Dr Dame Karlene Davis DBE
Areas of Interest
Charity, Health CareHonorary Award
Honorary Doctor of Health Sciences, 2009Biography
Dame Karlene Davis DBE served as General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) from January 1997, following her appointment as Deputy General Secretary in 1994. She has led the RCM through a time of transformation and advancement, both for the College and for the Midwifery Profession. Under Dame Karlene's watch, she has steered the establishment of a virtual institute of normal birth, promoting a wellbeing approach to childbirth and its consequences for long term health, thus giving the college a powerful voice in the media and government circles.
Dame Karlene has also held the role of Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre and been elected President of the International Confederation of Midwives, an international non-governmental organisation that unites 85 national midwifery associations from over 75 countries.
She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and Patron of two Health Charities. Dame Karlene is highly respected throughout the NHS and is this country's first black woman trade union leader. It was in 2001 that Dame Karlene was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire for services to the National Health Service and Midwifery. She is honoured for her lifelong devotion to improving the status of midwives in Britain and advancing the British midwifery service.
Citation
"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Dr Dame Karlene Davis DBE for the award of Honorary Doctor of Health Sciences.
Dame Karlene Davis DBE served as General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) from January 1997, following her appointment as Deputy General Secretary in 1994. She has led the RCM through a time of transformation and advancement, both for the College and for the Midwifery Profession.
UK Midwives today benefit from a modern professional membership organisation and an effective trade union. Reform of its governance and financial strategy has put the RCM on a sound financial footing to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. As a result the RCM is a major influence in the campaigns for enhanced choice and experience for women using maternity services, improved public health and safeguarding adequate midwifery provision.
Under Dame Karlene's watch she has steered the establishment of a virtual institute of normal birth, to promote a wellbeing approach to childbirth and its consequences for long term health and given the college a powerful voice in the media and government circles. Dame Karlene demonstrates that ephemeral quality called leadership which has been instrumental in guiding the development of learning resources for midwives to acquire improved leadership skills, access to research and confidence in practice.
Child bearing women and their families around the world have benefited from the RCM's international influence, where Dame Karlene has held the role of Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre; and was elected President of the International Confederation of Midwives, an international non-governmental organisation that unites 85 national midwifery associations from over 75 countries.
She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and Patron of two Health Charities.
Born in Jamaica, Dame Karlene trained as a nurse in Nottingham in the 1960s and later as a midwife. She rose through the ranks of the midwifery profession first as a midwife teacher and later through Health Service management at NHS regional level. Dame Karlene is highly respected throughout the NHS and is this country's first black woman trade union leader.
It was in 2001 that Dame Karlene was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire for services to the National Health Service and Midwifery. She dedicated the honour to the many hardworking midwives for the care which they give to British mothers.
After 11 years as General Secretary, Dame Karlene retired in October 2008. A farewell celebration was held at the Tower of London.
For her lifelong devotion to improving the status of midwives in Britain and advancing the British midwifery service, we are delighted to present her with this honorary award today. Vice Chancellor it is my pleasure to present Dame Karlene Davis DBE for the award of Doctor of Health Sciences, honoris causa."