GOLD Speakers

Panel Discussion 1

• Country: GOLD

Biography:

Mariana was born in Mexico City, and from an early age Mariana was interested in holistic health, art and respecting nature. Mariana studied medicine at the National University of Mexico (UNAM), and found her passion as a pediatrician doing her residency at the National Pediatric Institute and further on Mariana specialized in Infectious diseases in the Children´s Hospital of Mexico “Federico Gómez“ in Mexico city. Mariana lives in Metepec and works in private practice, combining prenatal care, pediatrics, infectious diseases management as well as holistic and integrative care. Mariana has two homebirth children and breastfed for over seven and a half years, including tandem feeding. Mariana's passion in lactation began as a La Leche League Leader and still continued in that organization since 2016 . Certified as a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2019. Mariana is a member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and the National Lactation Consultant Association of Mexico (ACCLAM). Co-founder of the International Feeding Choices Forum for People Living with HIV (INFORM+), which aims to adress critical challenges in providing accurate and balanced feeding choice advice to people living with HIV, advance medical research in this area, and promote evidence-based clinical practice amongst providers.

Sonya has supported new families for over 25 years. She runs a busy, independent practice, Lactation Care (Canada), supporting parents with infant feeding, and delivering breastfeeding workshops for professionals. Sonya has a broad range of experiences supporting healthcare professionals to provide evidence-based care. As a provincial Health Promotion Consultant, Sonya assisted health care organizations to implement the WHO’s Baby-Friendly Initiative, coordinated development of provincial breastfeeding protocols including Informed Decision Making: Infant Feeding, and led the creation of widely used resources such as Infant Formula, What You Need to Know, adapted in four provinces. She facilitated numerous workshops all around the province of Ontario, strengthening the skills and confidence of healthcare providers. As an RN/IBCLC, Sonya’s career spans the whole peri-natal continuum from major urban centers to the far north, from publicly funded to independent practice. Her experiences range from serving as a birth doula, to teaching residents and physicians about breastfeeding, with ongoing care for clients throughout. On her website, she offers free resources available for parents and professionals, such as a swaddling resource for parents and its companion for professionals. In her spare time, she’s likely with family in Ottawa, or outside hiking, cycling, gardening, or cross-country skiing.

Charlotte Treitl, widely known as "The Milk Rebel," is a powerhouse in the world of lactation and infant feeding advocacy. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Clinical Lead for Parenting at Anya, Charlotte is on a mission to revolutionise breastfeeding support—making it accessible, inclusive, and empowering for all families. With a decade of experience, Charlotte’s expertise spans from peer support and grassroots activism to clinical leadership and championing policy change. She provides personalised, evidence-based guidance, helping parents confidently navigate breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk provision. At Anya, she spearheads the development of cutting-edge, research-backed resources to support families through the challenges of early parenthood. But Charlotte is more than just a lactation specialist —she’s a rebel with a cause. She fights for those without a voice or influence, advocating for systemic change to ensure breastfeeding support is a right, not a privilege. A fierce intersectional feminist, Charlotte isn’t afraid to shake up the status quo. She’s loud, a little sweary, and unapologetically passionate about improving health outcomes for families worldwide.