Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE, is the first Chief Midwife for the International Confederation of Midwives. Jacqueline is responsible for championing the interests of midwives globally, elevating the profession’s profile, and emphasizing the significant benefits of a well-resourced, educated, regulated, and empowered midwifery workforce. She leads initiatives essential to the growth of midwifery globally.

Jacqueline served for four years as the first Chief Midwifery Officer for the NHS in England and was one of two National Maternity Safety Champions appointed by the Department for Health and Social Care. Jacqueline is a nurse, midwife and a visiting Professor of Midwifery at Kings College London and London South Bank University. She has held senior positions in clinical practice, education, leadership and management.

Currently, she is the chair of the maternity advisory group for the Health and Race Observatory in England, a member of the Women of the Year management committee, Midwifery Ambassador for the ‘Saying Goodbye’, Patron for Baby Lifeline Charity, Patron for the Caribbean and African Health Network and Midwifery Advisor for the RCN Foundation. She has held several Trustee positions.

In 2024 she received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Worcester and Winchester Universities in the UK. She has been recognised as one of the Health Service Journal’s (HSJ) most influential people in health, in 2020,2021 and 2022 .