The ARM Steering Group
The Steering Group consist of 5-12 ARM members who are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The Steering Group may appoint honorary officers or other non-members to roles such as Website Editor, Social Media Co-ordinator, Magazine Editor and Treasurer to assist with the running of ARM.
The Steering Group meets online every 4-6 weeks (10 times a year) at times convenient to its members. Meetings are open to all ARM members, and details are advertised on the Events page of the website. (Only Steering Group members are entitled to vote.) The Chair is rotated between the Steering Group members. Previous minutes can be found here.
Current Steering Group members and officers
Kerri-Anne Gifford
Treasurer
ARM member since 1994
Lucy Buddingwood
Editor, Midwifery Matters
ARM member since 2017
Abina Brown
Steering Group Member
ARM member since 1984
Betsy Dwek
Steering Group Member
Midwife
ARM member since 2021
Mollie May
Steering Group Member
Midwife
ARM member since 2018
Lenka Pazdera
Steering Group Member
Midwife
ARM member since 2020
Gillian Meldrum
Steering Group Member
Retired midwife
ARM member since 2024
Stefania Manfra-Kara
Steering Group Member
Midwife
ARM member since 2018
The Advisors to the Steering Group
Mavis Kirkham
Founder member of ARM
Sarah Davies
ARM member since 1980
Election of Steering Group members
Any ARM member can stand for election to the Steering Group. We invite nominations for anybody who is enthusiastic about the work of ARM and keen to help its development. No particular experience or expertise is needed – we welcome anybody with ideas and a willingness to engage. Each member will have something different they are able or willing to offer, and new members will be supported in the role.
Members may self-nominate if they are seconded by another member. Please contact enquiries@midwifery.org.uk if you would like to nominate yourself, or somebody else. (Should nominations exceed vacancies, election will be by secret ballot.) Please write a short bio to introduce yourself, see other members’ bios here.
What is expected of Steering Group members?
Members are expected to:
- Understand their legal duties as charity trustees: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80ddf940f0b62305b8d98d/Jigsaw.pdf
- Attend at least 7 meetings a year, and send apologies if unable to attend. Absence for more than 3 meetings in a year without reasonable explanation will be considered as resignation from the Steering Group.
- Keep in touch with other Steering Group members by email or Discord chat group between meetings.
- Members are entitled to apply for reasonable expenses for costs arising from their activities as a Steering Group member.
- Members are elected for 3 years after which they may be re-elected for a second term. After 2 consecutive terms they must stand down for at least one year before re-election.
What experience and skills Steering Group members gain
Some examples of different experiences members may get involved with are: chairing and minuting meetings, social media and communications, events organisation, fundraising, planning and project management, report writing, design, networking, responding to media and current maternity issues.
Please contact enquiries@midwifery.org.uk if you have any questions about becoming a member of the Steering Group.