We are delighted to have the following experts speaking at our virtual conference, taking place on 20 May 2026:
Prof Philip Steer – Conference Chair (morning)
Emeritus Professor, Imperial College London
Philip Steer, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics at Imperial College London, was Editor-in-Chief of BJOG from 2005-2012 (currently Editor Emeritus). He has published >150 original research papers and many reviews/editorials. He is an editor of ‘High Risk Pregnancy – Management Options’ (Cambridge University Press) with the first chapters of the 6th edition now online. He has been President of the British Association of Perinatal Medicine and President of the Section of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Royal Society of Medicine. He is an honorary fellow of the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of South Africa and the American Gynecological & Obstetrical Society.
Talk Title: Updates to the RCOG GBS Green-top Guidelines
Prof Edward Morris – Conference Chair (afternoon)
Regional Medical Director, East of England, NHS England.
Prof Edward Morris is a Past President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and before that was Vice President for Clinical Quality (2016-2019) and Fellows’ representative for the East of England on the RCOG’s Council (2011-2016). He is also Honorary Professor of Women’s Health at the University of East Anglia.
Eddie has authored over 160 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and national documents, and is co-editor of the Journal Post Reproductive Health and inventor of the website Manage my Menopause. Eddie was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to women’s health and patient safety in the King’s 2023 Birthday Honours.
Narjis Amar
Phd Student In Immunology, Université libre de Bruxelles
Narjis is a PhD student in Bio-immunology, jointly enrolled at the Université libre de Bruxelles and Hassan II University of Casablanca, as part of a Belgium–Morocco research collaboration. Her work focuses on maternal-fetal immunity and the inflammatory responses triggered by Group B Streptococcus infection during pregnancy. Her research sits at the intersection of immunology, infectious disease, and maternal-child health.
Abstract presentation: Circulating levels of IL-17A in Group B Streptococcus-colonised pregnant women: A promising indicator of the risk of neonatal complications.
Nana Brago & Stephen Crocker – Jamie’s Story
Nana Brago and Stephen Crocker are parents to Jamie Crocker who sadly died from Group B Strep Infection in January 2025. Based in Milton Keynes, Nana is an Assistant Headteacher and Stephen works as an Acquisitions Manager. During Nana’s pregnancy, they received no information about group B Strep from midwives or consultants, and their local hospital does not routinely test for it. Nana and Stephen now speak to share their experience and raise awareness about the importance of information, testing, and informed care during pregnancy.
Prof Jane Daniels
Professor of Clinical Trials, University of Nottingham
Since 2017, Jane has been Professor of Clinical Trials and Deputy Director of the Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit. She is particularly interested in pelvic pain and menstrual disorders, and in neonatal sepsis, leading the GBS3 trial. Her research has been published in all major general medical journals and she is a member of funding committees for the UK National Institute of Health and Care Research and Wellbeing of Women.
Talk Title: Universal maternal testing for group B streptococcus in late pregnancy
Dr Katie Evans
National Neonatal Clinical Fellow, NHS Resolution
Katie is a senior neonatal resident doctor, working within the NHS with clinical interests including less-invasive respiratory management, palliative care and breast-feeding medicine. Katie is also working as one of the National Neonatal Clinical Fellows for the Early Notification Team at NHS Resolution. This role is further developing her academic interests in risk management, family involvement in care and inequity regarding social determinants of health.
Abstract presentation: Learning from claims related to early-onset Group B Streptococcal (GBS) Disease
Dr Jim Gray
Consultant Microbiologst, Birmingham Children’s and Women’s Hospitals
Jim has been Consultant Microbiologist at Children’s and Women’s Hospitals 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. Jim is a member of GBSS’s Clinical Advisory Panel and will be one of our panellists for the conference.
Rebecca Guy
Principal Epidemiologist, Healthcare-Associated Infection & Antimicrobial Resistance, UK Health Security Agency
Rebecca is a principal epidemiologist in the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Healthcare associated infections Division at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). She has a graduate background in molecular biology, and has undertaken postgraduate studies in bioinformatics, statistics and epidemiology. Her work has focused on the national surveillance of streptococcal infections in England, and AMR across a range of bacterial and fungal organisms. She has published on a wide variety of infectious disease topics.
Abstract presentation:
Maternal GBS sepsis trends in England, 2018 – 2024
Prof Paul Heath
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and a Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, City St George’s, University of London
Paul’s training in paediatrics and infectious diseases was at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford; and St George’s Hospital, London. His research interests are in the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases, in clinical vaccine trials, particularly in at-risk groups and in perinatal infections.
Talk Title: Group B Strep vaccines – where we are & what’s next?
Diane Jones
Chief Nursing Officer NHS South East London Integrated Care Board
As a system leader Diane has significant experience in commissioning, quality improvement, change management, governance, and risk management. Diane is a member of the London Clinical Senate. Diane champions equity and inclusion as well as working to address health inequalities. Diane is on GBSS’s Board of Trustees and will be one of our panellists for the conference.
Dr Theresa Lamagni
Section Head, Healthcare-Associated Infection & Antimicrobial Resistance, UK Health Security Agency
Dr Theresa Lamagni is a Section Head Healthcare-Associated Infection & Antimicrobial Resistance Division of the UK Health Security Agency and designated epidemiologist for the WHO Collaborating Centre for Streptococcal Diseases. She has worked in public health for over 25 years. During this time, she completed an MSc in Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and a PhD at the University of Helsinki. Theresa has strategic responsibility for surveillance of streptococcal diseases in England, providing expert support to outbreak and incident response and contributing to the development of an evidence base to inform disease prevention programmes.
Talk Title: Infant GBS sepsis trends in England, 2018 – 2024
Dr Jasmine Leonce
Consultant Obstetrician, National Maternity Improvement Adviser to NHS England
Jasmine was appointed as a National Maternity Improvement Advisor to NHSE in February 2022. In February 2024 she was appointed as a National Specialty Advisor for Choice, Personalised Care which now includes Equity and Equality as part of her portfolio. She works closely with service user representatives and other stakeholders to address inequalities in access and experience to improve outcomes for women and families. She champions a positive workplace culture, ensuring inclusive spaces for staff and is a member of the National Civility Saves Lives group.
Talk Title: Personalised Care in Screening
Prof Trixie McAree
National Midwifery Lead, Midwifery Continuity of Care
Professor Trixie McAree is a senior midwife in the Chief Midwife’s Office. She leads on a variety of key policy items including research and evaluation, continuity of care, experience of care/choice and personalisation, sustainability and women in prisons/detained settings at NHS England. Trixie is on GBSS’s Clinical Advisory Panel and will be one of our panellists for the conference.
Dr Francesca Miselli
Neonatologist, University Hospital of Modena, Italy.
Francesca’s research focuses on neonatal infectious diseases, antimicrobial stewardship, and the stabilisation of very preterm infants. A dedicated clinical researcher, Dr. Miselli is committed to improving neonatal outcomes through evidence-based practices and family-centred care models in the NICU. Areas of Expertise & Research Interests Dr Miselli’s research portfolio covers several aspects of neonatal health that directly impact long-term outcomes for the most vulnerable patients.
Talk Title: Asymptomatic bacteremia in infants: to treat or to observe?
Dr Jeffry Mutuc
Dr. Jeffry Mutuc is an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the Division of Bacterial Diseases, where he investigates infectious disease threats and uses data to inform public health action. Prior to joining CDC, he worked as a general practitioner in New York City. Earlier, he served as an epidemiologist in CDC’s Division of Viral Diseases, and worked in Cambodia as a global health fellow, supporting HIV and STI prevention programs. He trained in family medicine in New York and holds a Medical Degree and a Master of Public Health in epidemiology.
Abstract presentation: Opportunities for Improving Prevention of Group B Streptococcus Early Onset Disease Under Current Intrapartum Antibiotic Prophylaxis Guidelines, Ten U.S. Sites, 2016-2023
Lidia Oostvogels M.D
Chief Medical Officer, Minervax
Lidia Oostvogels, M.D., is Chief Medical Officer at MinervaX ApS, a Danish biotechnology company developing vaccines against Group B Streptococcus (GBS). She brings more than 30 years of experience in vaccine and clinical development across both biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Before joining MinervaX in 2023, she held senior leadership roles at CureVac, GSK, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Since 2003 she focuses on prophylactic vaccine development for infectious diseases, such as herpes zoster, influenza, COVID and GBS. She holds a medical degree from Ghent University in Belgium and has led multiple late-stage clinical development programs throughout her career.
Talk title: Progressing the development of AlpN GBS, a novel prophylactic vaccine against Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
Jane Plumb
Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Group B Strep Support.
Jane Plumb co-founded Group B Strep Support with her husband Robert in 1996 after their middle child died from group B Strep infection, and is its Chief Executive. Jane is the Women’s Voices Lead and Chair of the Women’s Network for the RCOG, Chair of the Pregnancy and Baby Charities Network, Acting Chair of the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations and a Europe Representative on its Council, and a trustee of the Meningitis Research Foundation. She is involved in multiple group B Strep research projects and co-leads PPI for the GBS3 trial. Jane was awarded an MBE in 2012 for services to child health and awarded a Fellowship Honoris Causa by the RCOG in 2021.
Talk Title: Protecting Babies: The Challenge of Group B Strep.
Joshua Priest
Josh is 32 from Cornwall and is a Telecommunications Engineer
Josh is a father sharing his family’s experience after his daughter, Tilly-Rose, contracted Group B Strep at birth, 7 years ago. Speaking openly about the challenges, emotions, and long-term impact on his family has become an important way for Josh to help raise awareness of Group B Strep and support other families who may be facing similar experiences. Through his short video, he hopes to encourage understanding, conversation, and greater awareness among both parents and healthcare professionals.
Ali Stanley
Clinical Midwife & Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, University Hospitals Sussex
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. A member of GBSS’s Clinical Advisory Panel, Ali will be one of our panellists for the conference
Dr Katie Stephens
Academic Clinical Training Fellow, University of Cambridge
Katie Stephens is a Clinical Academic Training Fellow in the final year of a PhD at the University of Cambridge, funded by the Welcome Trust. Their research focuses on how Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonises the placenta during pregnancy and the associated clinical consequences for both mother and baby. She has subsequently led the Detecting Intrauterine Group B Streptococcus (DIGS) Study. She will present work focusing on the development of more sensitive and specific tests for GBS
Abstract presentation: Methods to improve the diagnosis of Group B Streptococcus carriage in pregnancy
Dr Kate Walker
Clinical Professor in Obstetrics, University of Nottingham
Research work has focused on randomised controlled trials in obstetrics, sexual health and neonatology. Co Chief Investigator for the GBS3 trial. Kate has an interest in maternal and neonatal infections secondary to group B strep, high-risk pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, induction of labour and labour ward management.
Talk Title: Universal maternal testing for group B streptococcus in late pregnancy
Dr Rachel Walsh
Consultant Neonatologist, NHS Resolution / Nottingham University Hospitals Trust
Rachel is a consultant neonatologist working in Nottingham. During her last few years of neonatal training, she had the pleasure of working with NHS Resolution as a neonatal clinical fellow in the Early Notification team. During her time at NHS Resolution, she worked with clinical and legal colleagues reviewing cases of birth-related brain injury and completed a project looking specifically at claims related to GBS disease in neonates.
Abstract presentation: Learning from claims related to early onset neonatal Group B Streptococcal (GBS) disease
Dr Alison Wright
President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Dr Alison Wright is the President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She believes passionately in involving women in their own care, at every level and is committed to providing safe and personalised care to women and their families. She served as NHS England’s National Specialty Adviser in Obstetrics for three years, is clinical advisor to FIGO, sits on various WHO guideline groups, and currently leads an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (IJOG) supplement of best practice papers.
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