Vicky is Director of Innovation and Research at the Institute of Health Visiting. She is a registered Children’s Nurse, Health Visitor, Educator, FiHV and qualified school nurse.
Archives: People
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Georgie works for Action for Children as a Service Lead, developing a community-based and community-focused approach that supports babies’ and toddlers’ social and emotional wellbeing. This approach has been delivered in Action for Children services for over seven years. Georgie is also currently undertaking an NIHR pre-doctoral local authority fellowship, hosted by Exeter University.
Amanda is Head of Impact & Evaluation at The For Baby’s Sake Trust. She led the creation of For Baby’s Sake, the charity’s innovative programme, supporting both parents from pregnancy to break cycles of domestic abuse and give their baby the best start, protecting and nurturing infant brain development.
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Yeshaswini is a digital health expert with a strong background in AI-driven diagnostics and healthcare innovation. She has extensive experience in leading improvements in clinical systems, developing patient engagement solutions, and driving digital transformation initiatives. Her strategic insight bridges the gap between technology and patient care. In her current role as the AI Digital Technical Lead at Optegra, she focuses on advancing innovation in ophthalmology and enhancing diagnostic care pathways.
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Laura-Rose is a married lesbian mother of four donor-conceived children by IUI and IVF over thirteen years. She is both a Bio and Non-Biological mother and has lived experience of operative birth, failed cycles, miscarriage, secondary infertility and birth trauma. She is an LGBT+, Maternity and Fertility Activist, educator, writer, seasoned speaker, and campaigner. She is CEO of Make Birth Better and Founder of LGBT Mummies, supporting over 80,000 worldwide through guidance, community, support groups and events. Through Proud Foundations their educational arm, she lectures and trains midwives and healthcare professionals, educates and provides consultancy services to organisations to be more inclusive, and has worked with the University of Oxford and spoken at University of Cambridge and many others. She is often within Parliament meeting with and making recommendations to the Government, NHSE and DHSC, and passionately campaigns for inclusive law reforms. She has multiple roles across NHSE, RCOG, UCL, HFEA, MMHA, influencing change to create equity and equality for the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalised minority groups.
Jo is a chartered Health Psychologist and Lactation Consultant working with families across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire in the perinatal period. Jo is employed by Sirona Care and Health who hold the contract to deliver the Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting and School Nursing) Services in these areas.
Health Visitor and Clinical academic fellow. Previous Practice Development Nurse and Health Visitor in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Nurse Activity Manager with Médecins Sans Frontières in South Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia. His master’s research titled ‘Exploring Glasgow parents’ views of the Equal Protection from Assault (Scotland) Bill’ used a mixed methods approach. The findings were presented at the Community Practitioner and Health Visitor Association conference, published in the Community Practitioner journal, and summarised in a blog for Children 1st.
His PhD research explores how new parents respond to childhood illness and make decisions to use urgent care services.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-j-sweeney
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sweencj
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher-Sweeney-8
CV
Qualifications
- 2022 – 2025 PhD, University of Edinburgh
- 2017 – 2018 Master of Public Health (merit), University of Glasgow
- 2012 – 2013 BSc Hons Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) (2:1), Glasgow Caledonian University
- 2011 Diploma in Tropic Nursing, University of Liverpool
- 2005 – 2008 BSc Adult Nursing, Bell College
Responsibilities & affiliations
Member of the Community Practitioner editorial advisory board. Peer reviewer for the Community Practitioner and Journal of Health Visiting. PGR rep for Nursing Studies in the University.
