14th October 2025
The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) is delighted to announce the appointment of Helen Smith as its second Infant Feeding Expert Adviser. Helen will work alongside current expert adviser Pippa Atkinson to support the growing need for expert advice and national leadership in this vital area of public health.
Helen Smith, iHV Expert Adviser: Infant Feeding
iHV expert advisers use their specialist knowledge to shape policy and practice, represent the experiences of health visitors, and ensure that iHV’s positions and guidance are based in current evidence / practice. This voluntary role brings significant opportunities: influencing national forums; collaborating with senior leadership; enhancing professional development; and contributing to iHV’s mission to support babies, children and families.
Helen brings a wealth of experience and passion to her new role. She is a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN), International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and a UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Qualified Leader (BFIqL). With over two decades of nursing and health visiting experience, Helen has played a key role in championing infant feeding and breastfeeding support at both local and regional levels.
Helen currently works as the Infant Feeding Coordinator for Swindon Borough Council’s 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service. Since 2009, she has led on breastfeeding and infant feeding for Swindon’s public health and health visiting services. Swindon achieved full UNICEF Baby Friendly accreditation in 2016, a testament to her commitment to high-quality, evidence-based infant feeding support.
Her recent academic work includes an MSc in Public Health, with a dissertation focused on a collaborative quality improvement project with maternity services and the Family Nurse Partnership, exploring support for teenage mothers around infant feeding.
Commenting on her appointment, Helen said:
“It is a privilege to be joining the iHV as an expert adviser and I am looking forward to continuing to champion infant feeding in this role, to support staff in practice, and ensure children have the best start in life.”
With increasing recognition of the role that infant feeding plays in wider health outcomes (including perinatal mental health, oral health and healthy weight), Helen’s appointment strengthens the iHV’s capacity to influence policy and practice in this crucial area.
