Our Why

Agnes is an award-winning social entrepreneur, systems leader and advocate working across maternal and child health, SEND justice and environmental equity. She is the Founder and CEO of Global Child and Maternal Health (GCMH), where she provides the strategic vision and leadership for programmes challenging the structural inequities affecting Black and marginalised children, mothers and families.

Grounded in her lived experience of navigating health, education and SEND systems, Agnes is the founder of the SEND Equity Alliance and the visionary behind the Black Child SEND Report and Conference. Through this work, she has helped bring the experiences of Black and marginalised children and families into Parliament, policy discussions and national decision-making spaces. She has held national advisory and strategic positions with NHS England, the Department for Education and leading health and research institutions, helping to influence more equitable systems and services.

At GCMH, Agnes draws on this experience, alongside her extensive networks across communities, research, policy and government, to shape the organisation's strategic direction. She brings together insights from maternal health, SEND and environmental justice to identify shared challenges, build partnerships and develop programmes that respond to the priorities of communities. Central to her leadership is a commitment to ensuring that lived experience does not simply inform discussions, but helps shape the research, policies and decisions that affect children and families.

Agnes is currently completing a Professional Doctorate at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, with research exploring systems change, leadership and racial equity. Her work has been recognised by Beyoncé's BeyGOOD Foundation through its Black Parade Route programme, and she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business by Solent University for her contribution to maternal and child health equity.

Michelle is a social scientist specialising in racial inequities in maternal healthcare, with particular expertise in prenatal screening and genetics. Her research explores how structural racism, healthcare practices and institutional processes shape women's experiences of care, particularly among Black women and families. A driving focus of her work is addressing the underrepresentation of racially minoritised communities in research and ensuring their experiences and perspectives inform the evidence used to shape healthcare policy and practice.

As Head of Research and Operations at Global Child and Maternal Health, Michelle brings this critical social science perspective and commitment to inclusive research into her leadership of the organisation's research, programmes and operations. She works to ensure that community knowledge and lived experience are central to how GCMH develops its research, builds partnerships and influences policy and practice. Alongside providing strategic direction, she oversees programme development and delivery, strengthens organisational systems and supports GCMH's wider ambition to challenge structural inequities across maternal health, SEND and environmental justice.

Alongside her role at GCMH, Michelle is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at University College London (UCL) and holds advisory positions across research, healthcare and policy initiatives focused on improving equity in maternal and child health.

Dr Karen Joash is an experienced Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with extensive clinical expertise in maternal and fetal health, spanning both routine and complex pregnancies. A graduate of Imperial College London, she completed her specialist training through the London postgraduate obstetrics and gynaecology programme, gaining experience across several of the capital's leading teaching hospitals.

Alongside her clinical practice, Karen has held leadership responsibilities in medical education, including as Director of Medical Education at Imperial College. Her work combines specialist obstetric knowledge with a commitment to improving maternity care, supporting clinical excellence and advancing healthcare practice. She also brings expertise in the effects of air pollution and environmental exposures on maternal, fetal and child health, alongside considerable experience in healthcare policy and service development.

As a Director of GCMH, Karen brings this breadth of clinical, educational and policy expertise to the Board, providing valuable insight into the healthcare systems, institutional practices and wider environmental factors that shape outcomes for mothers, babies and children.

Clotilde (Clo) is a maternal health advocate and co-founder of Five X More, an organisation established in 2019 to raise awareness of racial inequities in maternal healthcare and campaign for improved outcomes and experiences for Black women.

With experience working in maternity units across London, Clo brings an understanding of both maternity services and the experiences of the women and families who use them. She has contributed to national maternity policy as an Expert by Experience with NHS England and NHS Improvement, supporting work following the Ockenden Report to develop the Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate role.

Clo is also the founder of Prosperitys, a maternal wellbeing social enterprise supporting the mental health of Black and ethnically minoritised parents. Its work focuses on early intervention, perinatal mental health awareness and reducing social isolation.

As a Director, Clo brings her experience of community-led advocacy, maternity services and national policy development to support the organisation's work on maternal health equity.

Monica has over 40 years' experience in healthcare, spanning clinical practice, research, higher education, policy and NHS leadership. She is currently Deputy Chair and Senior Independent Director of NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board and Professor of Practice in Translational Primary Care at the University of Oxford and CEO of the Centre for Applied Respiratory Research, Innovation and Impact (CARRii).

A pioneer, Monica was among the UK's first nurse practitioners. She has held roles across the NHS, academia, charities and life sciences. Her commitment to reducing health inequalities is shaped by work with culturally diverse and disadvantaged communities and championing the patient voice. Her expertise spans respiratory health, primary care, prevention, and translating evidence into policy and practice.

Monica has led national and international research programmes and published extensively in respiratory medicine and primary care. She has served on national and international boards, advisory groups and expert committees, bringing governance, engagement, research translation and partnership experience across health and care organisations.

She was awarded an OBE for Services to Nursing and continues to work across research, policy and healthcare delivery, supporting collaboration between academic, clinical and public sector partners.