Nicky Leap

Professor Nicky Leap is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and a Visiting Professor at King's College London. Her career spans over 25 years in midwifery research, education, and clinical practice across Australia and the UK. She has been pivotal in developing national standards for midwifery education in Australia and advancing midwifery continuity of care models, including NSW's first publicly funded homebirth program. Key roles include:

• Adjunct Professor at UTS
• Former International Francine Gooris Chair for Midwifery at Arteveldehogeschool, Ghent
• Visiting Researcher at King's College London since 2005

Education and Research Focus:

Dr. Leap holds a Professional Doctorate in Midwifery from UTS, examining midwifery cultural and professional development in Australia. Her research emphasizes:

• Midwifery continuity of care
• Birthing environment design
• Group antenatal care innovations (e.g., Centering Pregnancy)
• Socioeconomic disparities in maternal healthcare access

Grants & Collaborations:

Lead investigator on:

• Australian Research Council-funded birth environment studies
• UK Department of Health projects on normal birth promotion
• Telstra Foundation-funded Centering Pregnancy pilot

Awards:

• Member of the Order of Australia (2023) for services to midwifery

Labs/Teams:

Co-developed the Birth Unit Design Spatial Evaluation Tool (BUDSET) and collaborates internationally on midwifery education reforms.