Wendy Olayiwola BEM, FRSA, FRCM
Wendy Olayiwola values personal development, philanthropy and mentoring just as passionately as she promotes and advocates for equality and equity, which are integral to her core values and beliefs.
She is an influential midwifery leader, health equity strategist and tireless advocate for inclusive healthcare. Wendy is a registered nurse and practising midwife with over two and half decades of clinical practice, policy, and leadership experience in community, acute and public health settings. The recognition of her ability and impact in the UK and internationally is evident through her charitable work and contributions, as well as her publications and international speaking engagements.
She currently serves as the National Maternity Lead for Equality at NHS England, where she drives the national agenda to reduce disparities and improve outcomes in maternity and neonatal services across England.
A bold and visionary leader, Wendy is the founder of SoAC (Society of African Caribbean Midwives), a pioneering platform that empowers midwives of Black heritage and promotes culturally safe, inclusive, and anti-racist maternity and neonatal care.
Wendy has co-authored articles in professional midwifery journals, including Talking to Men about FGM. Reducing the incidence of Stillbirths in Black women and sustaining quality education and practice learning in a pandemic and beyond: ‘I have never learnt as much in my life, as quickly, ever’. Significant blogs include Caring for the Carers - RCN midwifery forum, promoting cultural safety and cultural intelligence – dismantling racism in maternity care -UNICEF.
Wendy is a member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Advanced Practice Steering Group. NMC Research EDI Advisory Group. She is the National Lead Midwife for Chief Nursing Officer, and Chief Midwifery Officer, Black Minority Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group, NHS England and a member of the Race Health Observatory (RHO) maternity sub-group. Wendy co-chaired the Government Maternity Disparities Taskforce with the Minister for Patient Safety and Primary Care, Maria Caulfield.
Wendy was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for service to the NHS and Equality during the COVID-19 response in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List. In May 2025 and March 2022, she was awarded fellowships by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). In 2025, Wendy was appointed Visiting Professorial fellow at Aston University, Birmingham, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to healthcare leadership, equity, in maternity and neonatal. Wendy was named in the 2025 HSJ The 50 Most influential black, Asian and minority ethnic UK and was also awarded the Top 50 Professional & Career Women UK Award 2025, honouring her for 'Leadership in Nursing, Midwifery & Healthcare Inclusion.'
She was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in 2020. She was listed in the 2020 Year of the Nurse and Midwife Global WHO/UN/WGH 100 Outstanding Nurse and Midwifery Leader. She is the winner of the NHS@70 Women Leaders Award 2018.
A sought-after speaker, mentor and author, Wendy brings both professional rigour and lived experience to her work using her voice and influence to drive structural change and ensure that maternity and neonatal services serve all families with compassion, dignity and fairness.