be available to watch on this page.

The panel 

Nina Khazaezadeh - Regional Chief Midwife for London, NHS England 

Nina is the Interim Regional Chief Midwife for London and a registered nurse and midwife with international experience. She has held a range of senior leadership roles across acute and primary care and has extensive expertise in clinical practice, management, quality improvement, research and co‑production. She has advised on several NICE guidelines and is the immediate past President of the Royal Society of Medicine’s Maternity and Newborn Forum. Nina led the midwifery input into the Lambeth Early Action Partnership, a long‑term programme addressing early‑years health inequalities, and has received national recognition for innovative, partnership‑based practice. 

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE - Chief Midwife, International Confederation of Midwives 

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE is a global advocate for midwives and a leading voice in ensuring women and gender diverse people receive equitable, safe and compassionate maternity care. As the first Chief Midwifery Officer for the NHS in England, Jacqueline has shaped national maternity policy and strengthened safety and professional leadership across the system. She now leads the International Confederation of Midwives, championing midwifery worldwide. 

Professor Michael West CBE - Senior Visiting Fellow, The King’s Fund 

Professor Michael West CBE is one of the UK’s most respected experts on compassionate leadership, staff wellbeing, and organisational culture in healthcare. His research has had a transformative impact on how teams’ function effectively and how leaders can nurture compassionate, high performing environments. He holds academic roles at Lancaster University, University College Dublin, and Aston University. 

Professor Habib Naqvi MBE FFPH - Chief Executive, NHS Race and Health Observatory 

Professor Habib Naqvi MBE leads the NHS Race and Health Observatory, where he oversees national work to identify, understand, and address ethnic inequalities in health and healthcare. His expertise spans strategic planning, policy development, and global partnerships focused on tackling systemic inequities and improving health outcomes for diverse communities.

What to expect 

The event will explore: 

• The role of midwives as leaders in compassionate, inclusive care 
• How health systems can support the wellbeing and resilience of maternity staff 
• Tackling inequalities in maternity services and improving experiences for all 
• The power of hope, collaboration and professional courage in driving change