This panel is hosted by ACM Chief Midwife, Alison Weatherstone and features ICM Head of Advocacy and Communications, Daniela Drandic and ICM Board Member of Western Pacific, Ann Kinnear.

Panelists
Daniela Drandic - Head of Advocacy and Communications
Daniela joined ICM as Head of Advocacy and Communications in August 2022. She has a Master’s degree in Maternal and Infant Health from the University of Dundee and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in European Studies from the University of Toronto.

Prior to her current role Daniela worked as a Reproductive Rights Programme Lead at Roda – Parents in Action in Croatia, where she worked on quality improvement and research programmes related to respectful maternity care, as well as on advocacy and human rights campaigns. She has collaborated extensively with national, regional and international-level policymakers and human rights bodies on implementing respectful maternity care, and has served on the board of the NGO Human Rights in Childbirth.

Daniela has led teams to develop innovative educational tools for parents, including two mobile apps financed by European Commission grants – Expecting (for expectant parents) and Growing (for parents of children 0-3), as well as the book Pregnant – Your Guide to the Next Twelve Months (available as a free e-book and audio book). Daniela is based on the northern coast of Croatia, where she lives with her partner and three children.

Ann Kinnear, ICM Board Member West Pacific Region
Ann Kinnear, a midwife of over 34 years, has an enduring passion for woman centered midwifery care. She is the International Confederation of Midwives Board Member for the Western Pacific Region, Midwifery Advisor for the Burnet Institute, Melbourne Australia, Business Manager of CARE Midwifery, a private midwifery practice in Australia, and was the CEO of the Australian College of Midwives (ACM) for eight years and Director of the Rhodanthe Lipsett Indigenous Midwifery Trust. Ann has extensive experience in governance, regulation, management, policy and leadership across a career spanning several decades. This includes working with partners such as Rotary International providing leadership development for midwives in the South Pacific and working extensively with the Papua New Guinea Midwifery Society.