RCM members appoint new President
on 29 June 2021 RCM President RCM Member RCM RCM CEO RCM Wales RCM Scotland RCM Northern Ireland Midwives MSWs - Maternity Support Workers Student midwives
Award-winning midwife Rebeccah Davies has been elected as the new President of the Royal College of Midwives.
Rebeccah brings over 30 years’ clinical midwifery experience to the role and is also a keen RCM Activist. Just last year she was named the Gabby Dowds-Quinn Members’ Champion of the year at the RCM’s Annual Midwifery Awards.
Rebeccah has recently retired from her role as a Labour Ward Co-Ordinator at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and hopes to bring honesty, integrity, experience and passion to her new role as RCM President.
As an RCM rep at a troubled Trust, Rebeccah recognises the level of support and leadership that is urgently needed to bring about positive change in midwifery practice and culture to improve safety.
Commenting on her election, Rebeccah said: “I will never fail to acknowledge the tragic events that happened in my Trust, and I pay tribute to the way in which the families who have been affected by them have conducted themselves, with strength and dignity. We owe it to them to ensure that the mistakes made are never repeated and lessons are learned”.
“Learning from all aspects of our work is fundamental to our professional growth, and I want that to be a key element of my presidency. During my tenure, I’m looking forward to supporting midwives and MSWs on their career pathways, and to support the RCM’s aim to become more representative of its membership and the women and families we serve as midwives and maternity support workers. I am proud and honoured to have been elected as RCM President and look forward to meeting and listening to our members.”
Commenting, RCM’s Chief Executive Gill Walton said;
“Rebeccah will bring a wealth of midwifery experience to her role as President and we are all looking forward to working with her. She is joining the RCM at an exciting time and will truly have our members at the heart of everything she does. I know she will be a fantastic ambassador for midwifery and for midwives and maternity support workers across the UK.”
Rebeccah has outlined Race Matters, the RCM’s Caring for You campaign and supporting midwives and MSW’s in their career pathways as her key priorities.
Rebeccah added:
“It’s been a particularly tough 16 months for maternity services battling with COVID-19. Many midwives and MSW’s have quietly stepped up with dignity and shown amazing resilience and commitment, often spending long periods away from their own families. That is why the RCM’s Caring for You campaign has never been more important, and I hope to support more members in their workplaces to improve their health and wellbeing.”
The RCM President is a ceremonial figurehead and ambassador who represents the RCM at national and international events and at social occasions. The President is accountable to the RCM Board. The role of President is coordinated by the RCM’s CEO with whom the President works closely with throughout their term.