What to Expect at our Sydney Event?
Join us in Sydney for a unique opportunity to explore the full range of surrogacy and donor options. Connect with top providers, meet other parents, and engage with donors and surrogates from Australia and around the globe.
Every path to parenthood is different—filled with questions, emotions, and important decisions. Our Sydney event is designed to offer personalised, comprehensive guidance to help you navigate every stage of your journey.
What You’ll Experience:
In-Depth Knowledge
Gain crucial insights into international family building, covering financial planning, timelines, and building relationships with surrogates and donors.
IVF Fundamentals
Learn the latest medical advances on egg and sperm selection, embryo development, and how factors like age can affect fertility.
Surrogacy Planning
Understand the logistics of surrogacy, including transporting embryos and sperm, finding the right match, and choosing the best destination.
Building Support Networks
Discover the importance of peer networks, prenatal education, and post-birth support, whether you’re a heterosexual or gay parent.
Real-Life Stories
Hear inspiring firsthand stories from parents and surrogates who have successfully navigated their own surrogacy and donor IVF journeys.
Interactive Expert Panels
Join in Q&A sessions with parents who’ve built their families through surrogacy. Meet global experts in one-on-one discussions and explore different routes to achieving your parenthood dreams.
Private Consultations
Your ticket also grants access to book private consultations with our experts. Review the profiles of our speakers and schedule one-on-one meetings tailored to your needs.
Conference Commitee Members
This event is headed by trusted members of the surrogacy community, including:
- Elisa Ricordi
- Amy White
- Felicity Chew
- Adam Zuchetti
- Trudy Urquhart
- David Novella-Reilly
- Sheila Vijeyarasa
SPEAKERS AT OUR SYDNEY
SURROGACY & EGG DONOR EVENT
Kathryn Kaycoff
Consultant
Kathryn, co-owner of The Fertility Agency, created Agency for Surrogacy Solutions, Inc. to address the challenges of surrogacy. Drawing from her own experience, she aims to support both Intended Parents and Surrogates, making the process simpler and less stressful.
Stephen Page
Family & Fertility Lawyer
A dad through surrogacy, Stephen Page is a leading family law specialist who has guided over 1,750 surrogacy journeys worldwide. He also serves on key fertility boards and loves reading his husband’s book, Lizzie’s Day at the Zoo.
Dr. Minoos Hosseinzadeh
Reproductive Endocrinologist
A nationally recognized expert in reproductive medicine, double board-certified in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and REI, with extensive experience founding and directing IVF programs and helping families worldwide.
Meet Our Expert Speakers
Parents & Families Speaking at our Event
Parents & Families Speaking at our Melbourne Event
Sydney Surrogacy & Egg Donor Event Agenda
09:30 AM –
09:35 AM
Overview Of Pathways to Parenthood
Outlines the differences between domestic and international donor and surrogacy, hybrid options, Mindsets required; Donor & surrogate availability, friends and family, meeting online vs. via agencies; information sources, timelines
Sam Everingham, Growing Families
09:35 AM –
9:50 AM
Key Steps to Prepare for Embryo Creation
Summarises the pathways to match with a donor (online forums vs egg banks vs family and friends); willingness to vaccinate; family limits, counselling requirements; timeframes required.
Dr Rahi Victory, Victory Reproductive Centre
9:50 AM –
10:20 AM
Key Preparatory Steps in Domestic Surrogacy
Summarises the preparation required and order to tackle each – from matching, surrogate dating, key topics to discuss as a team, legals, counselling requirements, timeframes; Also provides insights into costs, budgeting; what you can and can’t cover with respect to re-imbursements. health and life insurance.
Matthew Knopp and Tim Zhang
10:20 AM –
10:45 AM
Coming To Terms with Donor IVF
What are the ‘success rates’ when using eggs if I am 37? What about if I’m 40? When is it time to consider a donor? A mum who struggled with the shame of failure, concerns about infant bonding, family attitudes and disclosure discuss available options; and altruistic donor explains her expectations.
Sheila Vijeyarasa, Amy White
The Basics of IVF & Egg Donor Processes
A leading reproductive endocrinologist walks you through the medical aspects of Donor IVF, surrogate screening, the IVF cycle process, embryo creation and selecting the best embryos for transfer.
Dr Clifford Librach, CReATe Fertility Centre
10:45 AM –
11:05 AM
Getting the Most from IVF
Why does the US have the world’s best success rates for Donor IVF cycles? A leading US reproductive endocrinologist discusses how to get the most from IVF cycles – Genetic carrier screening, PGT-A testing, how money back programs work, cycle monitoring and the advantages of working with clinics which are not owned by large corporates.
Dr Minoos Hosseinzadeh, Fertility Institute of San Diego
11:05 AM –
11:35 AM
Morning Tea
11:35 AM –
12:00 PM
International Donor & Surrogacy – Selecting Where to Engage
Sometimes local surrogacy or egg donation doesn’t work or isn’t right for you; what alternatives are available? Which countries are closed or inadvisable & why? What about donor anonymity? Which are available for unmarried couples or gay couples? What are the differences in timelines? How do surrogate match times differ? How do costs compare? Are there fixed cost programs available? What about Insurance? Discusses US, Canada, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Colombia & Mexico
Sam Everingham, Growing Families
12:00 PM –
12:20 PM
Legal Issues for Donor & Surrogacy
Who goes on the birth certificate? What is the purpose of agreements, are they legally binding? What should be included in these. What is the difference between an agreement and a contract? Timelines, costs, processes what issues do intended parents need to think about? How does the process differ for domestic vs international surrogacy.
Stephen Page, Page Provan
12:20 PM –
01:00 PM
Australian Parent Panel
Parents who recently engaged in donor IVF or surrogacy in Australia or overseas share their journeys, egg donor options, embryo creation logistics, the ups and downs, what to expect and recommendations for those that follow.
Moderator: Adam Zuchetti;
Panelists: Trudy Bateman (AU), Todd Stevens (US) Anston Ratnayake (AU), Kevin So (Canada) Matthew Knoop (AU) Mark Johandson (Ukraine)
01:00 PM –
01:20 PM
Hybrid Surrogacy Programs
Increasingly, for reasons of cost, convenience or availability, intended parents make embryos in one country (eg Australia, Canada) while their surrogate might live elsewhere (eg the US or Mexico). Experts in hybrid programs explain the process, the pros and cons.
Moderator: Sam Everingham; Panelists: Dr Clifford Librach (Create Fertility, Canada), Lauri De Brito, (The Fertility Agency, US), Nir Keren (Babies Come True), Dr Minoos Hosseinzadeh (Fertility Institute of San Diego)
01:20 PM –
02:00 PM
Lunch & Networking
02:00 PM –
02:30 PM
Interactive Q&A Breakout Sessions
Surrogacy in the USA
Learn how the US approaches surrogacy. How does surrogate screening work? Why do so few applicants pass screening? Why are IVF success rates so high? How does insurance work?
Lauri De Brito, Allie Manterfield, Dr Minoos Hosseinzadeh
Surrogacy in Europe for heterosexual couples
An informal chance to ask local parents & experts more questions about program types, lived experience of the process, costs, stressors
Dana Magdassi, Lotus Surrogacy Mark Johandson (parent)
Hybrid Programs
A chance to ask local parents and experts who offer hybrid programs more detailed questions about their journeys (covers Canada, US, Australia in particular)
Nir Keren, Dr Rahi Victory, Kathryn Kaycoff, Tim Zhang, Trudy Bateman
02:30 PM –
03:10 PM
Domestic Surrogate Panel
Local surrogates discuss the importance of advocating for their needs, what they look for in intended parents, dos and donts in engaging with surrogates online, the ‘surro-dating’ process, the impact on their own families, expense re-imbursements, expected support during the process and ongoing relationship expectations. Covers traditional and gestational surrogacy journey types
Panelists: Elisa, Felicity, Julie, Sascha
03:10 PM –
03:30 PM
Looking After Your Surrogate, Your Donor & Yourself
What does the counselling process look like? How long does it take? Mental health, coming to terms with failed transfers and miscarriages; Preparing for post-partum issues with your surrogate.
Dr Alison O’Neil
03:30 PM –
03:45 PM
Support for Intended Parents
What support does Surrogacy Australia offer for those engaging in domestic donor IVF or surrogacy; What support does Growing Families offer for international journeys? Where to from here? Moderated online support groups, face-to-face and virtual peer support.
Sam Everingham, Growing Families, Adam Zuchetti, Surrogacy Australia
03:45 PM –
04:05 PM
The Impact on Families
Children of surrogates and kids born via surrogacy discuss the impact on their lives of surrogacy, relationships with half-siblings and surro-siblings.
Lexie, William and Ruby
04:05 PM –
05:00 PM
Drinks & Networking
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver
