Full Profile

Fiona has worked on WHO, UNICEF, European Commission, Government (DH), NHS, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), TrusTECH® Service Innovation (UK), Wellcome Trust, Best Beginnings, British Council and Australian Research Council (ARC) funded projects. She is currently involved in projects in the USA (Yale University) and Scandinavia to include being a member of the advisory board on the Separation and Closeness Experiences in the Neonatal Environment Project (SCENE).

Fiona is a member of the editorial board for Maternal and Child Nutrition, the Wiley-Blackwell published international journal (editorial office in MAINN) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Fiona is author of over eighty peer reviewed publications and several books to include her monograph, Breastfeeding in Hospital: Mothers, Midwives and the Production Line (Routledge) and co-edited books Infant and Young Child Feeding: Challenges to Implementing a Global Strategy (Wiley-Blackwell) and Ethnographic Research in Maternal and Child Health (Routledge).

Qualifications

PhD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sheffield, 2004
MA Health Research, Lancaster University, [Distinction], 1998
Cert Ed, University of Manchester, [Distinction], 1989
Registered Midwife, Medway, Kent, 1984

Conferences

Conference papers via peer review (incl. published abstract details)

• Crossland N, Thomson G, Wood E, Niccolls C, Dykes F. (2015) Evaluation of the Small Wonders Change Programme: Insights and Findings. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 10th-12th June 2015. Maternal and Child Nutrition in press
• Crossland N, Thomson G, Morgan H, Dykes F, Hoddinott P (2015) Breast pumps as an incentive for breastfeeding: a mixed methods investigation. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 10th-12th June 2015. Maternal and Child Nutrition in press
• Hoddinott P, Thomson G, Morgan H, Crossland N, MacLennan G, Dykes F, Bauld L, Stewart F & Campbell M. Perspectives on financial incentives to health service providers for increasing breastfeeding and smoking quit rates during pregnancy: a mixed methods study. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 10th-12th June 2015. Maternal and Child Nutrition in press
• Smith C, Dykes F, Lowe N, Hall Moran V (UK) Investigating fruit and vegetable consumption in pre-school children between the ages of 12 months and 5 years within Lancashire. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 10th-12th June 2015. Maternal and Child Nutrition in press. 
• Hoddinott P, Morgan H, Thomson G, Crossland N, Farrar S, Deokhee Y, Hislop J, Hall Moran V, MacLennan G, Dombrowski SU, Rothnie K, Stewart F, Bauld L, Ludbrook A, Dykes F, Sniehotta FF, Tappin D & Campbell MK. (2014) The push me-pull you of financial incentives and health inequalities: a mixed methods study investigating smoking cessation in pregnancy and breastfeeding. 7th European Public Health Conference, Mind the gap: Reducing inequalities in health and health care, Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow, Scotland, 19th -22nd Nov 2014. Published in The Lancet. 384, S37.
• Byrom A, Thomson G, Dooris M, Dykes F (2014) Beyond a BFI Franchise: Leading, performing and receiving infant feeding care in a 'fast-food' maternity service at 5th International Conference on Maternal and Infant Nutrition and Nurture (MAINN): Relational, Bio-Cultural and Spatial Perspectives, University of Western Sydney (UWS), Sydney 5th-7th Nov 2014. 
• Lowe NM, Westaway E, Munir A, Tahir S, Dykes F, Lhussier M, McKeown M, Mukhtiar Z (2014) Engaging the community in the design and implementation of an intervention to increase household consumption of iodised salt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Micronutrient Forum Global Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June 2nd-6th 2014. 
• Byrom A, Thomson G, Dooris M, Dykes F (2014) Macro-interventions into micro-cultures: An ethnography of the UNICEF/WHO Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in the UK. International Confederation of Midwives Conference (ICM), Prague, July 15th-18th 2014. Abstract published in ICM proceedings.
• O’Connell R, Downe S, Dykes F (2014) The size paradox: the mega-maternity unit as a vector for authentic midwifery. International Confederation of Midwives Conference (ICM), Prague, July 15th-18th 2014.
• Morgan H, Hoddinott P, Thomson G, Crossland N, Dykes F, McCann S, Campbell MK. (2013) Service user groups as co-applicants on a platform study for a trial. At MRC Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research, Second Clinical Trials Methodology Conference, Edinburgh, UK Nov 18th-19th 2013. Published in Trials: 14 (Suppl 1):O35. http://www.trialsjournal.com/content/pdf/1745-6215-14-S1-O35.pdf
• Flacking R, Dykes F (2013) Staff’s sensitivity and focus of care – influence on feeding in NICUs in Sweden and England. COINN 8th International Neonatal Nursing Conference, Belfast, Sept 5th-8th 2013.
• Westaway E, Lowe N, Dykes F, Lhussier M, McKeown M, Zaman M, Safdar S, Tahir S, Munir A (2013), Community engagement in ethnographic public health research: empowerment of rural villages in North West Pakistan to claim their Right to Food and nutrition security at ‘Evolving humanity, Emerging worlds’: 17th World Congress of International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Science (IUAES) University of Manchester. Aug 5th-10th 2013 
• http://www.nomadit.co.uk/iuaes/iuaes2013/panels.php5?PanelID=1636
• Westaway E, Tahir S, Munir A, Zaman M, Dykes F, McKeown M, Lhussier M, Lowe (2013), Increasing Household Consumption of Iodised Salt: a Community Engagement Project in a Rural Community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, North West Pakistan. Nutrition Society Annual Conference July 15th -18th. 01/2013; 72 (OCE4). doi:10.1017/S0029665113003169.
• Crossland N, Thomson G, Morgan H, Hoddinott P, Dykes F (2013) Incentives to stop smoking and start and continue breastfeeding: Service-user insights into barriers and facilitators. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 10th - 12th June 2013. Abstract published in Maternal and Child Nutrition (2013) S3, 10. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mcn.12093/pdf
• Hoddinott P, G Thomson, N Crossland, H Morgan, F Dykes (2013) Should health organisations be incentivised to support breastfeeding? An interactive discussion. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 10th - 12th June 2013. 
• Morgan H, Thomson G, Crossland N, Dykes F, Hoddinott P, (2013) Mother and baby groups as research grant co-applicants for a study on incentives for breastfeeding: opportunities and challenges. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 10th - 12th June 2013. Abstract published in Maternal and Child Nutrition (2013) S3, 26. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mcn.12093/pdf
• Schmied V, Sheehan A, Fenwick J, Dykes F (2013) Embodied knowledge and the emotional risk of breastfeeding: an analysis of family conversations. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 10th - 12th June 2013. Abstract published in Maternal and Child Nutrition (2013) S3, 34. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mcn.12093/pdf
• Smith C, Dykes F, Lowe N, Hall Moran V(2013) Examining the influences, behaviours and feeding practices of parents with pre-school children on fruit and vegetable consumption – a systematic review. (Poster) At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 10th - 12th June 2013. Abstract published in Maternal and Child Nutrition (2013) S3, 52-53. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mcn.12094/pdf
• Thomson G, Hall Moran V, Axelin A, Dykes F, Flacking R (2013) Integrating a sense of coherence into the neonatal unit. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 10th - 12th June 2013. Abstract published in Maternal and Child Nutrition (2013) S3, 38. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mcn.12093/pdf
• Healy M, Downe S, Thomson G, Dykes F (2013) Caring and compassion in childbirth: lessons to be learnt from postnatal care data; the authentic nature of caring. At Normal Labour and Birth Conference. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 5th-7th June 2013.
• O’Connell R, Downe S, Dykes F (2011) The size paradox enabling authentic midwifery to emerge. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin 12th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference 9th-10th Nov 2011
• Lowe N, Warthon-Medina M, Skinner A-L, Hall Moran V, Dykes F (2011) Zinc requirements, status and health outcomes in humans. IX. ISTERH Conference. Trace Elements in Health and Disease: Essentiality, Toxicity. Belex, Turkey 16-21 October. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. Abstract: J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol, Supplement 26S1 (2011). pp. 1-38. Page 23. 
• Warthon-Medina M, Dullemeijer C, Skinner A-L, Hall Moran V, Dykes F, Collings R, Perez-Rodrigo C, Cavelaars A , Lowe N (2011) Zinc intake and plasma/serum zinc concentrations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. IX. ISTERH Conference. Trace Elements in Health and Disease: Essentiality, Toxicity. Belex, Turkey 16-21 October. Abstract; Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 26S1 (2011). pp. 1-38. p36. 
• Cooper T, Lavender T, Kingdon C, Dykes F (2011) Perceptions of the midwife’s role: A techno-science perspective. At Normal Labour and Birth Conference. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 13th-15th June 2011.
• Byrom A, Thomson G, Bilson A, Dykes F (2011) Macro-interventions into micro-cultures: The UNICEF/WHO Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th-10th June 2011.
• Finlayson K, Dixon A, Flacking R, Smith C, Dykes F (2011) Finding your Place’: Mothers experiences of family centred care in neonatal units across the North West of England. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th-10th June 2011.
• Hoddinott P, Thomson G, Dykes F (2011) Introducing the incentives debate to promote public health – an interactive discussion. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th-10th June 2011.
• Reid J, Schmied V, Fenwick J, Sheehan A, Dykes F (2011) What do first time mothers want and need from their immediate social network and wider community to support continued breastfeeding? At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th-10th June 2011.
• Thomson G, Dykes F (2011) Giving me Hope: Women's Reflections on a Breastfeeding Peer Support Service. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th-10th June 2011.
• Thomson G, Whitmore M, Putsey J, Dykes F (2011) Insights into the Development and Introduction of an Infant Feeding Information Team (IFIT). At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th-10th June 2011.
• Warthon-Medina M, Skinner A, Moran V, Dykes F, Lowe N (2011) Zinc requirements during pregnancy: health outcomes and dietary recommendations. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th-10th June 2011.
• Skinner A, Raynor P, Small NA, Smailes S, Dykes F, Lowe NM (2011) Dietary supplement use during late pregnancy in South Asian women living in Britain. Nutrition Society Summer Meeting, University of Reading, 4th-6th July 2011. Abstract published in Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 70 (OCE4), 2011
• O’Connell R, Downe S, Dykes F (2010) Street level bureaucracy and labour ward midwives’ construction of childbirth in a technocratic environment. At Transforming Healthcare through Research & Education. Trinity College, Dublin, 4th -5th Nov 2010.
• Wallace CA, Holyoak L, Powell S C, Dykes F (2010) Re-thinking the HACCP Team: an investigation into HACCP team knowledge and decision-making for successful HACCP development, 15th World Congress of Food Science and Technology, International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFOST), Cape Town, South Africa, 22nd-26th August 2010. http://www.iufost.org/iufost-15th-world-congress
• Lowe N, Warthon-Medina M, Skinner A, Hall Moran V, Dykes F (2010) Zinc requirements during pregnancy: health outcomes and dietary recommendations. Evento Nutricao, San Paolo, Brazil 1st-2nd Oct 2010 
• Taylor C, Schmied V, Sheehan, A, Gribble, K, Dykes F (2009) Baby Friendly Health Initiative: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Experiences. At Australian Lactation Consultants Association Conference, National Convention Centre, Canberra, Australia, 4th -6th Sept 2009. 
• Thomson G, Dykes F, Bilson A (2009) Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing the Community Version of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th- 10th Sept 2009.
• Hammond A, Chinery A, Dykes F, Byrom S, Melvin C (2009) ‘Someone to Care’: Phenomenological Exploration of Women’s Experiences of the Breastfeeding Peer Support Offered by Community Business Enterprise, Little Angels. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th-10th Sept 2009.
• Schmied V, Gribble K, Sheehan A, Dykes F, Cioffi J, Taylor C (2009) The Problem of Breastfeeding in Implementation of WHO/UNICEEF BFHI. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th,-10th Sept 2009.
• Beake S, Dykes F, McCourt C, Schmied V, Sheehan A (2009) Women’s Perceptions and Experiences of Breastfeeding: A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Research. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th-10th Sept 2009.
• Cantrill R, Creedy D, Cooke M, Dykes F (2008). Association between duration of skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn at birth and nipple trauma at hospital discharge. At VELB/International Lactation Consultant Association Conference. A World Wide View on Breastfeeding, Vienna, Austria. October 1st -3rd 2008.
• Skinner A, Dykes F, Smailes S, Small NA, Raynor P,Lowe N (2008) Cultural aspects of weaning practice in South Asian women in the UK. At ‘Changing nutrition behaviour to improve maternal and fetal health’. International Society for the developmental origins of Adult health and Disease (In association with Nutrition Society, Physiological Society and early Nutrition Academy). Nottingham University. July 4th 2008. Abstract published on Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 67, E434. 
• Cantrill R, Creedy D, Cooke M, Dykes F (2008) Influence of maternal action and midwifery support on maternal breastfeeding confidence. At International Lactation Consultant Association Conference One Voice, Uniting the Profession - Practice, Professionalism, Policy. Las Vegas, Nevada, USA July 23rd -27th, 2008.
• Cantrill R, Creedy D, Cooke M, Dykes F (2008) Birthing room practices associated with effective breastfeeding. International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), Triennial Conference, Glasgow, UK. June 1st – 5th 2008.
• Bilson A and Dykes F (2007) The challenges of governance: cultural change, targets and infant feeding. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. UCLAN, Grange Over Sands, Cumbria, UK 25th-27th June 2007. 
• Sachs M and Dykes F (2007) Weight monitoring of infants and young children in the UK. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. UCLAN, Grange Over Sands, Cumbria, UK June 2007. 
• Melvin C, Dykes F and Ramamurthy (2007) Pictorial representations of infant feeding. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. UCLAN, Grange Over Sands, Cumbria, UK 25th-27th June 2007. 
• Dykes, F (2006) ‘Under the microscope’: transgressing the boundaries of ‘correct’ infant feeding. At Making Sense of Health, Illness and Disease, Inter-Disciplinary Net, 5th Global Conference, Mansfield College, Oxford University, 12th -15th July 2006.
• Melvin C, Dunn L, Abdullah S, Dykes F (2006) Women’s views of pictorial representations of infant feeding, (poster). INVOLVE: Promoting Public Involvement in NHS, Public Health and Social Care Research, 5th National Conference. University of Hertfordshire, (poster presentation), 6th -7th Sept 06. 
• McFadden A, Renfrew M, Dykes F, Wallace L, Abbott S, Kosmala-Anderson J (2006) Assessing learning Needs for Breastfeeding. At Royal College of Midwives Annual Conference, Torquay, 9th-12th May 06.
• Melvin C, Dunn L, Abdullah S, Dykes F (2006) ‘Women’s views of pictorial representations of infant feeding’. Royal College of Midwives Annual Conference, (poster),Torquay, 9th-12th May 06 
• Cantrill R, Creedy D, Cooke M, Dykes F (2006). ‘Barely Attached’ Australian Breastfeeding Association Queensland Branch Conference: Breastfeeding - Mind, Body and Soul, Watson Park, Brisbane, Australia. 21st-22nd May 06
• Dykes F (2006) ‘Feeding all the time’: Temporal tensions around infant feeding in English hospitals. At Food and History: Health, Culture, Tourism and Identity UCLAN, 29th June – 1st July 06.
• Cantrill R, Creedy D, Cooke F, Dykes F, Chaseling J (2005) A tool to help midwives start families on healthy pathways. At Midwifery: Pathways to Health Nations. International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) 27th Triennial Congress, Brisbane, Australia, 24th -28th -July-05. Proceedings Published by ICM. 
• Cantrill R, Creedy D, Cooke F Dykes F Chaseling J. (2005) The Postnatal Breastfeeding Observation Tool. At Breaking the Barriers to Breastfeeding: Research, Policy, Practice. International Lactation Consultant’s (ILCA) Conference, Hilton Chicago Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 8th -12th July 05.
• Cantrill R, Creedy D, Cooke M, Dykes F, Chaseling J (2005) ‘Barely attached’ At Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) The Natural State Conference, Tasmania (presented by Cantrill) 28th -30th Sept 05. 
• Cantrill R, Creedy D, Cooke F, Dykes F, Chaseling J (2005) Breastfeeding Initiation Practices in the Birthing Room. At 5th Annual Health and Medical Research Conference of Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 3rd-4th Nov 06.
• Hall Moran V, Dykes F, Burt S, Edwards J (2005). Breastfeeding support skills of midwives and voluntary breastfeeding supporters. International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) 27th Triennial Congress, Brisbane, Australia, 24th -25th July 05.
• Sachs M, Carter B, Dykes F (2004) ‘Looking at the chart’: ethnographic study of the understanding of charted infant weight gain by breastfeeding women and health visitors. At Building Health in the Community: Women, Children and Public Health. 2nd National Conference, Blackburn. 18th-19th Nov 04.
• Dykes F (2003) Dilemmas around dualisms Women’s experiences of breastfeeding on UK postnatal wards, Australian Childbirth Educators Conference, Sydney Australia, 21st Feb 03 
• Hall Moran V and Dykes F (2003) Disadvantaged at birth or by life? An analysis of the relationship between socio-economic factors, in-utero environment and later health. At Second World Congress on Fetal Origins of Adult Disease, Brighton, 7-10 June 03. Published Abstract: Pediatric Research (2003) vol 53, no.6.
• Edwards J, Dykes F, Hall Moran V, Downe S (2003) A systematic review of the support for adolescent mothers who breastfeed their babies. Research in Midwifery & Perinatal Health Conference, International conference, Aston University, 11th June 03
• Sachs M, Dykes F, Carter B (2002) ‘Going by the Red Book’: Qualitative study of routine weighing of babies, 22nd Annual Conference - Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology, Sheffield, 13th Sept 02.
• Dykes F, Hall Moran V, Burt S, Edwards J (2002) The support needs of teenage mothers who breastfeed their babies. At 4th International Conference on Adolescent Health and Welfare and The World Youth Forum, London, 23rd – 25th Oct 02.
• Dykes F (2000) Going by the wayside: women’s perceptions of their breast milk and breastfeeding journey At International Conference: Midwives marking the Milennium -The Diversity of Practice. Bournemouth University, 9th June 00.
• Woods A, Bramwell R, Dykes F (2000) Positioning and Attachment Support Study (PASS): What Works: Research and Practice in Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Leeds, 22nd June 00. 
• Hall Moran V, Dykes F, Dinwoodie K, Bramwell R (2000) Evaluation of Midwifery Skills Acquisition following the WHO/UNICEF Breastfeeding Management course. At 8th International Conference of Maternity Care Researchers, Glasgow, 6th -8th Sept 00. 
• Hall V, Foley P, Dinwoodie K, Bramwell R, Dykes F (1999) The development of a tool to assess breastfeeding skills within midwifery education: what works?: Research and Practice in Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Leeds, 24th June99.

Invited conference presentations/keynote addresses (selected)

• Facilitators and barriers to achieving and maintaining physical closeness between parents and infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units – A Pan-European Study - SCENE Symposium - Uppsala, Sweden 18th-19th March 2015.
• Reconfiguration of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative reflecting the importance of relationships at 5th International Conference on Maternal and Infant Nutrition and Nurture (MAINN): Relational, Bio-Cultural and Spatial Perspectives (Keynote) At University of Western Sydney (UWS) Sydney 5th-7th Nov 2014.
• Rapid ethnography to assess neonatal care at Separation and Closeness Experiences in the Neonatal Environment (SCENE) International Symposium, University of Turku, Finland. 4th -6th June 2014.
• Implementing the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative in the community: a ‘hearts and minds’ approach. At Baby Friendly and Beyond Conference, NHS North Lancashire, Barton Grange, Preston, 12th Nov 2012. 
• WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative: Beyond information towards relational approaches with women At Fourth Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine European Regional Meeting for Physicians. University of Trieste, Italy. 19th-20th May 2012.
• Trafficking of women and children: the ‘Hope for Justice’ response. At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th-10th June 2011.
• Women’s experiences of breastfeeding at the end of the medical production line (based on monograph published with Routledge). At International Lactation Consultant’s Conference USA. Orlando, Florida. 11th-14th Jan 2011. (Keynote) http://www.healthychildren.cc/Int11.pdf
• WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding: Challenges to implementation. At International Lactation Consultant’s Conference USA. Orlando, Florida. 11th-14th Jan 2011. 
• Encouraging breastfeeding: what really works? At The Science of Newborn Care: Imperial College London. 15th-19th Nov 2010. Presentation: http://www.minutestar.com/neonatal2010/Dykes/player.html
• Women’s experiences of breastfeeding on postnatal wards in England (Based on monograph with Routledge) At NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Breastfeeding Conference. Scotland. 7th May 2010.
• Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding: A cultural perspective. At Annual NW Regional Breastfeeding Liaison Group Conference. Lancaster University, 23rd March 2010.
• Effective and sustainable peer support. At Commissioning and delivering effective breastfeeding support. National Childbirth Trust (NCT) Conference. Aston University, 9th Nov 2009.
• Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding: The rhetoric-reality gap. (Keynote) At Association of Lactation Consultants (Ireland) Annual Conference. Maynooth, Ireland, 2nd, 3rd Oct 2009.
• Overcoming cultural challenges to best practice in infant and young child feeding.’ (Keynote) At Association of Lactation Consultants (Ireland) Annual Conference. Maynooth, Ireland, 2nd- 3rd Oct 2009.
• Tackling the cycle of Nutritional At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. (Keynote) MAINN, UCLAN, Grange-Over-Sands, 8th, 9th, 10th Sept 2009.
• Applying critical medical anthropology to midwifery research. (Keynote) Doctoral Midwifery Research Society Meeting, Cardiff University, 4th June 09. 
• Implementing the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding – Cultural Challenges. At Peer Supporters (Lancashire): Second National Conference, Bolton. 31st Oct 08.
• The Breastfeeding Challenge. At Primary Care Live Conference. ExCel, London. 30th Sept 08.
• ‘Breastfeeding in Hospital: Mothers, midwives and the production line.’ (Keynote) Transforming Times - Annual National Childbirth Trust (NCT) Conference, Stoneleigh Park Exhibition and Conference Centre, Coventry, 21st June 08.
• ‘Targeting low income and younger women: Social marketing and support.’ Making Breastfeeding a normal part of everyday life. Royal College of Midwives and DH Conference. Church House Conference Centre, Westminster, London. 12th May 08. 
• ‘It’s about time’: Supporting mothers with infant feeding in hospital. (Keynote) At New Perspectives on Parenting and Infant Feeding, University of Western Sydney, Australia (UWS) 26th Oct 07.
• Women’s experiences of breastfeeding at the end of the medical production line. (Keynote) At Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-cultural Perspectives. UCLAN, Grange Over Sands, Cumbria, UK 25th-27th June 07. 
• Midwives: Standalone profession or part of a team? At Midwives: Saving Lives Together. National fundraising conference for White Ribbon Alliance. Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool. 4th May 07.
• Peer support: A key to implementing the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding in local communities. Breastfeeding Peer Supporters Conference, Blackburn. 1st Aug 06.
• ‘Where has the clock gone?’: Women’s narratives around infant feeding in North West England. At North West Breastfeeding Liaison Group Annual Conference. Bolton. 19th Sept 06.
• Training needs of practitioners: review of current knowledge At Inaugural conference/Launch of the Public Health Collaborating Centres for Maternal & Child Nutrition. University of York, 28th April 05. 
• ‘Somebody who cares’: Support needs of adolescent mothers At National Teenage Pregnancy Midwifery Network: National Event, Supporting Young Parents. London. 18th May 05.
• ‘Time to Care’: Midwifery work at the end of the medical production line. At A Labour of Love? (Keynote) Emotion Work and Reproduction. International conference: Universities of Sheffield, Huddersfield and Wales held at Huddersfield; 15th-16th Sept 2005. 
• Assessing Practitioners Learning needs in Breastfeeding. At Partners in Health, Community Practitioners’ & Health Visitors’ Association (CPHVA) Conference, Bournemouth, 10th – 11th Nov 05.
• Overview of learning from the DH Infant Feeding initiative with examples of good practice. At Making Breastfeeding a Reality, National Childbirth Trust and Sure Start Joint conference, Royal College of Physicians, London 30th March 04. 
• ‘Resisting the Gaze’: the subversive nature of breastfeeding. Pollution and Safety: Exploring the ‘dirty’ side of women’s health. University of Sheffield, UK. 14th – 15th 04. 
• What are the Foundations of Qualitative Research? Demystifying Qualitative Research in Pregnancy and Childbirth. Liverpool Maritime Museum 17th Sept 04. 
• ‘Reaching Out’: The DH Infant feeding Initiative – Breastfeeding Peer Support Projects. At ‘Building Health in the Community: Women, Children and Public Health.’ 2nd Annual National Conference, Blackburn. 18th – 19th Nov 04.
• ‘Taking Time – Touching Base’. Caring and uncaring interactions on UK postnatal wards. At Australian Childbirth Educators Conference, Sydney. 23rd Feb 03.
• ‘Feeling the pressure – coping with chaos’: Women’s experiences of breastfeeding on UK postnatal wards. (Keynote) At Breastfeeding: Birth and Beyond, Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) Conference, Melbourne 27th Feb 03.
• Support for adolescent mothers: a comparison between Breastfeeding Network (BfN) and Midwifery approaches. At Woman Centred Research: The Human Approach. Liverpool, 10th Oct 03. 
• ‘On my wavelength’:. Evaluation of the support needs of adolescent mothers who commence breastfeeding. National BfN Conference & AGM - Glasgow. 30th Nov 02.
• ‘Integration of breastfeeding education and BFHI into pre-service and in-service education: Experiences from the UK.’ WHO/UNICEF Consultation (European Region) for the Development of a Global Strategy on infant and Young Child Feeding, Budapest, Hungary. Paper included in WHO (2001) Development of a Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding, European Region, WHO/UNICEF http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/120318/E74173.pdf 28-05 to 01-06-01
• ‘Women’s voices about breastfeeding - personal experiences illuminating the political issues’. At Encouraging women to Breastfeed: from Policy to Practice. Aberdeen, 11th Sept 00. 
• ‘Standards for pre-registration training – the missing link?’ At UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Conference. Derby, 9th Nov 00. 
• ‘Insufficient milk: the mother’s perspective’ at Breastfeeding into the Millennium –North West Breastfeeding Liaison Group Annual Conference. Bolton, 18thMay 99.
• ‘Phenomenological exploration of perceived breast milk inadequacy in lactating women, At The Social Context of Infant Feeding, UCLAN, 28th June 99. 
• ‘Women’s experiences of insufficient breast milk’. At National Childbirth Trust Breastfeeding Counsellors forum, Manchester Metropolitan University, 09-10-99.
• ‘The Baby Friendly Initiative-Implementation in Europe and Developing Countries’. At Second European Congress on Tropical Medicine. University of Liverpool, 16th Sept 98. 
• ‘WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative’ - Step 3-Informed choice & WHO Code of Marketing of Breast milk Substitutes”. At Breastfeeding into the Milennium, Liverpool, 20th May 97. 
• ‘Politics of Breastfeeding’ At ‘Breastfeeding - Investing in the future’. Plymouth, 23-09-97
• ‘Return to breastfeeding - A global priority? at National Childbirth Trust Conference - Breastfeeding Cultures, Birmingham, 16th Nov 96.
• ‘Commercial Promotion of Breast Milk Substitutes: Turning the Tide.’ at Why do we need the Baby Friendly Initiative in Scotland? Glasgow, 21st Nov 96.

Invited lectures/presentations/workshops (selected)

• ‘Institutionalisation of Breastfeeding’, Public Lecture and seminar at series funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation on ‘Lactation in History: Cross-cultural Research on Practices, Representations of Breastfeeding and Politics of Maternity in a European Context’ at Department of Cultural and Social Anthropology, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland https://unige.ch/lactationinhistory/ 16th April 2015 
• Appraising the Quality of Qualitative Research. Dalarna University, Sweden. http://ikt.du.se/fdy_presenter/index.htm 9th Dec 2014. 
• Institutionalisation of infant feeding and the paradigm shift in UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. 13th Nov 2014. 
• Reconfiguration of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative, Warkworth Birthing Centre, Auckland, New Zealand. 12th Nov 2014. 
• Ethnography – Research and Practice workshop, University of Western Sydney, 4th Nov 2014
• MSc Science in Obstetric Care, Module OBSC5001 Maternal and Child Nutrition (Teaching 15 hours) at Chinese University of Hong Kong. Oct 13th -19th 2014. 
• Conducting Ethnography: theory and practice one day workshop (jointly with Renee Flacking), Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland. 4th June 2014.
• Breastfeeding in hospital: an ethnographic study, School of Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden. 9th April 2014.
• Introduction to Qualitative Research. Lecture by skype on Masters in Health Research (MHR) programme at Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan. 20th Dec 2013. 
• Ethnographic research: Theory and practice seminar (jointly with Renee Flacking), School of Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden. 2nd Oct 2013.
• Qualitative Research Methods, Seminar series (three) funded by Translational Research in Biomedicine doctoral program (TRIBE), School of Medicine, University of Split, Croatia. 17th - 21st June 2013.
• Implementing the WHO Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding. Maternal and Child Health care professionals. Guest lecture at Split Hospital - Maternity unit, Croatia 21st June 2013.
• WHO Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding; challenges to implementation. Public health Seminar programme, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield. 21st May 2013. 
• MAINN research influencing the paradigm shift in the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative. National Childbirth Trust (NCT) Research Advisory Group Forum. NCT Head Office, London. 23rd April 2013. 
• Qualitative Research Methods – Seminar series to Wellcome Trust funded research staff in Pakistan by skype Project: The Jirga and its potential for community engagement in research in North West Pakistan – an ethnographic exploration. March and April 2013.
• Delivering best practice in breastfeeding peer support. National Childbirth Trust (NCT) Research Advisory Group Forum (Trickey H and Dykes F), NCT Head Office, London. 18th April 2012. 
• Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding: Global challenges. Adobe lecture for Uppsala University, Sweden as part of a SCENE project visit. 14th Feb 2011. http://users.du.se/~rfl/fiona/index.htm
• Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding: Global challenges. Lecture at Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden. 9th Feb 2011. http://users.du.se/~rfl/fiona/index.htm 
• Creating space to support mother-infant attachment and breastfeeding in neonatal units. At Regional workshop – Infant feeding and attachment in neonatal units. Health Innovation & Education Cluster for Yorkshire and Humberside. University of York 13th Oct 2010.
• Cross-cultural ethnography: co-ordination and challenges. At At SCENE Pan-European meeting Uppsala University. 14th-17th May 2010.
• Assessing relationships: inter-professional and staff-family. At SCENE Pan-European meeting, Uppsala University. 14th-17th May 2010.
• Ethnographic methods in health care research. At SCENE Pan-European meeting, Turku University, Finland 27th-28th February 2010.
• WHO Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding: A Cultural Perspective. At The Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre – Grand Round. Manchester University/St Mary’s Hospital. 24th Feb 2010.
• MAINN Programme of Research. MAINN/MIRU Collaboration Day. Hosted by Professor Mary Renfrew (MIRU), University of York. 2nd Nov 2009.
• Developing a local strategy for the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding (workshop) At Association of Lactation Consultants (Ireland) Annual Conference. Maynooth, Ireland 2nd, 3rd Oct 2009.
• Breastfeeding in Hospital: Mothers, Midwives and the Production Line. Invited seminar based on monograph published by Routledge. Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Sweden. 08th Oct 08.
• Conducting Ethnography in Health and Social Care Settings. At Centre for Clinical Research at Dalarna Hospital, Falun, Sweden 09th Oct 08.
• Culture and Politics of Maternal and Infant Health module as exemplar of course development for MSc in Midwifery & Women’s Health within the East, Central and Southern Africa Region (ECSA) at Education Partnerships in Africa Feedback and Dissemination event, (British Council) Imperial College, London, 9th-10th Sept 2008. 
• Ten steps or climbing a mountain: Implementing the WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative in the hospital and community – Hospital based workshops - Sydney West Health District in collaboration with University of Western Sydney (UWS). Oct 25th - Oct 30th 07. 
• Conducting ethnographic research in the NHS: The challenges of gaining entry, observing the familiar and reporting the strange. At Research Seminar Series, University of Western Sydney (UWS) 30th Oct 07. 
• ‘Touching base - Taking time’ in hospital postnatal care at Do we need postnatal care in the 21st century?” Expert consortium workshop, University of Western Sydney (UWS) 29th Oct 07. 
• Building community based peer support. At Workshop at Conference: New Perspectives on Parenting and Infant Feeding, University of Western Sydney (UWS) 26th Oct 07. 
• Current status and evidence-base for breastfeeding support strategies. At British Commonwealth Secretariat, Social Transformations Division meeting on Strategies for addressing under-5 nutrition in children, Marlborough House, London. 26th March 07. 
• Expert witness – ‘The Resurgence of Breastfeeding 1975-2000’, The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of medicine at University College London. 24th April 07. Publication -Volume 35 in the Wellcome Witnesses to Twentieth Century Medicine: Crowther SM, Reynolds LA, Tansey EM (2009) ‘The Resurgence of Breastfeeding 1975-2000’, London, Wellcome Trust. www.ucl.ac.uk/histmed
• Social aspects of breastfeeding. At Breastfeeding in East Lancashire, - a celebration. Breastfeeding peer supporter conference. Royal Blackburn Hospital, 14th May 07.
• Cultural, Legal and Political aspects of Maternal and Infant Health. At ECSACON meeting to develop curriculum for the MSc in Midwifery and Women’s Health, Kampala, Uganda. 12th -15th July 2007. 
• Training needs analysis: what do people want? At UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Training and Development shared learning event, Cumbria and Lancashire Public Health Network, Gujarati Centre, Preston. 6th Feb 06. 
• Formulating Infant Feeding. At Professorial/Reader lecture series, UCLAN, 17-10-06.
• Infant feeding in a digital world: Science and Technology in Maternity Care. International seminar programme, UCLAN, 11th Dec 06. 
• Incorporating community perspectives to generate a national strategy for infant and young child feeding. At: Inaugural conference and Launch of the Public Health Collaborating Centres for Maternal & Child Nutrition (NICE funded) University of York. (Work shop) 28th April 05. 
• ‘Somebody who cares’: Support needs of adolescent mothers At National Teenage Pregnancy Midwifery Network: National Event, Supporting Young Parents. London. 18th May 05. 
• Evidence into Guidance: Summary of national electronic consultation exercise conducted by the Public Health Collaborating Centres for Maternal & Child Nutrition (NICE funded). Consultation workshop on initiation and duration of breastfeeding evidence into guidance. Invited presentation, Telford. 21st July 05. 
• Writing up a PhD: a reflexive account. Women’s Informed Childbearing and Health Unit - Postgraduate methods seminar programme, Sheffield University. 8th March 04. 
• Young women’s experiences and support needs (Based on DH funded infant feeding project) Making Breastfeeding a Reality, National Childbirth Trust and Sure Start Joint conference, Royal College of Physicians, London. 30th March 04. 
• DH breastfeeding pilot projects. At Maternal and Child Nutrition Evidence and Guidance Collaborating Centre meeting, Health Development Agency, London, 21st May 04. 
• It’s so demanding: breastfeeding as labour. International research seminar programme, Women’s Informed Childbearing and Health Unit, University of Sheffield. 16th June 04.
• ‘Taking Time – Touching Base’: Caring and uncaring interactions on UK postnatal wards. Contemporary Midwifery topics, Research from the UK, NZ and Australia International research seminar programme, University of Technology (UTS), Sydney. 26th Feb 03. 
• Breastfeeding: demanding, supplying and controlling. At International research seminar programme, Massey University, New Zealand. 3rd March 03. 
• ‘Taking Time – Touching Base’: Caring and uncaring interactions on UK postnatal wards. International research seminar programme, Massey University, New Zealand. 4th March 03. 
• Socio-cultural influences upon infant feeding practices. At International Breastfeeding: Practice and Policy course, Centre for International Child Health, Institute of Child Health, University College London (UCL). 20th June 03. 
• Socio-cultural influences upon infant feeding practices on International Breastfeeding Practice and Policy course, Centre for International Child Health, Institute of Child Health, University College London (UCL). Invited lecture. 14-06-02.
• Breastfeeding Support-Targeting teenagers (presentation of DH funded project) DH, London. 14th Oct 02. 
• Women’s experience of breastfeeding at the end of the medical production line. At Women’s Informed Childbearing and Health Research seminar programme, Sheffield University. 24th Oct 01. 
• Women’s perceptions related to the adequacy of their breast milk. At Burnley Health Care NHS Trust Multidisciplinary Research Group. 10th Feb 00. 
• Critical discourse analysis. At Women’s Informed Childbearing and Health Research Postgraduate methods seminar series, Sheffield University. 22nd March 00.
• Politics of breastfeeding. At Centre for Human Nutrition, University of Sheffield. Invited lecture. Feb-99.
• Phenomenological exploration of perceived inadequate milk in lactating women, Invited lecture on MA Health Research course, Lancaster University,10th March 99.
• Qualitative research in action – Breastfeeding – ‘not enough milk’. At Qualitative methods workshop organised by Lancashire & South Cumbria Research and Development Support Unit, Lancaster University. Invited lecture. 25-05-99.
• ‘Going by the wayside’: women’s perceptions of their breast milk and breastfeeding journey- Women’s Informed Childbearing and Health Research Seminar series. Sheffield University, Invited seminar. 16th Nov 99. 
• Politics of breastfeeding. At Centre for Human Nutrition, University of Sheffield. Invited lecture. Feb-97.
• Political and socio-cultural issues relating to infant feeding at Institute of Child Health, University College London (UCL). Invited lecture. Dec-98.
• Politics of breastfeeding. At Centre for Human Nutrition, University of Sheffield. Invited lecture. 13th Feb 97. 
• WHO Code of marketing of breast milk substitutes. At National NCT Conference, Breastfeeding Cultures, Birmingham. Invited workshop 16th Nov 96. 
• Political and socio-cultural issues relating to infant feeding. At Institute of Child Health, University College London (UCL). Invited lecture. 1st Dec 97. 
• WHO/UNICEF 20 hour European course. At UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Advisory Panel at the British Medical Association, London. Invited speaker. 18th Oct 96.