Brenda completed medical school training at the University of Michigan and an internship in Internal Medicine at St Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor. She returned to Canada to for residency in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UBC. She is a fellow of the Royal College in Canada and is Board Certified in the USA. She practiced in Richmond, BC for 24 years before starting to practice in rural communities in BC. Her practice has been profoundly impacted by working with experienced and skilled midwives, physicians and nurses. It takes a skilled an knowledgeable team to create safe birth and birth experiences for pregnant women and individuals. She is an Clinical Associate Professor at UBC and teaching is a source of great joy for her.

Ibukun (Ibbie) Afolabi is an Integrative Pelvic and Perinatal Physiotherapist with a passion for all things childbirth. She works with clients prenatally to optimize function, treat pelvic health concerns, and prepare the mind-body for birth. Following childbirth, she helps women to feel at home in their bodies once again. Her approach to the body is foundationally trauma-informed, biopsychosocial, deeply holistic, and salutogenic.

Ibukun’s clinical interests include the contribution of pelvic health states to birth outcomes, pain neuroscience within the context of birth, and the use of an embodiment approach during a rehabilitative process. Ibukun is regularly invited to speak at conferences, is an instructor to health and birth professionals, and a mentor to students. She lives in London, Ontario, Canada, where she has served women in the childbearing years through her private practice, The Mama’s Physio for the past 12+ years. She also owns Hesed Birth, a local childbirth education company, and attends births as a doula. Ibukun’s most important vocation is ‘mama’. She is blessed to have five beautiful children (ages 4-11) all whom she birthed at home with the support of caring midwives. They keep her hands and heart full. Learn more and connect with Ibukun via socials @themamasphysio.

Associate Professor Marjan Khajehei is a midwife, educator, and researcher with over 30 years of clinical experience and two decades advancing midwifery education and research across Australia and internationally. She holds a PhD in Public Health, MSc and BSc in Midwifery, and MSc in Nursing.

Her work focuses on maternal wellbeing, perinatal mental health, and culturally responsive care. She has played a key role in developing guidelines and tools used nationwide, and served as the midwifery lead in establishing antenatal cervical cancer screening at Westmead Hospital, embedding patient-led models into routine care. She is also Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council Assessor, contributing to the continuous improvement of midwifery education programs across the country.

She remains deeply committed to advancing midwifery-led care and inspiring health professionals around the world. Her contributions include publishing over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, conducting expert interviews, and delivering more than 100 presentations at national and international conferences. She has also served as a keynote and invited speaker at prestigious congresses and seminars, such as the XXIII World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Congress, Childbirth and Parenting Educators of Australia, and The Australian Medical Forum. She has won several national and international awards including the John J. Sciarra Prize Paper award, Conferral Academic Titleholder Research Engagement award, and Recognised Reviewer awards.