A) Invited Expert Breastfeeding Lectures (Selected): These sessions and continuing education training have built the capacity of over 5000 professionals, 3000 students, and 100 community organizations around the world)

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• Invited session on “A call to action on dismantling breastfeeding barriers among vulnerable population of mothers affected by disaster and displacement”. Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC) on World Breastfeeding Week 2024, Canada [Attended by over 500 lactation professionals and nursing students in Canada]. Oct 1, 2024.

• Invited presenter and panellist for a discussion on the theme “Bridging the Gap: Breastfeeding and Food Security”. Session entitled: “Gaps in Social Services Affecting Breastfeeding Practices of Refugee and Immigrant Mothers in Saskatchewan”. Event organized by Breastfeeding Committee of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada [Event attended by 100 policymakers, patient partners, students, clinicians, researchers, and healthcare providers]. Aug 8, 2024.

• Keynote speaker for the MDPI World Breastfeeding Webinar 2024 session entitled “Breastfeeding during Emergencies: Challenges and Way Forward to Support Mothers in Disaster Zones”. Live telecast from Switzerland [attended by over 500 global audiences]. Aug 7, 2024.

• Invited session on “Barriers affecting breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers: A Critical ethnography in Saskatchewan” to Canadian Breastfeeding Research Network Members, Canada [Attended by 50 professionals, policymakers, patient partners, students, clinicians, researchers, and lactation consultants in Canada]. June 7, 2024.

• Invited expert lecture on “Humanitarian Aid and Breastfeeding: What Does the Research Tell Us is Needed?” For GOLD Lactation Online Conference 2024, USA. [Attended by over 3000 breastfeeding advocates, students and lactation professionals around the world]. Apr 23, 2024.

• Invited lecture on “Guidance on Use and Benefits of Breastmilk” for the International Pediatric Association (IPA), USA [Attended by over 500 healthcare providers, students, breastfeeding advocates, policymakers and service providers around the world]. Mar 20, 2024.

• Expert session on “Breastfeeding in disaster relief camps” for the ‘Health-e-learning: An Institute of Human Lactation, Canada [Attended by over 1000 breastfeeding advocates, students and lactation professionals around the world]. 2020-2024.

• Expert session on “Knowledge mobilization tool to promote, protect and support breastfeeding during COVID-19” for the iLactation, Australia [Attended by over 1000 breastfeeding advocates, students and lactation professionals around the world]. Feb 15, 2022.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​B) Invited Breastfeeding Research Presentations for Healthcare/Service Providers (Selected 2019-2024):

• Education seminar presentation for Saskatchewan Health Authority’s nurses on “Breastfeeding Challenges of refugee mothers in Saskatchewan” at Regina General Hospital, Canada. (Attended by 40 nurses and physicians working in the labor and delivery unit of Saskatchewan Health Authority). June 5, 2023.

• Seminar presentation on “Breastfeeding in disaster relief camps: Barriers and Recommendations” The Royal Hospital for Women (RHW) Newborn Care Seminars, Australia (Attended by over 100 neonatal professionals from all around the world). Mar 30, 2023:

• Knowledge translation seminar on “Healthcare and breastfeeding barriers of immigrant and refugee mothers in Saskatchewan and way forward” for nurses, breastfeeding advocates and administrators Hosted by BFI Coalition, Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, Saskatchewan, Canada (Attended by over 100 professionals from Saskatchewan, Canada). Jan 12, 2023.

• Knowledge translation seminar on “Healthcare and breastfeeding barriers of newcomers, immigrant, and refugee mothers with young children in Saskatchewan and way forward” Hosted by Local Immigration Partnerships in Saskatchewan, Canada (Attended by over 100 service providers and professionals from Saskatchewan, Canada). Nov 7, 2022.

• Presentation to stakeholders on “Healthcare experiences and breastfeeding barriers of refugee mothers in Saskatchewan: Challenges, opportunities, way forward” at Regina Open Door Society (RODS), Saskatchewan, Canada (Attended by 20 service providers from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada). Feb 16, 2022.

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​​​​​​​​​C) Breastfeeding Education and Advocacy Invited Presentations to Community (Selected)

• Conducted session on “Breastfeeding and parenting challenges encountered by refugee and immigrant mothers”. A public event hosted at Saskatoon Nutana Rotary Club, Saskatoon, Canada [Attended by over 500 community members]. April 30, 2024.

• Conducted session on “Supporting infant’s brain Development: Breastfeeding” for the new parents and caregivers at Regina Jamatkhana; Prayer hall for the Ismaili Muslim community, Regina, Canada [Attended by over 200 migrant parents]. Feb 18, 2023.

• Panellist during the premier of the Film “Tigers” (Focusing on infant mortality in Pakistan due to unmonitored distribution of baby formula milk) organized by the Breastfeeding Action Committee of Edmonton (BACE), Alberta, Edmonton, Canada [Attended by over 200 community members]. Feb 10, 2018.

• Conducted session on “Promoting Growth and Development of Children through Breastfeeding” at Kashana-e-Atfal-o-Naunihal (Child daycare centre), Karachi, Pakistan [Attended by over 100 parents]. Feb 4, 2015.

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D) Oral Presentations in Conferences (Selected):

• Hirani, S. A. (May 27-28, 2024). Preparing next generation of nurses to care for breastfeeding mothers during disasters: A call to action in nursing curriculum. CASN Nursing Education Conference, Calgary, Canada.

• Hirani, S. A. (November 28-30, 2023). Healthcare barriers affecting breastfeeding practices of immigrant mothers. Sigma Biennial Convention 2023. USA

• Hirani, S. A. (July 4, 2023). Promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding practices during natural disasters. ICN Congress 2023. Montreal, Canada.

• Hirani, S. A. (July 5, 2023). Strategies to promote, protect and support breastfeeding practices of immigrant mothers in Saskatchewan, Canada: A Qualitative Study. ICN Congress 2023. Montreal, Canada.

• Hirani, S. A. (August 2, 2023). Baby-Friendly initiatives to promote, protect and support breastfeeding practices of immigrant mothers in Canada. Sigma Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

• Hirani, S. A. (Feb 10-12, 2023). Workplace breastfeeding support needs of immigrant mothers combining breastfeeding with employment: A qualitative study. Creating Healthy Work Environments 2023. Austin, TX, USA.

• Hirani, S. A. (July-Aug 2022). Factors affecting breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers accessing and utilizing healthcare services in Saskatchewan, Canada. Sigma’s 33rd International Nursing Research Congress, Scotland.

• Hirani, S. A. (November 2-4, 2021). Impact of COVID-19 on refugee mothers in Saskatchewan, Canada: A Call for Action. ICN Congress 2021 [virtual].

• Hirani, S. A. (July 21, 2021). Knowledge mobilization tool to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding during COVID-19. Sigma’s 32nd International Nursing Research Congress, Singapore.

• Hirani, S. A. (October 20, 2020). Effects of climate change and natural disaster on lives of breastfeeding mothers: A critical ethnographic study in disaster relief camps. 26th Canadian Conference on Global Health, October 19-22, 2020.

• Hirani, S. A. (August 19-21, 2020). Deficiencies of Humanitarian Aid Practices Toward Infant Feeding During Natural Disaster. International Lactation Consultant Association 2020 USA.

• Hirani, S. A. (July 27, 2020). Breastfeeding Advocacy in Diverse Care Settings: A Global Health Initiative and Research Priority. Sigma’s Virtual 31st International Nursing Research Congress.