Ep 110 SPOTLIGHT on the ICM Chief Midwife - Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent

message me: what did you take away from this episode? Ep 110  (http://ibit.ly/Re5V) SPOTLIGHT on the ICM Chief Midwife - Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent#PhDMidwives #research #midwifery #maternal #inequities #globalmidwifery #worldmidwives #ICM #leadership #advocacy #governance #datamangementhttps://internationalmidwives.org/who-we-are/First in our new 'SPOTLIGHT on' series, I chat with ICM Chief Midwife, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-BentWhat happens when a national chief midwife takes the leap to champion more than a million midwives across 120 countries? We share that journey with candour and urgency—why timing mattered, how a call to “give back” became a global mission, and what it takes to turn evidence into action for women, babies, and families.We unpack the role of a chief midwife at scale: elevating the profession, pushing for educated, regulated, and well-resourced midwifery, and ensuring midwife-led models of care are implemented where they save the most lives. The contrasts in maternal mortality are stark, but the solutions aren’t mysterious. From essential medicines that actually work in local conditions to policy choices that put women’s health at the centre, we look at how ministries and health systems can prioritise dignity and outcomes without setting midwives up to fail.Crisis is another proving ground. When others run out, midwives run into conflict zones, climate disasters, and displacement. That requires leadership, voice, and the right tools. We talk about ICM’s partnerships for emergency readiness, the train-the-trainer programs shaping on-the-ground response, and the crucial difference between mere representation and real inclusion at decision-making tables. Then we shift to growth: the Midwifery Leaders Executive Sponsorship Program, the forthcoming ICM Leadership Academy, and the first global leadership competencies designed to guide job descriptions, performance reviews, and national workforce planning with consistency.Data ties it together. The refreshed Midwives Data Hub helps leaders build stronger cases for change and gives educators and students a global view that sharpens local care. We close with stories that stay with you—frontline births in shelters, flags raised at ICM Congress, and a shared commitment not to leave anyone behind. If you believe preventable maternal death should be history, this conversation shows the path forward.Enjoyed the episode? Follow, rate, and share with a colleague who champions midwifery. Your review helps more people find the show and strengthens the global voice of midwives. Support the showDo you know someone who should tell their story?email me  - [email protected] aim is for this to be a fortnightly podcast with extra episodes thrown inThis podcast can be found on various socials as @thruthepinardd and our website -https://thruthepinardpodcast.buzzsprout.com/ or ibit.ly/Re5V