Margreet Wibbelink is a Midwife Specialist, and a passionate South African born of Dutch parents. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Midwifery from the Artevelde Hogeschool in Gent, Belgium in 2002, and furthered her studies with a BCur Honours in Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science (2012) and a Master’s Research degree in Midwifery (2014), both from the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Margreet has completed her PhD at the same university where she has also assisted as a student mentor for advanced midwife students. Her PhD looked at strategies to scale-up clinical midwifery practices in South Africa. She has published various articles and presented at various conferences, both nationally and internationally. 

Margreet’s first work experience as a new midwife was in the Netherlands, which is known for its strong midwifery-led model of care. After relocating to South Africa, she gained experience in both the public and private sector and became acutely aware of the many midwifery dynamics and challenges in South Africa. This moved her to start a specialised midwifery clinic in 2009 – the Healthy Mom and Baby Clinic (HMBC) in Jeffreys Bay – which is a non-profit organisation committed to delivering professional private care to the most vulnerable and underprivileged women. Margreet firmly believes that the clinic is a blueprint that can be replicated in other communities and is an answer to addressing maternal and neonatal morbidities and mortality. HMBC has served as a training centre for international students and several South African nurses and. While directing the clinic, Margreet also worked as an independent midwife, becoming well known as ‘The Surfing Midwife’. She has become an advocate for a better birthing culture in South Africa.

Through engaging with the founder and director of the Sister Lilian Centre, widely known as Sister Lilian, and its Sensitive Midwifery initiatives, she was identified as a worthy leadership successor for the company. Having undergone an extensive mentoring period with Sister Lilian, Margreet assumed the position of General Manager of the Sister Lilian Centre and Sensitive Midwifery in January 2019. This enables Margreet to continue working for all pregnant women, babies and families on a far greater scale, and to be a voice for and champion of the midwifery profession as a whole, on a national and international platform.

Gillian Richards is the longest standing team member of Sensitive Midwifery. She has been with the organisation since 2007 and has journeyed through all the twists and changes into what the company is today. She is the friendly voice and face behind the scenes and is involved with marketing activities and organisation of the Sensitive Midwifery Symposium and Academy.  She is dedicated to the vision and mission of Sensitive Midwifery, beyond the call of duty.

The highlight of her work is the rewarding feedback she receives from the Symposium attendees, once she has worked hard to market, motivate and register delegates to the Symposium year after year.

Gillian is a proud mother of two daughters. She likes to listen to music and spending quality time with her family to unwind the hectic days.

Mbali is a vibrant young lady and a passionate ‘Sensitive Midwife’.  She enjoys keeping healthy and fit and she lights up the world with her laughter.

She is a Sensitive Midwifery Mentor for the Certifies Sensitive Midwife Course where she assists and empowers Midwives through the Course and in their working place.  She assists in providing education and online sessions for Moms & Dads (to be) for Sister Lilian Centre.

Mbali received her education at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital and at the Hillbrow Maternity Obstetrics Unit where her love and passion for moms and babies were further nurtured. After graduating, she moved to rural KZN and worked as a Midwife where she gained experience in antenatal care, intrapartum care, postnatal care and management of obstetrics emergencies.

Mbali has worked in Independent Midwifery, practicing at a Birthing Centre in KZN, where she provided personalised care to low risk moms and their partners throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal care. Mbali also aided administratively in updating the maternal records, developed a low risk
criteria and ensuring detailed documentation.

Furthermore, Mbali is studying a Diploma in Public Health in hope to make room for Midwives at the obstetric table. She remains clinically active in the field as a Midwife doing locums in Maternity Wards of Private Hospitals and a maternity program called Network One Health.