RCM members elect new President

on 01 July 2024 Midwifery Midwives RCM RCM Member RCM CEO RCM President MSWs - Maternity Support Workers

‘I will represent every member no matter their background or their role’ that’s the message from Sophie Russell the newly elected  President of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

RCM members voted for Sophie to become the newly elected President of the RCM and her term starts today 1 July. Sophie takes over from outgoing President Rebeccah Davies and will bring eighteen years midwifery experience to the role. Currently, Sophie is the Head of Midwifery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, part of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

Her career profile spans a variety of roles within community and hospital settings including holding a Consultant Midwife post for five years. For three years Sophie also worked as an Associate Director for Quality and Safety and is an advisor to the Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations (MNSI) programme and MBRRACE.

Commenting, RCM’s General Secretary and CEO, Gill Walton, says:

“Firstly, a special thanks to our outgoing President Rebeccah Davies and all she has done for midwifery and the RCM during her three-year tenure. Rebeccah’s positivity and engagement over the past number of years must be commended. From today Sophie is our new President and I wish to warmly welcome her to the role. Sophie brings a wealth of midwifery experience to the role, 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.”

On her first day as RCM President Sophie has pledged to stand up for and be a President for all members. Sophie was a hugely popular choice, winning by a significant margin says RCM.

Commenting on her appointment Sophie said:

“I am really honoured to have been elected as the president of the RCM. I look forward to working with Gill and pledge that I will represent every member no matter their background or their role. There is so much talent and innovation within maternity services. I'm looking forward to meeting lots of members over the course of my term and seeing firsthand the outstanding work they do supporting women and their families. I want to play my part in making sure all families receive personalised and evidenced based care. Being a midwife is a huge privilege and the best job in the world, so representing the RCM as President is a incredibly humbling and exciting challenge. That challenge starts today.”

In her role as RCM President Sophie will be an ambassador for the RCM representing RCM members at national and international events and at social occasions. The President is accountable to the RCM Board and you can read more about the role and responsibility of an RCM President here and Sophie Russell’s full biography here