Professor Mary Steen OBE is Professor of Maternal and Family Health in the Edith Cowan University (ECU) School of Nursing and Midwifery. She leads, collaborates on and conducts research focused on maternal, family health and wellbeing. Professor Steen mentors early and mid-career researchers and supervises higher degree research students, research fellows, research assistants and interns, supporting the delivery of high-quality research and scholarly outcomes.
Background
Professor Mary Steen OBE
RGN, RM, BSc Hons, PGCRM, PGCert MWSDP, PGDip HE, PG Dip Clin Hypn, PGDip MH, MCGI, PhD
Professor Mary Steen is a well-recognised international mixed methods researcher and educator. Her background is in nursing, midwifery and mental health. In July 2026, she was appointed as a Professor of Maternal and Family Health within the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University.
Previously, she has held several Professor of Midwifery and Discipline Lead positions; at Curtin University and Department of Nursing and Midwifery Education and Research (DNAMER), King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia (WA) (joint apt), Professor of Midwifery and Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange at Northumbria University, UK, Professor of Midwifery and Professorial Lead for Maternal and Family Health, Chair of Mothers Babies and Families Research Health, within Clinical Health Sciences (CHS) Academic Unit at University of South Australia (UniSA) and a Professor of Midwifery at University of Chester, UK.
She holds several Visiting Professorial positions in UK, Czech Republic, Nigeria, Brazil and Australia. Mary has successfully obtained national and international grants. Her doctoral thesis investigated and explored the care and consequences of perineal trauma after childbirth. This research involved the designing and development of a patented cooling pain relief treatment known as the ‘femepad’ effectiveness and acceptability shown in three clinical trials and now commercially available.
Mary is interested in a wide remit of maternal and family health topics for example; maternal mental health and wellbeing, disadvantaged groups, healthy diet and nutrition, antenatal and postnatal exercises, active birth and pain management options, holistic approaches to birth, compassionate care, perineal and continence care, parenting, family relationships, involving fathers and families in maternity care, digital health for maternity services.
Her interests has led her to undertake several service development projects, and research studies such as, Meeting the needs of abused women at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK, Low impact exercise and wellbeing, Leeds City Council UK, Infant massage and nurturing skills for midwives and health visitors, Leeds Mental Health and Community Trust, UK, Maternity Assist, digital health implemented at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, UK, Involving and engaging fathers, Chester University, UK, Maternal Mental Health and Wellbeing, National MIND Charity, UK, Bladder scanning for maternal care at Women’s and Children’s, Adelaide, Low intensity exercise activation for stress incontinence, Exercise and Rehabilitation Clinic, Northumbria University, Eatwell Assist in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, Compassionate self-care, Adelaide University, Staff Voices: Co-designing nursing and midwifery services, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth WA, Prepared fathers project, Curtin University, and Prepared Fathers Foundation, Australia.
Since 2009, Mary has supervised midwives, nurses, psychologists, paramedics and dentists to complete Master's and PhD studies. She has also supported post-doctoral students to obtain scholarships to conduct national and international research. In 2018, she supported the development of a Master of Midwifery and Child Health and a PhD midwifery doctorate program at Port Harcourt University, Nigeria, as part of a larger public health program of work to establish an African Centre of Excellence (ACE) with funding from a $6M World Bank grant.
She is a prolific writer, with over 250 peer reviewed paper (145 first author), 26 chapters and 5 books, the latest edited book being the 2nd edition of The Handbook of Midwifery Research, John Wiley and Sons Ltd., (2025). Mary has been commissioned to write policy papers in developed and developing countries, with the overall aim to improve the care and services for women, babies, and their families.
Her contribution to midwifery, maternal and family health research was formally recognised in 2025 when she was awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list.
Professional Associations
- Professional Registration: Registered Midwife NMBA Australia, NMC UK.
- Member of RCM, (1989-2016).
- RCM Council Member (2003-2005).
- RCM Senior Research Fellow (2005-2008).
- NHS Executive Research Fellowship, Northern and Yorkshire Region, UK (1996-1999).
- Research Fellowship, Smith & Nephew Nursing Foundation Trust, UK (2000-2001).
- Member of ACM (2015-2021, 2024-2026).
- Hold several visiting professorships in Australia, UK, Czech Republic, Nigeria, Brazil.
- Ethics committee member, Health Ethics, University of Chester (2010-2014)
- Professorial chair was endowed in her name at the University of Port Harcourt in 2012.
- Member of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Research Advisory Group and served on the ICM Research Standing Committee (2018–2023).
- Member of Plus Paternal Network, Australia (2024-present)
- Member of Executive Board of Nursing and Midwifery, KEMH/WNHS (2024–June 2026).
- Professional Editor for Royal College of Midwives (2009–2021)
- Reviewer for journals including Midwifery, Women and Birth, and BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, Nursing Reports; and examiner for theses and academic promotions.
Community engagement and involvement
Prof Steen has built strong partnerships with community and non-government organisations, previously serving as Vice-Chair, board member and advisor to the STOP (Start Treating Others Positively) charity, Leeds, UK, and working with Leeds City Council, Leeds Mental Health and Community Trust UK, Adelaide Women’s Prison, Grow Wellbeing (Adelaide), Currently, working with WA Breastfeeding Centre, Agnes Walsh, KEMH, NGALA (a Perth NGO supporting disadvantaged families), Intuitive Parenting WA, and the Parent-Infant Research Institute (Melbourne).
Awards and Recognition
- 2026 - Winner Excellence in Research, WA Nursing and Midwifery Awards, Perth, WA
- 2026 - Finalist Excellence in Research, WA Nursing and Midwifery Awards, Perth, WA
- 2025 - OBE King’s Birthday Honours. ‘For services to Midwifery and Maternal and Familial Health Research’.
- 2025 - Highly commended, Senior Researcher Award, GEMS, Women's, Newborn Health Service, Perth. WA
- 2023 - Winner Midwifery Team, Academic Excellence Award, Annual Shine Awards, University of Northumbria UK.
- 2021 - Highly commended Award for Excellence in Research and Knowledge Translation. South Australian Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards.
- 2020 - Finalist for Excellence in Research and Knowledge Translation. South Australian Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards.
- 2020 - Finalist and Winner (team) UniSA Ventures – Award for Digital Innovation, ‘Your Time App’.
- 2017 - Winner of the Building Partnership Service Award at WCHN, SA Health, Adelaide, South Australia.
- 2014 - Leadership in Midwifery Award, British Journal of Midwifery Awards
- 2007 - The Queen Elizabeth & Queen Mother’s Award for outstanding services to community midwifery. Queen’s Nursing Institute Awards (awarded by the Queen)
- 2007 - 2nd place Innovator of the Year. Midwifery Practice Awards. British Journal of Midwifery, UK.
- 2002 - Yorkshire Women of Achievement 2002. Winner of the Community Award, UK.
- 2000 - Finalist in Clinical Innovation Category – NHS Nye Bevan Awards, UK.
- 2000 - Awarded (3) discretionary points in recognition of achievements above clinical grade, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.
- 2000 - Leeds Health Action Zone (HAZ) – individual grant to train as baby massage instructor.
- 2000 - Nursing Standard 2000 Awards, Commendation for Services to Midwifery for Domestic Violence.
- 1999 - Runner up - Wound Care Nurse of the Year. Professional Nurse Awards
- 1998 - 3rd Prize - Clinical Innovation Category. Journal of Wound Care Awards.
- 1997 - Highly Commended Award for Original Research, in the 1997 Journal of Wound Care Awards.
- 1984 - G.I.B. Da Costa Rose Bowl for outstanding work in Orthopaedics and Trauma, Nursing Student Award, Shotley Bridge General Hospital, NW Durham HA.
- 1984 - The Alex Lowther Memorial Cup for outstanding Practical Nursing Ability during RGN Training, Shotley Bridge General Hospital, NW Durham HA.
Granted Patents
Research Areas and Interests
Methodologies
Mixed methods researcher - Expertise in both quantitative and qualitative study designs and methodologies.
Topics
- Perineal trauma: The 4Rs (Risk, Recognition, Repair, Relief) +FGM/C
- Wound care (perineal and LSCS)
- Alleviating Pain (labour and birth, postnatal)
- Partner and family relationships, conflict and abuse
- Parent education
- Incarcerated Women
- Disadvantaged groups
- Alcohol and pregnancy
- Language used in Antenatal Education for Labour and Birth.
- Antenatal and postnatal exercises in a community setting
- Active birth and non-pharmaceutical methods
- Hypnobirthing
- Involving fathers and families in maternity care
- Fathers-infant kangaroo care
- Preparing first-time fathers
- Mother intra-operative skin-to-skin care
- Nurturing skills and Baby Massage
- Digital Health technologies
- Maternal Mental Health and wellbeing
- Bladder and continence care
- Midwives’ experiences from CALD backgrounds
- Healthy eating in pregnancy, when parenting
- Breast and infant feeding
- International Midwives Experiences
- Selfcare and compassion for veterans, perinatal loss, infertility, older people, parents, health professionals, student midwives
