Rukeya Miah BEM
Alumna - BSc Midwifery - 2003 | MSc in Midwifery - 2011 | Outstanding Contribution Award - 2023
Rukeya is the Director of Midwifery and Deputy Chief Nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
I am passionate about improving the experiences of women, families, and birthing people and firmly believe that every leader has a critical responsibility to continually strive for the provision of personalised and equitable care for all communities. Achieving this requires supporting and developing the NHS’s most valuable asset, its staff.
My Journey to Bradford and Beyond: A Career in Midwifery and Leadership
"I first qualified as a registered adult nurse in 1994, beginning my career at Airedale General Hospital, where I gained experience in critical and surgical care. My passion for midwifery led me to pursue an 18-month BSc in Midwifery Studies at the University of Bradford, achieving dual registration as both a nurse and midwife in 2003. My journey in midwifery and nursing leadership continued in Bradford, where I also taught part-time. Driven by a commitment to providing the highest standard of evidence-based care, I undertook various advanced practice studies, including an MSc in Midwifery, an MSc in Higher Professional Education, and an MSc in NHS Senior Leadership. In recognition of my contributions to education and leadership, I was awarded a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).
"With a career spanning over thirty-four years in the NHS as an adult nurse and twenty-four years as a midwife, I have dedicated several decades to working in Bradford. I served as a Matron at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for several years, overseeing a diverse portfolio of acute and non-acute services. My leadership responsibilities included managing the St. Luke's Hospital site, part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
"Previously, I was the Head of Midwifery at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I've had the privilege of working with some truly incredible services and teams."
Rukeya during the early stages of her career.
Thriving in my current role
"My current role is Director of Midwifery and Deputy Chief Nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, I also hold several additional positions. I serve as the Regional Lead for the North East and Yorkshire Chief Nursing Officer’s and Chief Midwifery Officer’s Black and Minority Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group and Co-Chair for the North East, Yorkshire, and Humber Perinatal Equity and Equality Group. This national role supports the agenda of our global majority nurses and midwives, as well as the communities they serve."
Career Highlights: Making an Impact
"As Deputy Associate Director of Nursing, Senior Midwife, and Professional Midwifery Advocate, I took on the role of COVID-19 Vaccination Lead. In this role, I successfully delivered innovative and ground-breaking initiatives to reduce health and vaccine inequalities. Through extensive media campaigning and building local, regional, and national partnerships with communities, I worked tirelessly to address vaccine inequity and health disparities. I am unwavering in my determination to provide personalised healthcare, grounded in humility, partnership, and professionalism. I remain committed to improving health outcomes for individuals, as well as fostering staff development and wellbeing.
"My work has led to numerous accolades for me, my team, and the system. In 2024, I received the CNO Leadership & Service Award for Regional Lead for Northeast & Yorkshire. I was named one of Bradford’s Most Influential Leaders in 2023 and awarded Public Health Nurse of the Year by BJM. In 2022, I was named an APNA ‘COVID Hero’ and recognised in the HSJ100 Patient Safety Awards.
"I have been recognised several times by Asian Standards as one of Bradford’s most influential South Asians for my leadership in healthcare. In addition, I was honoured with a BEM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and awarded BAME Midwife of the Year, as well as being named among the HSJ100 Wildcards of top 20 leaders and Public Health Nurse of the Year in 2023. Locally, I have been recognised as one of Bradford’s most influential South Asians."
Rukeya stood outside Number 10 Downing Street in recognition of her achievements.
At the heart of my authentic leadership is my lived experience as a mother, wife, daughter, and sister, which shapes my leadership values and reflects Nolan’s Seven Principles of Public Life. My personal attributes include self-belief, resilience, and the ability to role model qualities that inspire others. I am a proud mother of four and take great pride in my South-Asian British Muslim heritage. As an inclusive and authentic leader, I am also an academic, researcher, and experienced public health and system worker.