The International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) today announced the appointment of Geraldine Cahill IBCLC BA Dip.Ed to the ILCA Board of Directors.

The membership-elected position is a fantastic achievement for the West Cork based International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

Learning of her successful appointment, Geraldine said:

I am really happy to have gained the confidence of the membership by being voted on to the Board of Directors. I am looking forward to being a voice for the other IBCLCs in Europe and beyond so that the organisation that represents IBCLCs worldwide can meet the needs of this growing profession. I will be working towards increasing awareness and recognition of the important role that IBCLCs fulfill as part of the healthcare team and I will helping to increase efforts to have the IBCLC qualification recognised as the gold standard of breastfeeding care for all mothers.

Working as a voluntary Breastfeeding Counsellor with Cuidiú since 1993 and as a Breastfeeding Counsellor tutor since 2000, Geraldine is passionate about advancing breastfeeding support and education in Ireland. She assumed the role of Cuidiú President from 2009 to 2014.

In her professional career, Geraldine’s leadership abilities and experience have been recognised internationally. Most recently, in 2014, she was awarded the WABA-ILCA Fellowship and spent 6 weeks in Penang, Malaysia on breastfeeding outreach and advocacy projects.

Geraldine has served on the National Breastfeeding Strategy and Implementation Committee since 2007 and on various ILCA commmittees since 2008.

Following the election, ILCA said:

We look forward to working with [Geraldine] to continue ILCA’s mission to advance the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) profession worldwide through leadership, advocacy, professional development, and research.