Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent

Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE was England's first Chief Midwifery Officer and Professor of Midwifery at King's College London and London South Bank University.

Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent
Alma mater	University of Surrey
Occupation	Chief Midwifery Officer
Employer	NHS

Early life and career

Dunkley-Bent received her diploma in midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, Her Masters degree at Middlesex University and her Doctorate at King's College London.^[1] She went on to complete her post-graduate teaching certificate at Surrey University before becoming a lecturer at Middlesex University.^[1] Dunkley-Bent has worked as a nurse and midwife, as well as in several management positions. She was the head of maternity, children and young people.^[2][3] She was part of the team that delivered Prince George and Princess Charlotte.^[4][5] She is the midwifery advisor for the Tommy's Charity National Advisory Board.^[6] In spring 2019 she was appointed the first Chief Midwifery Officer in the NHS, making her the most senior midwife in England.^[2][7]

In 2015 Dunkley-Bent won the Health Services Journal BME Pioneers award and received an OBE in 2017. In the 2020 and 2021 Powerlist, Dunkley-Bent was included as one of the 100 most influential people in the UK of African/African-Caribbean descent.^[8][9] The International Confederation of Midwives appointed Dunkley-Bent as its first chief midwife in May 2023.^[10] In May 2023, she was succeeded as England's Chief Midwifery Officer by Kate Brintworth.^[11]