Our Team

In May 2009 my first son, Aidan, was stillborn. My life was completely turned upside down and I had no idea that babies were still dying in the UK, or how common it is. I later learnt that 6,500 babies die in the UK every year and there are precautions mums can take and warning signs to be aware of to help reduce the risk of stillbirth. I joined forces with my local maternity team to set up MAMA Academy to help more babies arrive safely. Receiving positive feedback that you’re making a difference is the most rewarding thing in the world. Midwives have told us that our information prompted mums to get checked sooner than they may otherwise have done and they’d been able to deliver their baby safe and well. Supporting mums through such a special time in their lives is a massive privilege and a passion that will always drive my commitment to saving babies lives.

Heidi was awarded an Inspirational Award in 2014 and was a Tesco Mum of The Year finalist in 2015.

Beth is the Marketing and Communications manager for MAMA academy. Joining the team at the beginning of 2024 from a rich background spanning both startup ventures and corporate marketing, she brings a unique blend of innovation and commercial knowledge to her role.

Beth’s journey into the world of working with charities began during her university years, where she actively participated in fundraising events with her society. It was during this time that she discovered a profound sense of purpose in making a tangible difference, a sentiment that continues to inspire her commitment to serving within the charity sector.

At the core of Beth’s work lies a deep-seated belief in the power of effective communication to effect meaningful change. She is dedicated to leveraging her skills to amplify the mission of MAMA academy and combat stillbirth by supporting families through education and awareness initiatives.

Should you wish to discuss anything marketing and communications related, you can connect with her at: beth@mamaacademy.org.uk.

Becky is the Hospital Trusts & Brand Partnerships Manager at MAMA Academy, where she is committed to empowering healthcare professionals and expectant parents to improve pregnancy safety and reduce stillbirths. With a background as a midwife, Becky brings a unique perspective to her role, having worked directly with families and healthcare teams throughout the pregnancy journey.

Before midwifery & joining MAMA Academy, Becky built a strong foundation in sales, brand marketing, and even running her own small illustration business! Her diverse experience has equipped her with the skills to approach her current role with creativity and strategic thinking, while also focusing on building meaningful partnerships to support MAMA Academy’s mission.

Becky’s expertise and commitment to improving pregnancy outcomes are driven by her personal experience in the field, and she is passionate about continuing the charity’s work to help prevent stillbirth and ensure that all babies arrive safely.

Amanda Bastianelli is a qualified midwife, expert sonographer, and business owner of a health clinic providing fertility, pregnancy and new parent services including specialist ultrasound scans, blood tests and pregnancy and baby classes.

Amanda qualified in 2000 and during her time working for the NHS, went on to practice obstetric ultrasound specialising in fetal medicine.

She soon developed a huge passion for offering professional support for families experiencing medical concerns in pregnancy and supporting parents following stillbirth and loss.

Due to her vast experience and expertise, Amanda helped to implement the Growth Assessment Protocol within the NHS, an agreement working with the Perinatal Institute to educate health professionals in the detection and monitoring of fetal growth restriction to reduce stillbirths in the UK.

In 2016, alongside her NHS role she opened her private health clinic Expectancy Scanning Studios in Sittingbourne, Kent, offering fertility, pregnancy support and medical ultrasound services to families outside the NHS. She has since partnered with other health institutes including Harley Street Fertility Clinic, Care Fertility and many more specialist pregnancy and new parent services to offer parents the very best in perinatal health resources.

Amanda has won a number of awards for her services including Service Excellence Awards & Businesswoman of the Year 2023 and at the Kent Women in Business Awards.

She has also featured in the local press for her work and contributed to various articles of interest in ultrasound and screening.

Driven by her passion to support families who have experienced baby loss and inspired by the work Mama Academy achieves, Amanda introduced a complimentary Forget Me Not Service to her clinic, helping parents who are faced with the difficult decision to end their pregnancy for medical reasons due to a life-threatening condition.

After supporting and collaborating with Mama Academy for many years, Amanda is delighted to be appointed as a Trustee.

“I am excited to work with Heidi and all the team at MAMA Academy. This charity holds a special place in my heart, and I look forward to seeing what fantastic work we can accomplish together, supporting and educating health professionals and families who need us most.”

Robin Meltzer is the Deputy Chief Executive for the Royal Free Charity and previously Director of Fundraising for the national medical research charity Brain Tumour Research. He has also been a political campaigner and fundraiser, previously serving as Vice Chair of the London Liberal Democrats. He has won several awards for his political work, including the Clean Air in London Award for his efforts to tackle air pollution in the capital.

As a former BBC Worldwide senior television producer for international formats, Robin was responsible for co-productions, including Strictly Come Dancing in over thirty countries worldwide. Robin has an interest in education and has served as a governor at a school for children with profound and multiple special needs.

Robin had been aware of and followed the work of MAMA Academy since its inception, keeping in contact with the Charity’s founder, Heidi Eldridge and offering occasional campaigning and fundraising advice. He is delighted to have been appointed a trustee of the charity.

I am delighted to have been invited to be a trustee of MAMA Academy and hope to bring both my professional skillset and personal experiences to assist Heidi and the team in delivery of the charity’s vision.

I first met Heidi and was introduced to MAMA Academy following the death of my second son in February 2019. Benjamin died shortly after he was born, having contracted Cytomegalovirus during my pregnancy, a virus I knew nothing about until a few weeks before.
Since then, alongside working with a bereaved parent support group, a vital lifeline to many of those affected, I have been able to assist in fundraising to support the provision of MAMA Academy Wellbeing Wallets across Hampshire and am passionate about the importance of providing both maternity professionals and expectant parents with as much information as possible to help more babies arrive safely.

Professionally, I am a CFO, having worked in corporate and private equity businesses over the last 20 years. As a Chartered Accountant, I have spent much of my career leading finance teams both large and small in the UK and internationally, across global listed organisations and smaller fast growing businesses, and have been an executive Board member in organisations across a number of industries.

I am delighted to be a trustee of MAMA Academy. My journey with MAMA began when Heidi and I connected over LinkedIn, following a post where I expressed my desire to find a role that allowed me to give back to women and parents. This mission resonates deeply with me, not only professionally but also personally.

As a mother to my daughter Paloma, I have experienced firsthand the joys and struggles of parenthood. The challenges of my first year as a parent have given me a profound understanding of the support parents need, shaping my commitment to making a difference in the lives of other women and families.

While my career path led me to become a Managing Director in banking, where I was responsible for leading large teams, my true passion has always been about people, diversity, and inclusion. I believe that the heart of success in any field lies in recognizing and nurturing the potential in each individual.

In my role as a trustee for MAMA, I aim to blend this passion with my professional experience to champion the needs of parents and to contribute to the vital work MAMA does. I am excited to use my skills and insights to support MAMA’s mission, empowering women and parents through this incredible journey.

I am thrilled to be a Trustee of MAMA Academy looking forward to bringing in my expertise in midwifery and most importantly sharing my knowledge on how to improve an equitable care in maternity. Born into a family deeply rooted in the healthcare profession, I embarked on my nursing journey from Zimbabwe to England . Initially training as a nurse, my passion for midwifery ignited during placements, leading me to qualify as a Midwife in 1998. Throughout my career, I’ve embraced diverse roles, from Teenager Pregnancy Midwife to Sure Start Midwife and Community Midwifery, finding fulfillment in caring for women in deprived areas often overlooked by society.

My dedication to improving maternity care in undeserved communities earned me accolades, including the Trust Innovation Award in 2008 and the Making The Difference Award for Culture and Diversity in 2022. As a Professional Midwifery Advocate, I find joy in supporting both midwives and families, striving to enhance the well-being of staff and patients.

Becoming a Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic Champion at Darent Valley hospital in 2020, I recognised the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on ethnic minority pregnant individuals. Motivated to effect positive change, I played a pivotal role in establishing the Maternity Equality Diversity Inclusion (MEDI) Focus Group, earning accolades from the Care Quality Commission for its outstanding initiatives.

Under my leadership, MEDI evolved, creating a dedicated social media platform, providing crucial information for ethnic minority women. Additionally, mandatory cultural competency training was implemented for all midwives at Darent Valley. Joining the LMNS team in 2022 as Equity and Equalities Lead, I’ve spearheaded the Kent & Medway Equity action plan, striving for equity in maternal and infant outcomes, particularly for Black, Asian, and Mixed ethnic groups, as well as those in deprived areas. My commitment extends to fostering equality in the experiences of minority ethnic staff.

Becoming a Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic Champion at Darent Valley hospital in 2020, I recognized the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on ethnic minority pregnant individuals. Motivated to effect positive change, I played a pivotal role in establishing the Maternity Equality Diversity Inclusion (MEDI) Focus Group, earning accolades from the Care Quality Commission for its outstanding initiatives.

Under my leadership, MEDI evolved, creating a dedicated social media platform, providing crucial information for ethnic minority women. Additionally, mandatory cultural competency training was implemented for all midwives at Darent Valley. Joining the LMNS team in 2022 as Equity and Equalities Lead, I’ve spearheaded the Kent & Medway Equity action plan, striving for equity in maternal and infant outcomes, particularly for Black, Asian, and Mixed ethnic groups, as well as those in deprived areas.

I am an experienced fundraising leader with a proven track record in leading successful public fundraising programmes. Currently, I work at the Meningitis Research Foundation, where I lead a team of five in delivering a fundraising portfolio of £1 million. I have had the privilege of working at a variety of charities including: Make-A-Wish, Sense and Whizz-Kidz with a focus on fundraising across challenge events, student fundraising, community fundraising, virtual fundraising and In-Memory.

After a difficult IUI and IVF journey with my partner, I fell pregnant with my first baby. However, some difficulties early in my journey meant that I was very anxious throughout my pregnancy. I was lucky enough to receive a MAMA Academy wallet for my pregnancy notes and carefully followed the advice on the wallets to monitor movements of my baby. It was a lifeline for me!

I am delighted to be working with Heidi, her team and the rest of the board to ensure we make sure more babies arrive safely.

On December 3rd 2019 my beautiful boy was born sleeping. I was 39 weeks pregnant and he was my first child. My heart was broken.
Slowly I am learning how to live as a mummy to a baby with wings. I do my best to stay positive and to make my boy proud.
When the opportunity came for me to become a volunteer for this wonderful charity I was overwhelmed by happiness. I am so happy to be able to play a small part in supporting MAMA Academy. It has provided me great comfort that in a small way I am helping to spread such important awareness.