As a midwife and Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Fellow, I've witnessed the persistent gender and racial inequalities in the UK. This urgent issue, with little improvement in over a decade, fuels my passion for reproductive justice and a new approach to achieving equity for all.

My deep interest has grown through my academic and mentorship roles in gender equity. I'll travel to New Zealand and Australia to learn from global experts. In New Zealand, I'll engage in wānanga with Indigenous communities, exploring decolonizing approaches and how language shifts - like from 'woman-centred' to 'whānau-centred' care - foster inclusion for all. In Australia, I'll visit Aboriginal Family Birthing Programs and participate in focus groups, exploring diverse experiences and broader efforts to humanize birth.

These rich insights into decolonization, diverse gender identities and inclusion will directly inform new theoretical understandings and co-created frameworks for the UK. My goal is to translate this global learning into tangible strategies and policy changes within the UK perinatal space, ultimately reducing inequalities and ensuring reproductive justice for everyone who births.