PURPOSE:
Despite progress in maternal healthcare, disparities persist, revealing gaps technology cannot bridge. This presentation introduces the International Research Network for Compassionate Midwifery (IRNCM), demonstrating that raising awareness in its research, providing support for developing researchers, and engaging with bodies such as IRNCM when developing global maternal health policy is vital to enhance care quality, reduce inequities, and inform evidence-based midwifery practices.

DISCUSSION:
IRNCM serves as a global hub for midwifery research, offering studies, discussion papers, and collaborative forums. Its Working Group advises on policy and innovative methodologies, ensuring research shapes practice. Compassionate midwifery improves health outcomes, tailors care to diverse needs, informs policy with actionable insights, and drives global collaboration. Organisations such as the IRNCM can, and should, be at the forefront of reforming maternal health services, placing evidence-based research into the lived experiences of midwives and those accessing healthcare services at the heart of effective, safe, and high-quality care.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
IRNCM committee member's research links compassionate midwifery to fewer complications, lower maternal dissatisfaction, and improved trust in providers. Studies demonstrate cost-effective interventions with measurable impacts, countering views that prioritize immediate care over research or question compassion’s objectivity.

KEY MESSAGE:
Increased awareness of the value of research into compassion, such as that argued by the IRNCM, will amplify its impact, ensuring compassionate, evidence-based midwifery care enables every mother to thrive, aligning with global goals for maternal and newborn health. Professional development - networks (including three-minute presentation competition)