24 January 2019
The New Zealand College of Midwives has appointed Alison Eddy as its new Chief Executive. Ms Eddy is taking over from
Karen Guilliland who is retiring after 30 years in the role.
“The profession is privileged to have a midwife of this calibre who is willing to keep supporting and leading the
profession to maintain its special role in the lives of New Zealand’s women and their families,” says Deb Pittam,
President of the College.
The position was widely advertised and attracted a high calibre of applicants.
Ms Eddy has worked as a midwifery advisor at the College for the last 15 years and as Ms Guilliland’s deputy for the
past two years. She has maintained her practice as a midwife during these years with a background in lead maternity
carer and team midwifery and as a core midwife.
“Alison’s work at the College together with her previous public health work, Ministry of Health and student health
management positions have given her the background to manage College staff and contracts,” says Ms Pittam.
“Her master’s degree provided new knowledge on water birth and she maintains a keen interest in research and outcomes
that support midwifery practice. She was the first midwife Deputy Chair of the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review
Committee and has contributed greatly to the statistical analysis of maternity outcomes in New Zealand.”
Karen Guilliland says: “It gives me the greatest professional and personal pleasure to hand over the reins to Alison
Eddy as the new Chief Executive of the College. Alison has been a wonderful deputy for two years and has provided ample
evidence that she is an extremely able successor.”
Ms Guilliland says that Alison is an intelligent, hardworking and committed midwife who has high ethical and
professional standards. “As the person responsible for the College’s professional projects and contracts over the last
15 years, Alison’s appointment gives certainty and stability to members of the College and to the team in the office.”
END