The maternity workforce is enriched by people from a wide range of cultures, faiths, beliefs, and non-religious worldviews. These perspectives can influence how individuals understand themselves, support their wellbeing, and approach their professional lives. They may also intersect with workplace practices, organisational culture, and clinical responsibilities. Recognising and responding to these differences fairly, consistently, and proactively is an important part of building inclusive working environments.

During this session, we will discuss why faith and belief matter in the workplace, explore some of the challenges and opportunities they can present, and consider how organisations and colleagues can foster a culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to be themselves at work.

We recognise that the diversity of faiths, beliefs, and worldviews represented across the maternity workforce is vast and cannot be fully reflected in a single webinar. This event is designed as a starting point for conversation, helping to raise awareness, encourage reflection, and promote greater understanding.

Every faith, belief, and non-religious worldview deserves equal recognition and respect. Our aim is to celebrate the diversity of experiences within our workforce and to encourage open, respectful dialogue about the many ways identity and belief can shape working lives.

We hope this webinar will inspire continued learning and spark further conversations that deepen understanding and support a more inclusive maternity workforce for all.

Sara Barnett, Research Midwife & Adult Educator

I qualified as nurse in 1988 at The London Hospital and as a midwife at St Marys Paddington. Today I am a Research Midwife at Imperial College recruiting and managing maternal and paediatric research studies. I am an active member of the Modern Orthodox Jewish community in North West London.

As chair of the Jewish Nurses and Midwives Association, we now have 177 members some of whom are involved in  Shifrah UK, which celebrates and informs on Jewish cultural birth practices providing information education and training.

Alongside my professional role, I am actively involved in my synagogue, where I serve as Safeguarding Officer and participate in the security rota. I am Consultant Midwife for Chana, a Jewish infertility charity, providing specialist midwifery advice and support to individuals and couples navigating fertility challenges. Committed to encouraging the next generation of Jewish healthcare professionals, I mentor students from local schools who are interested in pursuing careers in nursing, midwifery and healthcare.

Laura Godfrey-Isaacs,  Artist, Midwife, Writer & Creative Producer

She is Chair of Shifrah UK, the UK Jewish Birth Association, Cultural & Awareness Lead for the NHS Jewish Staff Network, and Council member of The Jewish Medical Association.  She produces the award-winning global community movement, Maternal Journal which supports maternal mental health through creative journaling. She serves on the NMC Strategic Advisory Midwifery Group and sits on the Editorial Board of the Practising Midwife Journal.

www.lauragodfreyisaacs.com

www.shifrah.org.uk

www.maternaljournal.org

@godfrey_isaacs

Benash Nazmeen, Health Equity, Research & Systems Consultant, Midwife, Researcher

Benash Nazmeen MBE is a midwife, academic and national leader in maternity equity. She qualified in 2011 and spent most of the following decade on labour wards in Sheffield and Abu Dhabi, latterly as a Band 7 labour ward coordinator. In 2020 she created the Specialist Cultural Liaison Midwife role at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, and her cultural understanding workshops are named in NHS England’s national guidance, with their evaluation data published in it. She is Assistant Professor of Midwifery at the University of Bradford, co-founder of the Association of South Asian Midwives, a Non-Executive Director of Birthrate Plus and a Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives. She has sat on MBRRACE-UK confidential enquiry panels, advised the CQC and sits on the NMC Midwifery Strategic Advisory Group. She is British Kashmiri, Muslim and multilingual. She was appointed MBE in June 2026 for services to charity and healthcare.

Resources

MIDIRS Search Packs

• MS45 Woman-centred care
• M70 Counselling skills for midwives
• M63 Childfree midwives / midwives who are mothers