DESCRIPTION OF TOPIC:
As global health systems evolve to address complex challenges—workforce shortages, patient dissatisfaction and mistrust, inequities in access and outcomes—they are increasingly turning toward models rooted in continuity, informed choice, cultural safety, and relationship-based care. These are not new innovations: they are the foundations of midwifery. This presentation argues that midwifery leadership is critical to future-ready health systems and that system transformation will be accelerated when midwives are included not only as care providers but as leaders in clinical governance, education, policy, and innovation. Drawing on examples from the Canadian context, this presentation highlights how midwives are contributing to system-level change—including the creation of new care models, leadership in policy, and national governance through the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM). Midwives bring a unique systems perspective: they hold complexity, work across silos, and build strong relationships with communities. This positions them to lead cross-sectoral change in ways that are responsive, inclusive, and sustainable. The future of health will demand new ways of working. Midwives already practice in these ways. It is time to move midwives into more decision-making roles to ensure health systems truly reflect the values of people and communities.

RELEVANCE TO MIDWIFERY:
This presentation directly addresses the future of midwifery as a profession and its role in building stronger health systems. It challenges the traditional definition of midwifery as limited to continuity-of-care models and instead highlights the growing need—and opportunity—for midwives to lead at the system level. For midwives around the world, this is a call to action: step into leadership, advocate for system change, and take up space in decision-making forums. The presentation showcases how midwifery values—choice, trust, respect, and autonomy—can shape the future of health beyond individual care. It also provides an inspiring example of how midwives are already doing this work, and how others can too. SRHR - Preconception/contraception (including three-minute presentation competition)