Speakers

Dr. Melanie Jackson

Dr Melanie Jackson (AKA Melanie The Midwife) loves to help midwives and women around the world better understand and apply the research relating to matrescence (the process of becoming a mother). She does this as the host of The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast, supporting and mentoring midwives, as well as educating mothers.

Melanie has a PhD in Midwifery – Birth Outside the System: Wanting the Best and Safest. She has various publications in academic journals. Mel has worked in multiple research roles and lectured at Western Sydney University.

Since 2009, Mel has been a Privately Practising Midwife, providing homebirths in the Blue Mountains. She has mentored midwives into private practice in every state and territory across Australia and supports rebellious midwives around the world through The Assembly of Rebellious Midwives and The Convergence of Rebellious Midwives.

Prof. Soo Downe

Soo is a midwife with a particular research focus on the nature of, and cultures around, physiological labour and birth. Soo has undertaken research using a wide range of methods, from phenomenology and ethnography to surveys, RCTs, and epidemiological analysis of large data sets. As well as undertaking research, she is a Professor of Midwifery Studies and teaches on both undergraduate and postgraduate research programmes. She regularly works with the World Health Organisation and with other research, practice, and public health leaders in maternity care around the world.

Leah Hazard

Leah is a practising NHS midwife, bestselling author, activist and mother of two young women.

“As a proud member of my profession, I’m passionate about bringing midwifery and reproductive health into the public eye. As a firm believer that midwives lay the foundation for lifelong wellness, I’m committed to providing evidence-based information in a way that’s accessible, nuanced, relatable and relevant to our times. “

Amifa Kebe-Kamara

I love working with individuals, families and organisations to have safe and empowering pregnancies and birth experiences. I mainly do this through Rise and Glow Hypnobirthing classes and We Can Birth online content. Since graduating from Cambridge University I have worked in a range of industries, from investment banking to international event management. The birth of my children opened my heart to the early years sector, and my homebirth after two caesarean sections further fuelled my passion to educate others about the amazing possibilities for pregnancy and birth.

Kemi Johnson

As an experienced Birthkeeper, former NHS and former Independent Midwife in the UK, Kemi “provides services to women and families seeking more than the conveyor-belt style of care and education that the NHS is providing people with currently. Half of my work is dedicated to also coaching other Birthkeepers in their power to supporting families all over the world. My life is about family, community and making birth better for all!