SPEAKERS AT OUR DUBLIN SURROGACY & EGG DONOR EVENT
Tracy Horan
Tracy Horan & Co. Solicitors
Tracy Horan, founding partner of Tracy Horan & Company, specializes in family law and surrogacy. She expertly navigates the complex surrogacy landscape in Ireland, helping clients achieve legal parenthood, passports, citizenship, and adoption.
Dr Rahi Victory
IVF Specialist, Victory, Canada
Dr. Rahi Victory, a Canadian-trained OB-GYN specializing in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, leads Victory Reproductive Care. Known for compassionate, personalized care, he meets every client, egg donor, and surrogate personally, ensuring exceptional experiences and successful outcomes.
SPEAKERS AT OUR DUBLIN SURROGACY & EGG DONOR EVENT
Tracy Horan
Tracy Horan & Co. Solicitors
Tracy Horan, founding partner of Tracy Horan & Company, specializes in family law and surrogacy. She expertly navigates the complex surrogacy landscape in Ireland, helping clients achieve legal parenthood, passports, citizenship, and adoption.
Dr Rahi Victory
IVF Specialist, Victory, Canada
Dr. Rahi Victory, a Canadian-trained OB-GYN specializing in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, leads Victory Reproductive Care. Known for compassionate, personalized care, he meets every client, egg donor, and surrogate personally, ensuring exceptional experiences and successful outcomes.
Kimberly Hennessy
Program Manager
Kimberly joined the US Surrogacy team with over 20 years experience in Third Party Reproduction. Most of her experience has been in two of the top fertility clinics in the US with her primary focus helping clients grow their families with egg donation and gestational surrogacy.
Meet Our Expert Speakers
Parent, Young Adult & Surrogate Panelists
What to Expect at our Dublin Surrogacy & Donor Event?
This event offers a special opportunity to delve into various options all in one place, connecting with providers and engaging with fellow parents, donors, and surrogates within the Dublin community.
The journey to parenthood can be a winding road for many, filled with its share of challenges, emotions, and a wealth of information. Each individual’s path is distinct, and our Dublin gatherings embrace and celebrate this diversity, offering support and guidance tailored to our local community.
This event will address key aspects including:
- Surrogacy & Egg Donor Options by Location
- Medical & Donor Considerations
- Legal Frameworks
- Safety and Support for Intended Parents, Donors, and Surrogates
Engage in Face-to-Face Conversations with Dublin’s Leading Experts
Join interactive ‘Ask Me Anything’ panels featuring recent parents who have navigated their unique paths to building their families. Network with like-minded individuals and gain invaluable insights during one-on-one discussions with experts at their information booths, helping you explore diverse avenues to realize your family-building aspirations.
Personalised Consultations
Your ticket grants you access to arrange private consultations with numerous experts. Explore each speaker’s profile and reach out via email to schedule your tailored meetings.
Surrogacy & Egg Donor Event Agenda
09:30 AM –
09:40 AM
Introduction to Growing Families & partners
Who are we, our International Advisory Board and partners. How can Growing Families and our partners support your journey
Paul Riggio, Growing Families
09:40 AM –
10:00 AM
Where we are at in Ireland
Altruistic vs Commercial Donor IVF & surrogacy. What will Irelands new surrogacy laws mean for those in past, current and future surrogacy arrangements? When will the new Regulatory Authority be established? How will surrogacy arrangements be ‘pre-approved’? What restrictions will there be on future arrangements? What are the penalties for non-compliance? How likely are these to be prosecuted?
Tracy Horan, Tracy Horan Solicitors, Ireland
10:00 AM –
10:20 AM
Considerations in International Family Building
A number of factors need to be considered in your decision making – these include budgets, timelines, your age, existing children, citizenship, type of surrogate or donor relationship desired, embryo quality. Where to start, key steps, where to engage, what are the risks of working with travelling’ surrogates?
Sam Everingham, Growing Families
10:20 AM –
10:40 AM
IVF, Donor Eggs & Surrogacy
How does it work? Medical considerations & screening for egg and sperm providers. Assessing sperm & egg quality prior to IVF; What impact does age have? Carrier screening: Discusses embryo development, blastocysts, grading, Pre-Genetic-Aneuploidy Testing and how embryos are selected for transfer; selecting the right egg donor.
Dr Rahi Victory, Victory Reproductive Care, Canada
10:40 AM –
11:10 AM
Considerations in Selecting a Country – Panel Discussion
Where can I engage? How does surrogacy practice differ in English vs non-English speaking countries in regard to surrogate screening, care, reimbursement and contact pre and post birth? How do hybrid programs work? Timeframes, Success rates. Legal protections; How do costs compare? What egg donors are available? Covers USA, Canada, Georgia, Argentina, and Cyprus.
Panelists: Kimberley Hennessy (US), Eliso Shakarashvili (Georgia), Nir Keren (Argentina), Lisa Hogan (Canada), Sasha Lee (Cyprus)
11:10 AM –
11:30 AM
Domestic Surrogacy in Ireland
The lived experience. What support do surrogates expect? How do relationships develop during the process and post birth? Where do embryo transfers occur? How has an absence of legal parentage affected things? A local surrogate shares her experiences
Sam Everingham: Nicole Memery
11:30 AM –
12:00 PM
Morning Tea
12:00 PM –
12:40 PM
International Parent Journeys
Recent Irish parents & intended parents discuss decision-making, surrogate relationships, disclosure to family, Differences in medication regimes; cultural barriers; hurdles along the way, legal parentage, costs and a myriad of audience questions
Sam (dad via Canada) Andrew Rice (dad via Colombia), Michael Butler (dad via N Cyprus) Robert (Dad via N Cyprus)
12:40 PM –
12:55 PM
Surrogacy in Georgia or North Cyprus – Ask Me Anything
Panelists: Eliso Shakarashvili, Sasha Lee
12:55 PM –
01:10 PM
Surrogacy in USA – Ask Me Anything
Kimberley Hennessy, Stephanie Caballero,
01:10 PM –
01:50 PM
Lunch & Networking
01:50 PM –
02:10 PM
Legal Processes for Surrogacy
What issues does your lawyer need to address? How can I take advantage of the new legislation in my decision-making? How do the new rules around ‘Habitual Residency’ for surrogates work? What countries present a challenge? What are the processes in acquiring travel documents. How do timelines differ? What are the typical hold-ups? Who can assist?
Tracy Horan, Tracy Horan Solicitors, Ireland
02:10 PM –
02:25 PM
Surrogacy in Argentina or Mexico – Ask Me Anything
Nir Keren, Hilary Smith
02:25 PM –
02:40 PM
Surrogacy in Canada – Ask Me Anything
Michelle Flowerday, Lisa Hogan, Sam DeCock
02:40 PM –
03:05 PM
International Surrogate Panel
Surrogates from Georgia, Argentina, US & Canada discuss their motivations, expectations, journeys and contact with intended parents and children
Meghan Kolodka (Canada); Tea Jamagidze (Georgia); Rachel (US) Karen (US); Carolina (Argentina)
03:05 PM –
03:30 PM
Afternoon Tea
03:30 PM –
04:00 PM
Support Networks for Parents & Intended Parents
Support & education groups, professional referrals, concierge support, volunteer organisations, counsellors, doula services, ante-natal classes
Roberta Hynes (Doulas Ireland), Helen Vaughan (Irish Fertility Counsellors) Paul Riggio (Growing Families)
04:00 PM –
04:20 PM
What Do the Kids Think?
Connie is not only an iconic Dublin TikToker. This 23-year-old is one of triplets born to Irish gay dads who engaged in US surrogacy. Hear what she has to say about her sense of self & growing up in a gay dad family
Connie Whelan
4:20 PM –
05:00 PM
Networking Drinks
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
