Rebecca James - Regional Delivery Support Advisor at DHSC
Nina Khazaezadeh - Regional Chief Midwife at London NHS England
Nina, a registered nurse and midwife, assumed the role of Deputy Regional Chief Midwife for London at NHSE in October 2021 and transitioned to the Regional Chief Midwife for London in 2023.
With experience of working internationally, her extensive background spans contributing to shaping national policy and play a key role in implementing policy at system level, clinical practice, management, research, and quality improvement. Passionate about addressing health inequalities, Nina champions the integration of service users' voices in maternity services.
Acting as a midwifery advisor on NICE guidelines and serving as the past President of the Royal Society of Medicine, Maternity and Newborn Forum. Nina's influence extends to initiatives like the Lambeth Early Action Partnership. Here, she led a transformative strategy, addressing health inequalities in early years through early intervention, earning recognition and awards for innovative practices.
Nina is a member of Kings Health Partner and Applied Research Collaboration South London, contributing to various research publications and an RCM fellow.
In 2023, she added to her accomplishments by writing a chapter on public health in the Mayes Midwifery book. Currently pursuing a PhD, Nina focuses on obesity in pregnancy and health literacy, showcasing her commitment to advancing maternal and child health. In 2024, Nina will be leading talent programmes across London to cultivate a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Jessica Baugh - Senior Public Health Specialist at Bristol City Council
Jessica has been working in public health for Bristol City Council since 2010 in a variety of roles, always focused on children and families. Their current role as a Senior Public Health Specialist with a lead on maternity and early years means they have been closely involved in the implementation and delivery of the family hubs programme locally. Their role has included providing public health leadership, developing Bristol’s family hubs needs assessment, leading the family hubs infant feeding workstream, supporting links into the wider health system and services and ensuring our commissioned services support the family hubs vison.
Renata Moriconi - Bright Start (North) Area Lead at London Borough of Islington
Renata is currently leading one of the three Bright Start areas in Islington, North London, with a specific remit in developing maternity and infant feeding partnerships and integrated work as part of the Start for Life programme.
They have over 20 years' experience in the local charity sector and Local Authorities in London working with children and families and is also part of the trailblazer Sure Start Local Programme West Green & Chestnuts in Haringey, North London with experience of developing integrated and multiagency teams working with local families.
Laura Harper
Laura is a qualified midwife and health visitor with extensive experience working in two inner London boroughs. Currently serving as a clinical lead health visitor in Islington, Laura balances a clinical role three days a week with project work for two days. Passionate about maternal and child health, Laura is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of families.
Nikki Wilson - CEO at Make Birth Better
Over the last 20 years Nikki’s third sector career has focused on solving strategic challenges and building organisations from scratch including Make Birth Better, Wings for Life UK and Read International. Make Birth Better, a unique collective of parents and professionals working together to end suffering from birth trauma, has built an outstanding reputation in the NHS for birth trauma training and support since they were founded in 2018. In 2024 they were recognised as one of the UK’s top changemakers by The Big Issue. Nikki’s deep drive comes from her lived experience of postnatal PTSD and her passion for community-driven social change.
Jayne Vertkin - Policy and Practice Advisor at National Centre for Family hubs, Anna Freud