Prof Karin Minnie is Specialist Midwife and Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of the Western Cape. She is an experienced academic with more than 25 years’ experience at two universities.
Over the last 10-12 years her research focussed on Evidence and Compassion in Maternity care. A number of Masters and PhD students worked with her on topics related to this theme – especially companionship during labour, which is both an evidence-based practice and a component of compassionate maternity care.
In 2022to 2023 she was a country co-lead researcher for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) project about midwife-led birthing units in low- middle-income countries who aim to rolling out midwife-led birthing units out to similar contexts.
Her current research focuses on childbirth-related psychological trauma of which she will elaborate during her presentation.
Prof. Doreen Kainyu Kaura (She/Her) is a Professor in the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. She is internationally recognised for her leadership in Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health (SRMNH), with a strong focus on continuity of care, coordinated health systems, women’s lived experiences, health equity, and digital innovation in midwifery practice.
Prof. Kaura holds a Doctorate in Technology (Informatics), a Master’s degree in Maternal and Neonatal Care, and additional qualifications in Management and Education. Her interdisciplinary expertise bridges clinical midwifery, informatics, and health systems strengthening.
She serves as Section Editor for Maternal and Neonatal Care in the African Journal of Primary Care and Family Medicine, contributes to World Health Organization (WHO) maternal health norms and standards initiatives, and mentors emerging scholars across Africa through the Horizons Mentoring Programme. She also serves as a Technical Advisor to the Gates Foundation on Midwifery Sprint Analysis in Africa.
A passionate advocate for women’s health equity and visionary midwifery leadership, Prof. Kaura continues to shape the future of SRMNH across Africa and globally, inspiring the next generation of midwife leaders and researchers.
Email: dkaura@uwc.ac.za
Mobile: +27 79 886 4448
