Claire Sugden MLA
MLA for East Londonderry and sponsor of the SHE Women’s Health Forum at Parliament Buildings.
SHE Women’s Health Forum 2026
Bringing together the people shaping the future of women’s health in Northern Ireland.
Wednesday 9 September 2026 · 9:30am–12:30pm · Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Stormont. A focused cross-sector forum bringing together healthcare, policy, research, advocacy, education, industry and lived experience.
About the Forum.
Women’s health in Northern Ireland is at an important point. Information, services and support remain fragmented, while Northern Ireland continues without a dedicated Women’s Health Strategy.
The SHE Women’s Health Forum brings together people working across the system to examine where the gaps remain, what can be learned from elsewhere and what meaningful progress could look like for women in Northern Ireland.
The focus is not simply awareness, but constructive conversation that can strengthen connections, clarify priorities and support practical action.
Two conversations. One shared goal.
To make women’s health more connected, accessible and easier to navigate.
- Building a Women’s Health Strategy for Northern Ireland
- Women’s Health in Practice
- Cross-sector collaboration
- Healthcare, policy and lived experience
The programme
Wednesday 9 September 2026
Registration & Networking
Arrival and networking in the Long Gallery.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Opening remarks from SHE and Claire Sugden MLA.
Panel 1 · Building a Women’s Health Strategy for Northern Ireland
A discussion on policy, services, accountability and the priorities that should shape the future of women’s health in Northern Ireland.
Audience Q&A
An opportunity for attendees to engage directly with the Panel 1 discussion.
Refreshment Break
Panel 2 · Women’s Health in Practice
Exploring the practical realities of women’s health across healthcare, workplaces, education, community, health information and support.
Audience Q&A & Closing Remarks
Final audience questions, reflections and closing remarks.
Forum Close
Forum moderator
Dr Alice McGee
Senior Medical Advisor, Flo Health · Founder, Mara Health
Originally from Limavady, Northern Ireland, Alice is an NHS-trained doctor working across women’s health, patient safety, digital health and innovation. She will guide both panel conversations throughout the morning.
Speakers
The voices in the conversation.
Panel 1
Building a Women’s Health Strategy for Northern Ireland
Sarah Rose McCann
Journalist and patient advocate bringing lived experience and the patient voice into the policy conversation.
Dr Orlan Conan
Bringing a clinical and healthcare perspective to the future of women’s health in Northern Ireland.
Further speaker to be announced
The final Panel 1 line-up is being completed.
Panel 2
Women’s Health in Practice
Dr Caroline Millar
Researcher exploring pregnancy, maternity-related illness, maternity leave and women’s experiences returning to work.
Lindsay Robinson MBE
Award-winning advocate and leader in perinatal mental health, with experience contributing to women’s health policy in Ireland.
Catherine McDaid
Student Wellbeing Manager at Ulster University and Deputy Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council.
Breeda Bermingham
Women’s health and workplace specialist, former midwife and Associate Consultant with Henpicked.
Laura Dowling
Pharmacist and women’s health educator known as The Fabulous Pharmacist, bringing clinical expertise and evidence-based public health communication.
Who will be in the room?
A deliberately cross-sector audience.
The Forum is bringing together voices spanning healthcare, policy, academia, research, patient advocacy, community organisations, education, industry and lived experience. Registration is currently operating through a waitlist to help maintain a strong mix of perspectives across the room.
Registration
Join the Forum waitlist.
Places are being curated to maintain a strong balance across healthcare, academia, policy, advocacy, industry and lived experience. Registration does not constitute final admission to Parliament Buildings; confirmed attendees will receive an official Parliament invitation.
Support the SHE Women’s Health Forum.
Organisations interested in supporting the Forum through sponsorship or partnership can explore the current opportunities through the SHE Partners page.
Explore partnership opportunities