Rakime Elmir is an Associate Professor of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University, with over 20 years of experience as a nurse, midwife, and academic. Her research is primarily centered on birth trauma, the transition to parenthood for both mothers and fathers, and the socio-cultural, psychological, and emotional impacts on parents. She led the development of video resources to normalise fathers seeking support in the perinatal period. The resources have been translated across health services and internationally in antenatal parent education. In addition, Dr. Elmir is deeply committed to the promotion of cultural safety and the provision of culturally responsive maternity care, frequently leading workshops on these critical issues for maternity clinicians.

She is renowned for co-developing the first nationally branded Hijab to be incorporated into clinical uniforms at Western Sydney University, a pioneering initiative that garnered international media attention, reaching nearly 11 million people globally. Dr. Elmir is also an active researcher, serving as a Chief Investigator (CI) on multiple projects that have secured competitive and strategic funding.

In her role with the Perinatal Interprofessional Education for Maternity Clinicians (PIPE-MC) team, Dr. Elmir contributes to workshops across Australia, supported by a Commonwealth Grant, to enhance the skills and knowledge of clinicians supporting families with complex psychosocial needs. Additionally, she serves as an investigator in a reproductive health promotion project aimed at co-designing health resources tailored for Muslim women in the community.

Dr. Elmir has played a pivotal role in chairing the development of a position statement, endorsed by SAGE, that advocates for ethno-racial diversity in higher education sectors. Her exceptional contributions to student learning have been formally recognised by the Vice Chancellor, and in 2022, she was honoured with the Mission of Hope Muslim Professional of the Year Award.