Plenary Sessions

PLENARY SESSION #1

One Million More Midwives – How Midwives Drive Health Systems Forward

One million more midwives could help move the needle on many areas of women’s health. This plenary session will feature the art of the possible – showcasing midwives from around the world who are leading change in different aspects of the profession in their own countries. Through their stories, the session will highlight innovative approaches, challenges overcome, and the transformative impact of midwifery leadership on health systems and communities. Attendees will be inspired to envision the future of the profession and their own potential as leaders in midwifery.

PLENARY SESSION #2

Midwives in Crisis – Responding to Global Emergencies and Challenges to the Profession

Women and midwives are facing intersecting crises worldwide: pushback on women’s rights, frontline roles in humanitarian and climate emergencies, and pressures on the midwifery profession itself. This session explores how midwives navigate these challenges, share their experiences, and use knowledge and community partnerships to ensure all communities have access to quality care. Attendees will gain insight into global forces affecting their work, the fragility of progress, and how they too can make a difference in every crisis.

PLENARY SESSION #3

Midwifery Models of Care – Improving Outcomes Shaping the Future

The evidence is clear: midwifery models of care improve outcomes and save health system resources, and yet they are not widely implemented. This session highlights midwives’ experiences implementing different midwifery models in their countries, the challenges they face, and how they overcome them. Attendees will explore the various ways midwifery care can be delivered and leave inspired to implement a model suited to their own context.

PLENARY SESSION #4

Midwives – The Original Innovators Across Time and Cultures

Across time and cultures, midwives have always developed and tested ideas that improve health outcomes, adapt to community needs and emergencies, challenge healthcare structures, and drive policy improvements – all while keeping women at the centre. This session highlights innovations led by midwives, how they were developed and implemented, and the impact on communities, inspiring attendees to recognise and apply innovation in their own practice.