ABM Annual Conference

This years hybrid conference will be held on 27th June 2026 at 22 Duchess Mews, Cavendish Conference Centre London. The conference is available in person and online, where you will be able to watch us live or watch later at your own convinience. Our virtual conference will be available to watch for aproximately one month after production.

Last Years Conference Photos

Conference Speakers

We are so excited to welcome the following speakers in 2026

SARA ALFARAIDI

Sara is an experienced clinical dietitian specialising in paediatric clinical nutrition. She has clinical experience supporting families with infant and young child feeding. She is a PhD candidate at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, where her research focuses on optimising portion sizes for preschool children to prevent excessive energy intake and reduce obesity risk. She is currently conducting a feasibility randomised controlled trial evaluating a culturally adapted portion size tool intervention in Saudi Arabia. This work aims to support early prevention strategies and inform practical, family-focused interventions. She is also an Early Career Researcher Intern with the Communications Partnerships & Networks Sub-Committee of the Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO). She is currently completing the ABM Breastfeeding Peer Supporter training course. Sara has two boys and is passionate about supporting breastfeeding families and translating research into practical approaches that promote healthy eating behaviours from early life

LAURA ATHERTON

Laura Atherton is a dedicated milk banking leader based at the Milk Bank at Chester. With a background in infant feeding support in the community, she is committed to improving equitable access to donor human milk and advancing family-centred care across the UK.

Laura has played a key role in developing and delivering innovative services that support vulnerable babies and their families, particularly those unable to access maternal breastmilk due to medical or to donate in complex circumstances. She is a passionate advocate for the safe, ethical use of donor milk and works collaboratively across neonatal networks, maternity services, and third-sector organisations to strengthen provision and awareness.

A central focus of Laura’s work is the nationally recognised Memory Milk Gift initiative, supporting Lactation Choices following an Antenatal Diagnosis, or Loss. This work has received national recognition, including awards from the Royal College of Midwives and Nursing Times, reflecting its meaningful impact on families during times of loss.

Laura is also actively involved in service development, education, and research, contributing to national conversations around milk banking standards, donor engagement, and the future sustainability of services. She is committed to sharing learning and best practice to support the wider infant feeding community.

Through her work, Laura brings together innovation and compassion, championing the vital role of human milk in improving outcomes for babies and supporting families at some of their most vulnerable moments

KATHRYN STAGG

Kathryn Stagg is an ABM breastfeeding counsellor and IBCLC. Mum to 4 boys including twins, she has been supporting families to breastfeed their babies for 20 years. She is particularly interested in supporting multiple birth families to meet their breastfeeding goals. Kathryn set up Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets UK Facebook group back in 2015. It now boasts more than 13000 members. They are a UK charity offering 1:1 breastfeeding support to those who cannot access expert help, funding training mother supporters, and education health care professionals and breastfeeding supporters on the unique issues faced by multiple birth families. In 2023 Kathryn released her book ‘Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets – a Guide for Professionals and Parents.

AMBER CLARK

Amber Clark is a Registered Nurse, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and Tongue Tie Practitioner, currently working at Oxford University Hospital as the Infant Feeding Lead. She is the clinical lead and developer of the Early Breastmilk Toolkit, created in collaboration with Health Innovation Wessex during her time as Infant Feeding Specialist at University Hospital Southampton.
Amber is deeply passionate about ensuring that all families are supported in providing breastmilk to their babies, reaching their individual feeding goals, and receiving evidence-based information, care, and support throughout their journey