Barbara May Foundation Impact Report for the year ended 30 June 2024
Our vision, mission and values
Our Story
4 10 26 6 11
Supported hospitals update
8 16 27 24 28
Messages from our Board Chair, General Manager and Medical Director
12
What is the need? Our finances
Our Impact: a snapshot of 2024 Hospitals supported in Africa
Volunteers’ story
Supported hospitals: staff profiles
Our Board of Directors
Our Vision
A world where women can face childbirth with dignity and confidence.
Our approach
We provide financial support and professional expertise for maternal healthcare and the repair of obstetric fistulas including medical infrastructure and services, training and education.
Our Mission
To eliminate maternal mortality, with a focus on the treatment and prevention of obstetric fistula.
Vulnerable communities in East Africa.
Being aware of needs beyond our own is one thing. Finding the energy to respond to them is another. This might be called compassion, where hearts are moved to act without prejudice or agenda in the best interests of another.
This is the heart of our motivation. It is a heart called to be faithful to the loving kindness encountered in Christ Jesus.
Hearts moved by loving kindness, serving the best interests of others.
Accountability as a neighbour, acting with moral courage.
The tireless recognition and honouring of the dignity of others.
The genesis of our story lies in the hearts of two people, hearts that overflow with three convictions: the love of God, the practice of healthcare and the joy of service. One heart belongs to Valerie Browning, nurse, educator and advocate for Afar pastoralists of the Awash River and the Danakil Desert. She has lived in the area for over thirty years and bears the name Maalika, mother of the Afar. The other belongs to Andrew Browning, obstetrician, gynaecologist and fistula surgeon. The hearts of both are sustained by the grace of God and honour the women they serve because, like any other, they are made in God’s image and likeness.
In 1999 their mother and grandmother, Barbara May Browning, visited the Afar region of Ethiopia where she encountered the harsh reality of maternal morbidity and mortality during childbirth. Charged with compassion she said “something must be done about this”. Not long after, the Barbara May Foundation came to be, and began work to address entrenched disadvantage in childbirth. BMF now facilitates safe and caring maternal healthcare and the repair of obstetric fistulas in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Sudan.
Caring for patients by reflecting Jesus’ compassion for them is our top and core priority
Maintaining high clinical standards
Educating communities on the importance of seeking medical help with births
Enabling the development of medical infrastructure and services
Training in-country medical professionals (midwives, doctors, fistula surgeons)
Providing employment opportunities to locals
Developing strategic collaborative partnerships aimed at widening and deepening our impact
Since becoming Chair in February 2024, I have tried to immerse myself into the Foundation’s world. I am deeply conscious of its remarkable journey, especially under the 12 years of stewardship of our outgoing Chair, Michael Sharpe AO. Through his unwavering dedication, the Foundation has grown remarkably, and I wish to pay tribute to his significant contributions. Thank you Michael!
In the short time of my involvement in the period covered by this Annual Impact Report, it has been fascinating to listen and learn about the Foundation’s work and gain a greater understanding of its challenges and exciting
opportunities. I am thankful for our Board of Directors who passionately and faithfully support our mission.
I am also thankful for our many and varied supporters, ambassadors, volunteers and prayer partners. We could not do anything without your support, which is deeply appreciated.
Edward Kerr OAM
This year has seen a period of change for Barbara May Foundation, however we continued steadfastly supporting the vital work of BMF in Africa, led ably by Andrew. It has been a privilege to meet supporters across the globe who are deeply invested in our mission and faithfully support our work.
A highlight for me was meeting Val when she visited Australia in April. She spoke to many of you and inspired us all with her unwavering dedication and tireless efforts to serve her people, the nomadic people of the Afar. I have been asked how BMF partners with Val’s organisation, the Afar Pastoralists Development Association (APDA). APDA is an Ethiopian based NGO and doesn’t have the licenses to fundraise in Australia. So BMF does this on APDA’s behalf, pledging much-needed financial support each quarter to support the maternal health programs run by her organisation.
Similarly, I’ve been asked about our relationship with Maternity Africa (MA). International organisations cannot, according to Tanzania law, send funds into the country without a local entity. Dr Browning established MA, a Tanzanian NGO, in 2013, with its own local governance, to receive funds, given by you, through BMF. These funds help
support the Kivulini Maternity Centre in Tanzania.
As an organisation, we are preparing and positioning for growth and one thing remains certain. We wouldn’t be here without you, our faithful supporters. We are 100% philanthropy funded and we are extremely grateful. We are humbled to have grown to the size we are today, and it’s now our responsibility to plan and position for more impact in the coming years until the day that fistula becomes obsolete in Africa—just like it is in other parts of the world today.
Thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness towards vulnerable women in Africa by supporting Barbara May Foundation in saving women’s lives and bringing hope and healing to these families.
Karen Baker
This year has been exceptionally busy. Almost 17,000 women delivered safely across the four hospitals and the rural health network in the Afar desert that we support, over 300 women were treated of their fistula injury and over 40,000 clinic visits were conducted. The training of midwives, midwifery students, surgeons, doctors and also members of the community is critical to improving health care across the networks we support. Under God’s providence the work in the hospitals continued despite difficulties of conflict, famine and floods seen in Ethiopia.
The resilience of the women I meet when working in Africa never ceases to amaze and inspire me. In June this year I met a woman in South Sudan who had been living in isolation, the object of ridicule, due to an obstetric fistula injury since 1971. Her faith in God never wavered and she never gave up believing that one day she might be helped. It was a privilege and joy to treat her.
Thanks to generous donations received during our Famine Appeal in early 2024, 3,016 women were supplied with emergency food relief, keeping thousands of mothers and babies alive. Tragically, we recorded 25 maternal deaths, all in the war and famine affected Afar area of Ethiopia. Despite the efforts of our staff many of these women were severely malnourished and didn’t have the strength to cope with labour.
We are excited to see the new Kworo Sonic Healthcare Foundation Hospital supported by Barbara May Foundation in the Agago district of Northern Uganda start to rise out of the ground. It is due for completion in mid 2025. We eagerly await the life-changing work that will start to take place here.
I was able to travel back to Africa on five separate occasions over the last year to operate, teach and see the hospitals.
Karen Baker has joined as our new General Manager. She has brought great skills, energy and enthusiasm. We were sad to farewell Joanna Shaw, my assistant for two years. She is missed in this capacity but is still actively involved in the organisation of our Avoca Fundraiser. We are in the process of hiring additional staff to build our capabilities.
I am profoundly grateful to everyone who has continued to support or has started to support Barbara May Foundation this year. With each passing year, as the Foundation assists more women, our mission to eliminate fistulas is growing.
Thank you to the dedicated staff in our supported hospitals guided by their medical directors and matrons, Dr Omar in the Barbara May Maternity Hospital, Dr Birhanu and Sr Abeba in Vision Maternity Care Hospital, Dr Doreen, and Sr Glory in Kivulini Maternity CentreMaternity Africa, Samuel Magok and Dr Achai Riyak at the Reconciliation Hospital in Juba, and Alice Achen, Milton Obua and David Heap in Pader, Uganda. Thank you for all of you.
Lastly, thank you to our volunteers, partners and donors. Your generous financial support and prayer enables this vital work.
OCCUR IN AFRICA
EVERYDAY AND WOMEN OTHER WOMEN FOR EVERY DEATH die trying to have a baby suffer an injury (around 15,720 everyday)
Globally, every day, 7861 women die trying to have a baby. Seventy percent occur in Africa, the vast majority avoidable.
For every death, about 20 other women (around 15,720 every day) suffer an injury, the most feared being an obstetric fistula (a large hole between the birth canal and one or both of the bladder and rectum which causes continuous leaking). Left untreated, a woman suffering a fistula will live a life of incontinence, misery, shame and ostracism. Forty percent will plan or attempt suicide.2
Deaths and fistulas occur in Africa simply because many women don’t have access to safe medical care for the delivery of their child. Many women deliver at home with no help at all. The big killers are bleeding, eclampsia, obstructed labour and infection. It takes access to blood transfusions, surgery (including caesarean sections when appropriate), medicines and good medical supervision to stop women dying or suffering from serious injury.
Fistulas occur very rarely in resource rich countries simply because comprehensive obstetric emergency care (including a caesarean) generally is available to all women.
16,702
safely delivered at BMF supported hospitals and rural maternity networks
634
gynaecological related operations
12
332
166 BABIES
DOCTORS TRAINED
by Dr Browning in the specialised skills of obstetric fistula surgery
100,151
people in the Afar region received health messages from community health workers
20 43
OBSTETRIC FISTULA OPERATIONS
performed at BMF supported hospitals and 7 specific fistula camps run in partnership with Fistula Foundation
44,939
CLINIC VISITS
providing antenatal and postnatal care (up to four visits for each mother up until birth)
MIDWIVES & STUDENTS TRAINED
through our three supported hospitals that do training
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE TRAINING SESSIONS
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE MESSAGES
4,089
FAMILY PLANNING CONSULTATIONS
were provided to women were provided in 10 schools to 2,315 students as part of our schools based outreach program were transmitted on 3 different radio stations providing education in the wider community
people educated about maternal health and fistula in the regions around Arusha 16,933
1
2
BARBARA MAY MATERNITY HOSPITAL (BMMH)
The Afar Region, Mille, Ethiopia
Opened in September 2011 in partnership with the Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA), BMMH is a 23-bed maternity unit providing access to free, safe maternal health care services to the nomadic women of the Afar. This hospital also supports an extensive RURAL MATERNITY HEALTH NETWORK in the Afar region.
2024: 633 deliveries, 12 obstetric fistula operations, 2 doctors trained in fistula surgery, 10537 rural network deliveries, 13 midwife students trained
VISION MATERNITY CARE HOSPITAL (VMC)
Barhir Dar, Ethiopia
Opened in September 2011 in partnership with the local Health Bureau, VMC is a 31bed maternity hospital providing maternal healthcare and family planning advice. It is also a training centre for midwives.
2024: 2707 deliveries, 100 midwife students trained
3 KIVULINI MATERNITY CENTRE -MATERNITY AFRICA (KIVULINI)
Arusha, Tanzania
Opened in June 2018 in partnership with Maternity Africa (MA), Kivulini is a wellequipped 42-bed maternity centre, a midwife training centre and an obstetric fistula treatment unit.
2024: 2825 deliveries, 204 obstetric fistula operations, 6 doctors trained in fistula surgey, 53 midwives trained
RECONCILIATION HOSPITAL
4
Referendum, South Sudan
Opened in 2018 in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Reconciliation Hospital is a fistula treatment centre, a 20-bed maternity unit, general outpatient clinic, vocational training centre and church in the capital Juba.
2024: 116 obstetric fistula operations, 4 doctors trained in fistula surgery
5 KWORO SONIC HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION HOSPITAL
Agago District, Northern Uganda
In partnership with Te-Kworo Foundation (Australia) and Sonic Healthcare Foundation (SHF) we are funding the construction of a 42-bed maternity hospital in the impoverished Agago District of northern Uganda. Planned opening July 2025.
6
MATERNITY AFRICA SATELLITE HOSPITAL
Chamwino, Tanzania
In planning.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The key to the success of our current supported hospitals has been our network of relationships, forged primarily by Valerie Browning AM and Dr Andrew Browning AM, over decades of working in Africa.
Over more recent years this network (with the involvement of many other people) has deepened and widened, both within Africa and globally. We would not be where we are today without the support of:
local authorities
local communities
the dedicated permanent staff or doctors, midwives and other medical professionals
many specialist medical professionals who volunteer from all parts of the globe
many organisations and individuals who donate their skills and resources
donors of equipment, and our many and varied financial donors financing not only running costs of the existing supported hospitals but also our vision for building and supporting new hospitals.
Eglar comes from a small village in central Tanzania. Her first two pregnancies and deliveries went well, and she anticipated the same for her third pregnancy. However, her third labour took more than two days. Tragically, Eglar delivered a stillborn baby in her village hut. Exhausted and heartbroken, she was left with a fistula, causing her to leak urine. Her husband, the local witch doctor, tried all sorts of traditional medicines, but none of them were effective in healing Eglar. The community thought her cursed.
Hilda, an ex-fistula sufferer who was cured at Kivulini Maternity Centre in 2018, heard about Eglar and tried to convince her to go to Kivulini. Eglar was fearful and her family suspicious of Kivulini (in many parts of Tanzania, hospitals are misunderstood. Communities believe that hospitals abduct people and remove their kidneys to sell overseas).
Hilda asked Grace, our Social Worker at Kivulini Maternity Centre, to visit Eglar and speak with her family. Grace made the difficult full day journey on three separate occasions, meeting with Eglar, her family, villagers and village elders. Eventually, after exhausting all their local remedies, Eglar came. Eglar’s injuries were severe. In July she underwent a major fistula repair operation. She is now dry, happy and recovering well. *
The Afar Region, Mille, Ethiopia
Dr Omer Hassan, only doctor at BMMH
Sadly, the extreme famine experienced in the Afar region has been followed by an outbreak of cholera inflicting profound hardships on the Afar people. This has resulted in many more severe and life-threatening emergencies. BMMH and the Afar Pastoralists Development Association have worked tirelessly to provide essential maternal healthcare and emergency food relief under these difficult circumstances. Your generous support enabled safe delivery of 633 babies at BMMH in 2024 (668 in 2023) and safe delivery of 10,537 babies in 2024 through the Rural Maternity Health Program (8,962 in 2023).
13 midwife students from the training college in Samara had their placements at BMMH and were rotated throughout the year.
Dr David MacFarlane, a volunteer from Australia, has volunteered a number of times for BMF. He was able to return to BMMH in March 2024 to help the staff while Dr Omer was on a much-needed break.
We were able to complete much needed maintenance works at BMMH, repainting and retiling the ward, maintaining ceilings and fixing plumbing. The hospital is looking fresh and new again.
We are extremely grateful to have purchased a new ambulance for BMMH during the year. Although it took an extended period of time to clear customs, once cleared it was put to work straight away and is saving many lives.
My association with BMF developed from having worked for many years with Dr David Browning in Bowral, where I also met Barbara May Browning and Val Browning as well as Andrew. We don’t share the same religion but we do share the same feeling about wanting to share our good fortune to be living in a wealthy developed country with those less fortunate, and we share the same respect and love for the women of the world. As soon as I retired from full time work, David urged me to help BMF whose good work he had been educating
Barhir Dar, Ethiopia
Dr Birhanu Member, Director VMC
Sadly, the conflict in and around Barhir Dar has continued for much of this year. Despite this, all services at VMC have remained open and thankfully our staff have remained safe. While the fighting and imposed curfews have made it harder and more dangerous for women to travel to VMC, we are pleased to report that the number of deliveries has remained strong with staff delivering 2,707 babies in 2024 (2,752 in 2023).
Like BMMH, midwife students from surrounding midwife training colleges come to VMC for their clinical placements. There were periods of time when studies were paused due to local conflict, however, VMC was still able to rotate close to 100 midwife students on placement this year.
Unfortunately, inflation in the region has remained high. This, and the ongoing conflict, has meant that the hoped for expansion of the hospital to include a dedicated fistula ward has been put on hold.
We are pleased to report that the number of deliveries has remained strong with staff delivering 2,707 babies in 2024
me about for a decade. I worked with Medicine sans Frontieres several times (South Sudan, Syria, Nigeria) and then with BMF in Ethiopia, who twice sent me to Motta for three months, and in 2023 to the Barbara May Maternity Hospital in Mille, where Dr Omer, the locally trained specialist hadn’t had a day off for three years. VISA conditions had changed so I was only allowed to stay for a month.
I went again in March 2024 for another month, so Dr Omer could have another month off, and will go again in 2025. The proud people of the Afar work very hard but are extremely poor. The physical surroundings are harsh, the facilities in the hospital are rudimentary, and it is very busy but almost nothing is as rewarding as working with the lovely team of dedicated caring people there to achieve great outcomes for local women having babies.
Valerie Browning AM, Project Director of the Afar Pastoralists Development Association (APDA)
Each day I witness love and generosity in action through the support Barbara May Foundation provides the Barbara May Maternity Hospital and the rural healthcare services associated with it. Barbara May Foundation has, in recent troubled years, constantly met the needs of distressed mothers and their children who are beyond the reach of government services and other NGOs.
This year in particular the Afar Region has been devastated by a severe famine and an outbreak of the water-borne disease cholera.
With the donations and emergency assistance received from Barbara May Foundation during the year, the APDA were able to purchase 90,500kg of Famix (a nutritious ground barley grain high in protein) from a local supplier and distribute it to 3,016 pregnant and breast-feeding mothers at risk of delivery complications and death due to severe malnutrition and anaemia.
Our hearts overflow with gratitude to the generous donors within the Barbara May Foundation network. We are forever grateful for your care and compassion to improve the health outcomes for women of the Afar.
Sydney Local Health District is a major Barbara May Foundation partner through their Workplace Giving Program
On behalf of our Workplace Giving Program Committee and our staff across Sydney Local Health District, I want to assure you that Valerie Browning AM, the people she works with and the wonderful people of the Afar are all in our thoughts.
Deb Willcox AM Chief Executive - Sydney Local Health District
Arusha, Tanzania
Dr Doreen David Moshi, Interim Director
Kivulini has operated smoothly throughout the year, consistently delivering high quality care to the women of Arusha and its surrounding communities. The unwavering commitment of staff has ensured this continued success and smooth operation. Your generous support enabled the safe delivery of 2,825 babies in 2024 (2,281 in 2023), a tremendous effort by Kivulini staff.
Dr Andrew Browning attended 3 busy fistula camps where he treated 145 women. A further 59 fistula operations were performed by Kivulini staff outside these camps. Women hear about the healing fistula treatment they can receive at Kivulini through the community outreach programs run by Maternity Africa and through Kivulini’s social workers Grace and Magdalena. Your support of these programs is vital for ensuring a decrease in the rates of obstetric fistula occurring.
The midwifery training program is now in its third year and it continues to be of great benefit. Under the tutelage of the expert midwife tutors Srs Elizabeth Peter, Salim Bunge and Baraka Maziku, the trainees routinely gain skills and knowledge during their placements at Kivulini. There is some early evidence that maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality are decreasing in the facilities that the trainees come from for which we are very grateful.
Prof Jonathan Morris returned to Kivulini for the month of June where he not only attended clinical duties, but also supported the medical staff with training and advice and supported Dr Doreen as she settled into her new role as Interim Director. The hospital benefited greatly from Prof Morris’s extensive skills, knowledge and
At the end of June Maternity Africa farewelled Michael Hynds as its Country Director. Under his leadership Maternity Africa has experienced exciting growth in its fistula program, community outreach work and its school based reproductive
Wille is about 18 years old, the fourth of eight children. She comes from a poor area of Tanzania where she worked in the fields from a young age.
Soon after she was married Wille became pregnant. She lived in her in-laws compound. When her labour began, her mother-in-law attended her. After two days of labour, Wille pleaded with her mother-in-law to take her to the hospital. However, fearing the cost, her mother-in-law refused (this is a common excuse).
Eventually Wille’s sister intervened and brought her to the hospital, but tragically it was too late, Wille delivered a stillborn child.
Wille was left extremely weak and remained in the hospital for several weeks recovering from the ordeal. Sadly, Wille was leaking stool and urine from an obstetric fistula sustained during her labour.
Her sister took her home, but upon arrival she discovered that her in-laws had moved, and she was unable to find them. She returned to her mother’s house and never saw her husband or inlaws again. Life at home was challenging, and the fistula made it impossible for her to work on the farm. Her brother took her to a hospital where they successfully treated her bowel fistula, but her bladder fistula remained.
In June our outreach team found Wille and brought her to the Kivulini Maternity Centre in Northern Tanzania. Unfortunately, Wille’s bladder fistula is incurable, but we are committed to finding an alternative solution for her to improve her daily life.
Willie, and many other thousands of women would not go through this if hospitals were available for them to deliver safely and for free, and if people knew about the importance of getting help in labour early. *
* Shared with permission
Reconciliation Hospital
Juba, South Sudan
Dr Achai Riyak, Medical Director
BMF funded three fistula camps this year where Dr Browning was able to treat 116 women. Patients came from all over South Sudan and even as far away as Sudan and Ethiopia.
We are extremely thankful that our patients can be flown on Mission Aviation Fellowship chartered flights when roads are impassible due to conflict, flooding or both.
There were also four trainee fistula surgeons who attended these camps to continue their training under the guidance of Dr Andrew. They will return for further training and updates at future camps.
Pader, Northern Uganda
Medical Director yet to be appointed
In partnership with Te-Kworo Foundation (Uganda and Australia) and Sonic Healthcare Foundation (SHF) we are funding the construction of a 42-bed maternity hospital in the impoverished Agago District of northern Uganda. It has been exciting to watch the Kworo Sonic Healthcare Foundation Hospital take shape from the ground up in 2024.
Construction is expected to be completed in early to mid 2025, with an official opening and community celebration in July, 2025. There will be cause for celebration for the women of this part of northern Uganda, who are underserved and have had difficulty accessing quality maternal health. Many have had to walk for hours to reach antenatal care and give birth.
Once operational, the Kworo Sonic Healthcare Foundation Hospital will provide antenatal and postnatal care, safe births and prevention of obstetric fistula for thousands of northern Ugandan women each year. It is expected that the Hospital will become a referral hospital for four districts in the Acholi sub region.
Te-Kworo Foundation will maintain its existing small clinic in nearby Pader, and expand its mobile maternal health services that reach to the most remote communities with a health team and ambulance. This will allow for a deep reach into unserved areas surrounding the hospital, and will feed patients into the hospital where needed.
Sonic Healthcare Foundation is a major partner with Barbara May Foundation
It is a privilege to work alongside Barbara May Foundation (BMF) and support them in their incredible work, providing free maternal health care and obstetric fistula repair. Our partnership with BMF reflects our shared commitment to making a life changing and lasting impact in the lives of poor and vulnerable women in Africa.
The mission and vision of BMF resonates deeply with our own values. Together, we share a common goal of bringing hope and restored dignity to women who need it most and collectively we can make a bigger impact in driving positive change.
We look forward to continuing this partnership and witnessing the remarkable difference we can achieve together.
Dr Birhanu Member started working with Andrew in 2006 in The Barhirdar Hamlin Fistula Centre. Dr Birhanu quickly saw the need for more preventative work around fistula care. He helped with upgrading nearby hospitals, training staff and together with Dr Andrew Browning and BMF, eventually opening Vision Maternity Care Hospital (VMC) in 2011 as a free maternity service in Barhirdar itself.
Dr Birhanu has been the director of VMC since its inception and works as the sole doctor within the centre. He oversees 45 staff and the 200-300 women that deliver in the centre each month.
Each day begins at 8am with morning reports with all the staff, followed by ward rounds, clinics and ultrasounds. Dr Birhanu performs all the ultrasounds needed for the 1000+ women seen through the clinic each month. Dr Birhanu collaborates with the relevant health authorities to ensure that the work at VMC can continue smoothly. Dr Birhanu is greatly respected in the community.
This is what Dr Birhanu says about working at VMC:
“I
enjoy seeing pregnant women very happy with our service, especially those from rural areas. To see them deliver their baby’s at VMC without any complication is a great joy. Our hard working and enthusiastic team give me energy.”
Dr Doreen David Moshi started her professional career as an assistant medical officer in 2009. Andrew first met Dr Doreen whilst working at Selian Lutheran Hospital in Arusha. Dr Doreen was one of the founding staff members of Kivulini when it opened in 2018, initially serving as an Assistant Medical Officer on staff, attending to all duties of the hospital. In 2023 she was promoted to Medical Officer In Charge where, under her leadership, the hospital has increased its medical services and maintained its high standards of care.
Dr Doreen has continued her professional development receiving training in obstetrics ultrasound from our volunteers Prof Jonathan Morris and Katherine Morris and training as a fistula surgeon under the guidance of Dr Andrew. In 2022, Dr Doreen was recognised as one of BMF’s exceptional women that we support.
In July 2024 Dr Doreen was appointed to the position of interim director by the board of Maternity Africa. Her daily activities include making sure that all pregnant women who come to Kivulini, along with their newborns, receive the best possible care. This also includes ensuring the administration side works smoothly so that staff can carry out their work unimpeded.
Dr Doreen loves working at Kivulini. She says,
“I enjoy seeing all the pregnant women who choose to come to our Centre, getting the best treatment and going back home with their newborns.
It brings me great joy to see a woman who, having sustained a fistula during delivery, and who has been stigmatised by her family, and fallen into depression, regains her smile and the hope of returning to a normal life.
And it makes me very happy to see our Centre be selected as a centre of excellence, motivating the nearby centres to bring their staff to learn best practices in attending pregnant women and conducting safe delivery.”
A snapshot of our finances at 30 June 2024
$6,295,195
donated by our global philanthropic community
Philanthropic donations
Investment and other income
Fundraising income
Contributions to support hospital operations
Hospital capital costs
Fundraising costs
Administration costs
The idea to climb Mt Kilimanjaro was first floated in early 2023. Richard and Atlanta Zwar, having previously met Dr Andrew Browning, felt that this particular challenge gave them the vehicle to combine a passion for hiking and the opportunity to contribute in some small way to the welfare of women in Tanzania. Together, they rallied a small but mighty group from Melbourne, visited Kivulini Maternity Centre and endured blizzard like conditions to reach the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and support for Barbara May Foundation. Richard said of his experience,
“I was blown away by the scale of the operation and healthcare services being provided at Kivulini Maternity Centre. It is not only a medical facility for the surgical repair of poor childbirth outcomes but one for rehabilitation, prevention and education. The outreach programs are very well integrated into the Tanzanian healthcare system.
Visiting the hospital and seeing firsthand the great work that is being done there and the amazing facility absolutely strengthened our sense of purpose for the journey we had ahead. It gave us an inner strength that everything we were doing was for a higher purpose”.
EDWARD KERR OAM CHAIR
Appointed February 2024
Experience and expertise
Edward is a former partner of a major law firm. He has extensive experience in the not-forprofit sector including as a non-executive director and CEO of Workplace Giving Australia, as Chair of Opportunity International Australia and as Lead Director on the Global Board of Opportunity International.
Special responsibilities Chair Executive Committee
Appointed December 2015
Experience and expertise
Samantha is an experienced obstetrician and gynaecologist currently in private practice with a specialist appointment at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne in the advanced laparoscopic unit.
Special responsibilities Chair of the Fundraising Committee, Member of the Nominations Committee
Appointed December 2009
Experience and expertise
David is a retired obstetrician and gynaecologist. In recognition of his contributions to medicine, and the Bowral community, David was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2004.
Special responsibilities Founding Director, Member of the Executive Committee
Appointed December 2017
Experience and expertise
Matthew is a Chartered Accountant and Director at PwC, specialising in financial reporting, technical accounting and financial analysis to audit and assurance clients.
Special responsibilities Treasurer
Thanks and farewell
MICHAEL SHARPE AO Chair 2012 - 2024
ROWENA HUBBLE Director 2023 - 2024
April 2018
Experience and expertise
Julie is an executive healthcare leader with both directorship and management experience in strategy, customer experience, communications, fundraising, brand and stakeholder engagement. Past appointments include ADA Dental Health Foundation, LiveBetter, the Asthma Australia ACT and Jannawi Connections.
Other directorships
Non-executive Director
Western NSW Primary Health Network, nonexecutive Director
Combined Dispensaries Friendly Society
Special responsibilities
Chair of the Nominations Committee, Member of the Fundraising Committee
October 2020
Experience and expertise
Richard is an Anglican Priest and currently serves as Chaplain of Emmanuel Anglican College in Ballina. Richard is committed to gospel-centred education that fosters intelligent, compassionate students dedicated to lifelong service for the common good.
Special responsibilities
Member of the Strategy Committee
April 2022
Experience and expertise
Philippa is a journalist, author and advocate with 28 years experience in the not-for-profit sector through board and management positions, including Opportunity International and Library for All. She is focused on improving educational and maternal health outcomes for women and girls, and has spent the past fifteen years involved in governance and fundraising for girls’ schools and maternal health programs in northern Uganda through the Te-Kworo Foundation.
Other directorships
Chair Te-Kworo Foundation Australia
Special responsibilities
Chair of the Strategy Committee, Member of the Fundraising Committee, Member of the Nominations Committee
June 2022
Experience and expertise
Jonathan has over 20 years experience in managing high-risk pregnancies, with expertise in research, clinical practice, and health quality improvement. He has led significant clinical trials that have shaped practices in both Australia and internationally.
Other directorships
Director of Anglicare, Director the North Foundation, Director Stillbirth Foundation Australia
The Barbara May Foundation acknowledges and thanks all our generous partners, donors, ambassadors and supporters. Your compassion, expressed in this way, is making a real difference to the lives of people that need and deserve our love. You have continued to bring hope and restore dignity to the most vulnerable women in East Africa.