Leadership to strengthen midwifery: learning from the past to create the future (Poster)

Abstract

Leadership to strengthen midwifery regulation, education, and professional association: learning from the past to create the future

Purpose Leadership is not the province of a few exceptional individuals. Effective leadership skills can be taught, learnt, and successfully applied to overcome insurmountable obstacles. Developing midwifery leadership is critical to address the Millennium development goals and the post - 2015 Development Agenda.

Presentation This presentation considers the values, qualities, skills, and actions required of future midwifery leaders. This includes how these leadership attributes can be grown and applied to strengthen midwifery regulation, education, and professional association. Current and historical examples of midwifery leadership will be showcased, including the strategies that have been successfully employed by others to overcome challenges in improving childbearing outcomes for women and babies in different communities, in different places, and at different times in history: learning from the past to create a sustainable future.

The Application to Midwifery Practice Building leadership capacity within and across the three pillars of regulation, education and professional association requires application of diverse skill sets and tools. Strengthening midwifery partnerships with women, government, industry and business, academic and research institutions, and civil society is imperative. This requires creative engagement, approaches, and multiple linkages that will establish and knit the three pillars solidly together, in and across all societies.

Evidence Inspirational midwives are not hard to identify. The stories selected for this presentation will come from across the globe and from different cultures through space and time to motivate the next generation of midwifery leaders.