The team behind the European Standards of Care for Newborn Health

Meet the team behind the European Standards of Care for Newborn Health (ESCNH).

Silke Mader is the Co-Founder and Chairwoman of the Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (GFCNI),Chairwoman of the Executive Board (“vertretungsberechtigter Vorstand” in German), and a member of the Trustee Board. A dedicated advocate for maternal and newborn health, she has spent over two decades working to improve care for preterm and sick infants and their families worldwide.

Her commitment to neonatal care stems from personal experience. In 1997, her twins were born at just 25 weeks, and due to inadequate care, one of them tragically passed away. Facing a lack of support, public awareness, and accessible information, she became determined to change the system.

She began her advocacy in 1999, first leading a local parent group in Munich, then becoming Chairwoman of the German umbrella organisation “The Preterm Born Child e.V.” in 2003. She later left her teaching career – where she specialised in linguistic support for migrant children and remedial education – to co-found EFCNI (European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants), the first pan-European organisation dedicated to neonatal health. Under her leadership, EFCNI has now evolved into GFCNI, reflecting a global approach to improving newborn care.

Silke has been instrumental in developing international standards for newborn care and collaborating with organisations such as the World Health Organization. She has worked alongside healthcare professionals and policymakers to drive awareness, influence policy, and create resources for families.

Her work has earned her numerous honours, including:

Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesverdienstkreuz) (2024)
Bavarian State Medal for Services in Health and Long-Term Care (2016)
Ashoka Fellow (2015) – Recognised as a social entrepreneur
Medal for Particular Services to Bavaria in a United Europe (2013)
Prix Courage Award (2012) – ZDF “ML mona lisa” & Clarins

She has also served as an Honorary Lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, since 2014.

As Chairwoman of GFCNI, she continues to advocate for every baby to receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

Senior Communications Manager

Dr Annika Brunck has been part of GFCNI since 2020 and contributes to shaping the foundation’s communications and international outreach. She recently supported the organization’s transition from a European to a global foundation, helping to develop its new identity and communication structures.

She holds a PhD in American Studies and a Master’s degree in British and North American Cultural Studies. Before joining GFCNI, she taught at the university level and managed a large international research network. Annika speaks German, English, Spanish, and some French, and has lived and worked abroad.

At GFCNI, she drives strategic communication efforts, supports global partnerships, and ensures clear, engaging dialogue with stakeholders, partner organizations, and the wider public.

Ramona Rangott joined the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI) in November 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in German Literature and Language, History, and Fine Arts & Education from the University of Regensburg. After completing a subsequent journalism traineeship at one of the leading media groups in southeast Bavaria, she accumulated six years of expertise in political communication, public relations, and public affairs while working in various government agencies.

To further enhance her interdisciplinary competencies and broaden her skill set, she is currently pursuing studies in Psychological Sciences in Regensburg.

With a longstanding interest in health policy issues, she is proud to be part of EFCNI’s mission to improve the conditions for preterm-born infants and their families worldwide.

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