A passionate advocate for a better birthing culture, Dr. Margreet Barnardt-Wibbelink's career began in the Netherlands, where she gained experience in a strong midwifery-led model of care. After relocating to South Africa, she became acutely aware of the local dynamics and challenges, which led her to establish the Healthy Mom and Baby Clinic in 2009. This non-profit organization provides professional, private care to vulnerable and underprivileged women. At the same time, she also worked as an independent midwife in her own private practice.

 

Margreet holds a Bachelor's degree in Midwifery from Belgium's Artevelde Hogeschool, and she continued her education at Nelson Mandela University (NMU). There, she earned her BCur Honours (Advanced Midwifery & Neonatal Nursing Science 2012), a Master's (2014), and a PhD (2019) with a focus on scaling up clinical midwifery practices in South Africa. She maintains a professional association with Nelson Mandela University.

 

Following an extensive mentoring period, Margreet was chosen as the successor to the founder of the Sister Lilian Centre and became the General Manager of the Sister Lilian Centre and Sensitive Midwifery in 2019. This position allows her to champion the midwifery profession on a national and international scale and advocate for all pregnant women, babies, and families. She also founded the Sensitive Midwifery Online Academy to actively support and mentor midwives in their development.