Lucia Rocca-Ihenacho

Dr Lucia Rocca-Ihenacho studied anthropology in Italy where she also qualified as a midwife and worked in independent practice offering holistic care. In 2002 she moved to England where she worked for 13 years in the National Health Service in various clinical-academic positions including as a as a Consultant Midwife in Public Health in a large teaching hospital in London. Her PhD focused on identifying the key ingredients for a well-functioning midwifery unit. Since 2015 she has been based at City, University of London where she is currently the Programme Director for the Global Maternal Health MSc. She is one of the co-founders and CEO of the Midwifery Unit Network, a community of practice which supports the implementation and improvement of MUs in Europe and globally. She is invited internationally to present at conferences, to facilitate training and to provide consultancy on how to develop and improve midwifery units. Dr Rocca-Ihenacho has experience mentoring midwives and medical staff in clinical practice in a wide range of settings from home births in London to the mountains of rural Afghanistan. She is passionate about supporting organisational change facilitation and the development of positive interdisciplinary team culture based on respecting the contribution of each role within the team. She is committed towards women’s and birthing people human rights in childbirth and the recognition of midwives’ autonomy globally.