PURPOSE:
Midwifery leadership is invited into high-level global health discussions, yet representation alone is insufficient to drive meaningful policy change. As a former Young Midwife Leader (YML) and ICM representative in forums such as SheDecides and PMNCH, I have firsthand experience of this gap. Despite possessing clinical expertise, midwifery leaders often lack the governance, negotiation, and political strategy skills necessary to influence global health decision-making. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the growing need for health diplomacy, recognizing that health challenges can no longer be resolved solely at the technical level but require diplomatic and political solutions. This session will explore how structured training in global health governance and diplomacy can equip midwives with the skills needed to transition from participants to negotiators in global health governance.

DISCUSSION:
Health diplomacy requires more than technical knowledge; it demands strategic engagement, political literacy, and policy negotiation skills. While midwifery leaders bring essential expertise in maternal and newborn health, their contributions are often overlooked in global forums because they are not trained in governance and policy influence. WHO has stressed that health diplomacy is critical in addressing global health concerns, and midwifery must be positioned within this framework. This session will highlight personal experiences navigating these spaces and the broader implications for midwifery leadership. It will also propose a framework for integrating global health governance and diplomacy training into midwifery leadership development.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
NA

KEY MESSAGE:
Midwifery is not just a clinical profession—it is a political and diplomatic force. WHO has called for greater engagement in health diplomacy, and midwifery leadership must answer this call. To drive real change, midwifery leaders must be prepared with governance, negotiation, and policy influence skills. This session calls on ICM and midwifery associations to prioritize policy education and advocate for the formal inclusion of midwifery leaders in health governance structures. Poster Presentations Poster session 1 (Group A)