The mum-of-three volunteered with the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths after baby Nicola died aged just eight weeks.
Now, 34 years later, she is playing a pivotal role in organising the 10th International Conference into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Portsmouth.
Hundreds of experts from all over the world will come to the city next month for a three-day programme focusing on unexplained deaths of unborn babies and those in their first two years of life.
Researchers, bereaved families, health professionals, counsellors and emergency responders will be among those exploring ways to reduce the death toll from SIDS.
Speaking during Save a Baby month, conference steering group chairwoman Ann, of Perseus Terrace, Gunwharf Quays, Portsea, said: 'I never intended it to be a career. It was just how life went.
'I got involved with the Foundation for the Study of Infant deaths about four years after Nicola died.
'She had already had a near-miss at six weeks.
'We were on a day out and I found her extremely white.
'I would have said she was unconscious at the time.
'The only advice I was given was to perhaps give her a bit more water. Eight days later I found her dead.'
At that time there were about 2,000 baby deaths in the UK every year and 1,500 were unexplained.
That figure has plummeted to about 300 a year but Ann, 61, hopes events such as the SIDS conference will help reduce the toll even further.
She added: 'The conference is about trying to bring researchers from different fields together to share their expertise in the hope it will further research into the cause of sudden infant death syndrome.'
The conference will be held at the University of Portsmouth from June 23 to June 26.

Win Cup Final tickets