Brenda Kelly started her healthcare career in the Western Trust area of Northern Ireland, as a Registered Nurse in 1990 and qualified as a Registered Midwife in 1993. She has since held midwifery posts in the Western, Southern and Belfast Trusts. In 2002, she was appointed a Supervisor of Midwives, moving to the Southern Trust as a Midwifery Sister in 2005 and later as Lead Midwife in 2009. Having earlier completed a Diploma in Professional Studies in Midwifery, Brenda subsequently undertook a BSc in Professional Studies in Midwifery, graduating with first class honours in 2012 . In 2013, Brenda began her MSc development and was awarded an MSc with Commendation, in Inter Professional Health and Social Care Management in 2017.

Brenda is a Scottish Improvement Leadership graduate since 2019 and has specific interests in Medicines Management and Midwifery led care and is a keen mentor and coach.

Brenda held the Divisional Midwife and Head of Midwifery post for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust from 2014 before moving on to NHS England, becoming the Deputy Regional Chief Midwife for the Midlands, England in 2025. She has more recently been appointed as Director, Maternity Improvement and Partnerships for The Royal College of Midwives, in August 2026.