The main focus of my academic research over the past 30 years has been on maternal health, particularly in low-income settings. My early work was predominantly focused on improving methods for measuring levels, trends and causes of maternal mortality, including the creation of the Sisterhood Method. This interest in methods has remained throughout my career, progressing to look at the challenges of measuring maternal morbidity, evaluating complex interventions to reduce the burden of poor maternal and perinatal health, and - most recently, capturing the profiles, transmission pathways, and broader determinants of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) in women and babies delivered in maternity units. Alongside this methodological focus, I have maintained a strong interest in improving the communication and uptake of research evidence into policy and practice, and was a Senior Research Fellow at the UK Department for International Development for four years – where I learnt many relevant lessons. My research portfolio has always involved a mixture of direct field activities on measurement and interventions (particularly in maternity care settings); research synthesis and communication; and engagement with policy stakeholders at national and international levels. The current focus of my work falls broadly into the field of quality improvement, with a particular target of HCAIs and the role of WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and IPC (infection prevention and control), including antimicrobial resistance. In 2012, I was instrumental in establishing an evidence-based charitable trust – The Soapbox Collaborative – which conducted research and action to prevent HCAIs at birth in maternity units in low-income countries, and completed its mission in June 2019. The majority of the research work of Soapbox continues at the LSHTM, with current collaborative projects currently in Cambodia,The Gambia, and Malawi.