Janet Fyle, Honorary Doctor of the University
Janet Fyle is a midwife and health equality advocate renowned for her role as a Policy Advisor for the Royal College of Midwives.
Her journey in healthcare began in hospices caring for orphans, an experience that stirred her passion for nursing and midwifery.
She moved with her husband from Sierra Leone to England and undertook an 18-month conversion course to continue her profession. She worked in labour wards and later as a community midwife in Camden, which exposed her to the harrowing reality of domestic abuse, sparking her mission to aid victims.
Janet's problem-solving skills were tested in a gynaecology clinic griped with service issues. She spearheaded a swift transformation, reducing the GP-to-appointment process from six months to one week. Her commitment to healthcare led her to further her education and contribute to the International Confederation of Midwives before joining the Royal College of Midwives.
Janet's relentless pursuit of justice propelled her to investigate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), contributing to a review approved by the UK Government. This led to the 2015 Serious Crime Act and the UN's adoption of the campaign's recommendation to treat FGM as child abuse. Janet was also instrumental in enforcing policy changes regarding health professionals' obligation to report suspected FGM cases.
Her work with Operation Limelight, an effort to combat human trafficking, and her role in securing funding for non-pregnancy clinics for deinfibulation highlight her commitment to protecting women and girls. Janet is also a founding member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
In 2016, she received an MBE for her work in combatting FGM and has been involved in the recent law changes banning virginity testing and hymenoplasty.