The event was held on Tuesday 4 November at the ORTUS in Camberwell, south London. As the NIHR ARC South London programme comes to an end in March 2026, this event was an opportunity to share highlights, findings and future research developments from research led by PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and peer researchers.  

Introducing the event, Professor Ingrid Wolfe, ARC South London director, said: 

A lot of research describes problems, rather than trying to fix them: the ARC’s maternity and perinatal theme is different. Its research is embedded in the community and focused on partnership working with women to make a real difference to their lives.

Professor Ingrid Wolfe, ARC South London director

Research highlighted included:  

  • Projects aiming to improve care and outcomes for women with perinatal illness and social complexity
  • Addressing maternal health inequalities through public involvement, co-design and peer research
  • Improving care, experience and outcomes for women and their babies with medical and social complexity
  • New research addressing maternal health systems and policy.  

Panel discussions focused on creating meaningful change through partnership engagement; and working with innovation and implementation partners to sustain impact. Zenab Barry, patient and public involvement partner said:

I want to get involved in research when I see that power is balanced, humanised and there are reciprocal benefits for public involvement, such as training opportunities.

Zenab Barry

Zenab Barry, patient and public involvement partner

Zenab Barry speaking on the panel a the conference

(Photo: panel discussion. Pictured from left: Gemma Jones, head of programmes for King's Health Partners Women and Children's Clinical Academic Partnership, Zenab Barry, patient and public involvement partner and maternal health, health equity and mental health advocate, Dr Natasha Curran, medical director, Health Innovation Network and implementation and involvement lead, ARC South London)

Panel discussion at the conference

(Photo: panel discussion. Pictured from left: Maria Viner, CEO Mothers for Mothers, Kaat de Backer, NIHR research fellow in maternal and perinatal mental health, King's College London, Brooklyn Masters, expert by experience and Kirsty Kitchen, director of the Birth Companions Institute.)

A preview of an emotive photo exhibition from the Maternity Outcomes Research and Engagement (MORE) project created by mothers highlighted their experiences and insights of motherhood. One of the creators, Tania Sutedja, said the exhibition features: “Stories of love, strength and identity – it is a celebration of the beauty and strength in every journey in motherhood.”  

The photos in the exhibition have three themes:  

  • The work you don’t see: hidden labour, expectations and finding a voice
  • Building connections: support that strengthens not supplants
  • Uniqueness in a shared journey: every pregnancy and child is different.  

This project was like a family. I have experienced true growth from being part of this peer research. Your voice can be heard and it [research] can be done effectively.

Abigail Mensah speaking at the conference

Abigail Mensah, a peer researcher in the project

Abigail Mensah speaking at the conference

It’s about addressing the elephant in the room. People often see the problem, but don’t know how to discuss it. We need to always have open and honest conversations about problems and solutions.

Brooklyn Masters speaking on a panel at the conference

Brooklyn Masters, Expert by Experience

Brooklyn Masters speaking on a panel at the conference

It has been a totally different way of working – breaking down barriers, sitting down to a hot lunch and working collaboratively with peer researchers – in a way that feels more equal than traditional research methods.

Zoe Vowles, researcher midwife

Zoe Vowles, a researcher at King's College London, who was involved said:

The day finished with a range of presentations looking to the future of maternal health systems and policy research at King’s College London. 

Closing the event Professor Jane Sandall, ARC South London’s maternity and perinatal mental health co-lead said:

Today we’ve been talking about women, not health conditions or illnesses. These are women who have issues with accessing care and our aim is to make it easier for them to access the care they need, by carrying out applied health research, working with partners to produce solutions.

Prof Jane Sandall CBE

Professor Jane Sandall, ARC South London’s maternity and perinatal mental health co-lead

Prof Jane Sandall and Dr Abigail Easter

(Photo: Professor Jane Sandall and Dr Abigail Easter, co-leads ARC South London maternity and perinatal mental health theme.)

Presenters, panelists and organising team at the conference

(Photo: Presenters, panelists and conference organising team at the conference.)

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