Bereavement care pioneer honoured
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Published
20 January 2026
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A global leader in bereavement care, Dr Chantal Fowler Lockey BEM (Medalist of the Order of the British Empire) has received an Honorary Doctor of Education in recognition of her life-changing work to improve support for bereaved families and reduce infant mortality. Awarded in celebration of her compassion, leadership and impact, the honour recognises a career dedicated to ensuring no family faces baby loss without understanding, dignity and care.
Founder and Director of The Foundation for Infant Loss Training, Dr Fowler Lockey has transformed how professionals support families experiencing baby loss. Her work is rooted in lived experience. In 2004, following the tragic loss of her firstborn daughter, Marnie, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome at just six weeks old, she experienced first-hand the lack of specialist bereavement support available to parents. Determined to drive change, she founded The Foundation for Infant Loss Training in 2007.
Thank you to the University of East London, for recognising my work and for the wonderful privilege of being conferred Honorary Doctorate. My work can still sometimes remain a taboo subject and I hope that this platform will raise more conversations, more awareness and in turn, ensure that the thousands of bereaved parents who suffer loss every year in the UK, are recognised and fully supported by professional services.”
Over the past 17 years, Dr Fowler Lockey has trained more than 50,000 healthcare professionals, counsellors and public service workers worldwide. Through in-person and digital learning, her programmes have strengthened professional understanding of baby loss, infertility and bereavement care across healthcare and public services.
In 2024, she launched the Rainbow Baby Specialist Training, believed to be the only programme of its kind globally. The training supports professionals working with parents during pregnancies following loss, one of the most complex and emotionally sensitive periods of care. Dr Fowler Lockey is currently collaborating with the National Health Service to make this training freely available to NHS professionals, including midwives and counsellors supporting bereaved families.
The assumption is that when you are pregnant after loss that you are often now “okay” and that you are over the grief of the baby who has died. Because of this parents are suffering in silence. Pregnancy following perinatal loss has a profound effect on parents and may contribute to intense psychological distress including grief, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. Our training will ensure that professionals have a better understanding which means that ultimately bereaved parents will be better cared for.”
Alongside her training and advocacy work, Dr Fowler Lockey plays a significant role in shaping national policy and public understanding of baby loss and bereavement. She is a member of several All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Baby Loss, Bereavement and Funerals, works with the Women’s Equality Committee on the proposed Miscarriage Leave Bill, advises major broadcasters on issues relating to baby loss and infertility, and has supported more than 600 organisations to create compassionate workplace policies.
In recognition of her outstanding services to bereavement care and her efforts to reduce infant mortality, Dr Fowler Lockey was appointed a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire by His Majesty King Charles III in the 2025 New Year Honours List.
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