We are indebted to our expert clinical advisers. They are invaluable in ensuring the clinical information the charity provides is accurate and up to date. We are grateful to each for their gifts of time, knowledge and expertise and their ongoing support.
Global Vaccine Engagement Adviser
We are delighted that Dr Carol J Baker is our Global Vaccine Engagement Adviser. Dr Baker is a highly accomplished infectious diseases clinician, teacher and vaccinologist. She is affectionately known as “the Godmother of group B Strep prevention” for her groundbreaking research into GBS disease.
It was down to Dr Baker’s research and subsequent advocacy alongside parent groups in the early 1990s that led the USA to adopt routine screening and antibiotics to reduce early-onset GBS disease. This decreased rates of GBS infection in newborn babies by more than 80 percent. Her discoveries about the relationship between infant GBS infection and maternal immunity, paired with her international advocacy work, helped create and build a global focus on developing a much-needed GBS vaccine, with candidates currently in clinical trials. She continues to work toward her ultimate goal of preventing GBS infection through vaccinating women during pregnancy.
Dr Carol J Baker
Dr Carol J Baker is Professor of pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas. 2019 Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal recipient.
“I am honoured to take this role on for Group B Strep Support. I have advised and worked with them informally for many years, and have been impressed with their commitment to improve GBS prevention in the UK and their calls for more focus on a GBS vaccine. I look forward to working with them to champion the development of a GBS vaccine that will save countless lives.”
Clinical Advisory Panel
Our Clinical Advisory Panel comprises multi-disciplinary experts in the fields of obstetrics, midwifery, neonatology, microbiology, vaccinology and epidemiology.
The members of the GBSS Clinical Advisory Panel are:
Professor Philip Steer FRCOG (Chair)
Prof Philip Steer chairs the Group B Strep Support Clinical Advisory Panel. He is Emeritus Professor of obstetrics at Imperial College and a member of the group that produced the RCOG’s 2017 group B Strep guidelines. Until 2014, he was a consultant obstetrician at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. He is editor emeritus of BJOG – an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and continues to pursue his research and teaching interests.
“All medical professionals involved in the care of pregnant women and newborn babies should be aware of the importance of group B Strep and the steps that can be taken to prevent infection. They should also be aware of the factors that put the baby at particularly high risk. And they need to pass that information on to the women in their care, giving expectant mothers the opportunity to take a simple swab test and give themselves the knowledge of their carrier status; this knowledge could save their baby’s life. At the moment, lives are being lost needlessly.”
Ms Alison Stanley
Ms Alison Stanley has a background in public health research and education, and in clinical midwifery. Alison primarily works as a midwifery educator, lecturing student midwives and preparing them for independent practice. She also works as a clinical midwife in a busy NHS hospital. Alison is passionate about informed choice, advocacy and empowerment, and kindness and compassion in midwifery care.
Dr Geeta Kumar OBE
Dr Geeta Kumar has been a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in the NHS since 2003. She is the immediate past Vice President for Clinical Quality at the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (2022-25), and sat on its Board of Trustees. Geeta is also the Lead for Women’s Services at BCUHB, the largest health board in Wales.
Geeta has led and contributed to the development of multiple national and international clinical guidelines, quality standards, and patient information resources. In recognition of her excellence in medical leadership, Geeta was awarded “Senior Fellowship” by the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management, UK.
Dr James William Gray MRCP(UK) FRCPath
Dr James William Gray MRCP(UK) FRCPath has been a Consultant Microbiologist at Birmingham Children’s and Women’s Hospitals in England since 1995. Jim has authored 25 book chapters and over 150 papers and has been co-author or editor of four books. He has long-standing research interests in obstetric and neonatal infections generally, as well as specifically GBS. Jim has worked on several programmes within NICE, and has served on many national and international committees relating to paediatric infectious diseases and antibiotic use. He was Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Hospital Infection until September 2022, including seeing the Journal through the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues as an Associate Editor for two different medical journals.
Dr Kahyee Hor MRCOG
Dr Kahyee Hor MRCOG is a Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician at the Simpsons Centre for Reproductive Health, Edinburgh. Her primary interests are in high risk pregnancies and maternal-fetal medicine, and her research is in the field of placental dysfunction and fetal growth restriction.
Professor Kirsty Le Doare MBBS PhD
Professor Kirsty Le Doare MBBS PhD is a Professor of Vaccinology and Immunology and chief investigator for SGUL@MUJHU maternal vaccine and seroepidemiology studies. She is the chair of the DNDi maternal and neonatal health COVID19 research coalition and is a WHO scientific advisor for maternal vaccination. Her group want to understand why some babies get very ill and die from infections in the first months of life and how they can harness protection transferred from mother to her baby via the placenta and in breastmilk. Kirsty’s groups in Uganda and the UK use a variety of approaches to study GBS and other neonatal pathogens such as E. coli and Klebsiella, ranging from clinical studies and whole genome sequencing, to in vitro and in vivo models and complex immunology.
Dr Pat O’Brien FRCOG
Dr Pat O’Brien FRCOG is a Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), specialising in maternal medicine and high-risk obstetrics. A former Vice President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), he also served as Divisional Clinical Director for Women’s Health at UCLH.
Since joining the RCOG Council in 2014, Dr O’Brien has contributed to various committees and working groups within the RCOG and Department of Health. He is also the RCOG’s media spokesperson, offering expert insights on obstetric and gynaecological issues.
He has held leadership roles as Chair of the International Section of the Institute for Women’s Health and the Clinical Research Hubs Network Portfolio Board at UCLH. Additionally, he was President of the Obstetrics & Gynaecology Section of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Ms Robyn Mechen
Ms Robyn Mechen is a an experienced midwife with over 10 years of practice, having worked in a variety of settings including community care, homebirth teams, high-risk labour ward, obstetric high dependency ward, and as the Lead Fetal Monitoring Specialist Midwife. Her career has been shaped by her deep passion for fetal monitoring, where she takes great pride in carefully piecing together the unique story of each baby—determining how they are coping throughout the antenatal and intrapartum period.
Fetal monitoring is not just a skill but a puzzle Robyn enjoys solving, ensuring that each baby’s well-being is prioritized. Alongside this, she’s developed a strong interest in the challenges of managing infection during the intrapartum period. She recognises its complexities and is committed to expanding her knowledge to improve outcomes for both mothers and babies.
Robyn’s approach is rooted in continuous learning, teamwork, and a relentless drive to provide the best possible care for each individual she works with. She is excited to continue growing in her field, using her experience and passion to make a meaningful difference in maternal and fetal health.
Dr. Seán Armstrong MD FRCPI FHEA
Dr. Seán Armstrong MD FRCPI FHEA is a consultant neonatologist from Ireland, who has a keen academic interest in neonatal infection and antibiotic use. He works in a busy tertiary level neonatal unit in the North-West of England. Seán places a high value on patient- and family-centred care and strives to advocate for the babies and families under his care.
Seán has experience of advocacy work through previous positions in the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland and understands the growing roles that media, including social media, can play in raising awareness of Group B Strep and improving outcomes for babies and families.
Dr Sonali Kochhar, MD
Dr Sonali Kochhar, MD has worked for 20 years in a leadership position for Global Phase I-IV Clinical Research Epidemiology and Safety Studies for Vaccines and Drugs including vaccines for pregnant women, infectious diseases and maternal and child programs.
Professor Trixie McAree
Professor Trixie McAree is a senior midwife the Chief Midwife’s Office. She leads on a variety of key policy items including research and evaluation, continuity of carer, experience of care/choice and personalisation, sustainability and women in prisons/detained settings at NHS England.
She is a dual qualified midwife and nurse who has been practicing for over 40 years in both the UK and abroad in a variety of roles, including leading international development projects. Her recent roles include Associate Director for Maternity, Newborn and Women’s Health at Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, Professor of Midwifery and Maternal Health at Birmingham City University, Head of Midwifery at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Consultant Midwife, Safeguarding Lead Midwife and Clinical Risk Manager, the latter all in London.
Trixie has been widely published on a variety of topics including Vitamin D deficiency, midwife/woman relationships and the prevention of Group B Streptococcus infections in new-borns. Her personal philosophy is to empower midwives to then empower women.
