This panel is facilitated by ACM Midwifery Advisor Tani Paxton and feature panelists Nicole Highet, Angela Lovering and Wimbayi Musodza.

Panellists
Dr Nicole Highet is the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE). Nicole has a background in clinical psychology, marketing, campaign development, and advocacy. Following over thirteen years at Beyond Blue as Deputy CEO, Nicole founded COPE in 2013 in response to the growth and success of Australia’s National Perinatal Depression Initiative (NPDI). COPE has a dedicated focus on the specific issues faced by women, men, partners and their families during pregnancy and the year following birth, in order to reduce the known personal, social and economic costs associated with undiagnosed and untreated perinatal mental health conditions. COPE’s work includes National guideline development and world-leading innovative approaches to e-health promotion and stigma reduction, psycho-education, e-screening platforms, online training, and e-referral pathways via the e-COPE Directory.

Wimbayi Musodza is a practising midwife, lactation consultant and a current PhD student at Western Sydney University. She is currently undertaking research on the experiences of midwives when they return to work following a personal pregnancy loss or neonatal death. Wimbayi completed her nursing and midwifery training in London, United Kingdom over 14 years ago and has worked in various midwifery contexts since her initial midwifery qualification. She has extensive experience and knowledge gained from working in different countries, having practised midwifery in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and in Australia. Wimbayi has a keen interest in research on perinatal grief and loss, infant feeding and contemporary nursing and midwifery education.

Angela Lovering