


Surrogacy & Donor Seminar- Auckland
Sat 11 June
1.30- 6.00 pm
The Parnell Hotel
Auckland
This event is a chance for intended parents, parents and experts to network, share stories and learn from each other. Learn what the IVF, donor and surrogacy processes really looks like in New Zealand and internationally. Parents will join our popular ‘tell-all’ panel to explore how expectations can differ and how to survive the unexpected hurdles.
This event will guide you on :
- Crucial decision-making on providers and destinations
- Risks and how to avoid them
- Sperm and Embryo shipping options
- Legal issues
- International travel updates
- Resources to support you
Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
TIMING & DESCRIPTION
- 1.30- 1.45pm
Surrogacy Planning in the Covid-19 era
When you are placing significant emotional and financial investment in family-building, you deserve to know the current reality. What is the evidence for vaccination in pregnancy? Why are surrogates refusing vaccination? Can I specify this? What is the impact on wait times? In non-English-speaking contexts, can I have an independent relationship with my surrogate?
Sam Everingham provides answers to many of the questions agencies wont tell you.
Sam Everingham, Growing Families
- 1.45- 2.05pm
Selecting an Egg Donor & Surrogate Medical Screening
What criteria are used to assess suitability of egg donors and surrogates? What screening tests are used? What aspects affect success rates? What are the differences between IVF clinic-screened donors, agency donors and friends or relatives as donors?
Dr Lauri Arnold, California Center for Reproductive Medicine, USA
- 2.05-2.25pm
Managing Cost & Risk in Family Building
Understanding costs, timelines and risks in egg donor IVF and surrogacy is key. Too often intended parents spend tens of thousands on processes that have little chance of success. This session provides an overview of what you need to consider, what are the traps and how to plan a family building journey you can afford and be proud of
Megan Hall , Surro Connections, USA
- 2.25 -2.45pm
Parenthood following surrogacy – getting it right legally
Do I need a NZ lawyer for domestic surrogacy? Does my surrogate need a lawyer? Can do we need a written agreement and if so, is it enforceable? Who appears on the birth certificate? How does transfer of parentage work and is that the same as citizenship ? Do I need NZ legal support for international arrangements and where does the NZ lawyer fit in ? How and when do we all get home ? Has Covid changed anything in terms of the legal process? New Zealand’s most experienced surrogacy lawyer explains
Margaret Casey QC, Auckland, NZ
- 2.45-3.05pm
Medical Preparation for Donor IVF treatment in New Zealand
Are there tests than can check sperm quality? What if quality is poor? Can I still make embryos? If undertaking surrogacy, can we create embryos before having matched with a surrogate? What counselling requirements do clinics have ? If I cant locate a surrogate, can I export my embryos?
Dr Olivia Stuart, Fertility Associates, Auckland
- 3.05-3.30pm
Surrogacy in Canada
How does the altruistic Canadian surrogacy model work for foreigners? What availability is there of egg donors and surrogates? How are surrogates motivated to carry? How are they supported? Who will appear on the birth certificate? Are their enforceable contracts given it is an altruistic model |
Leia Swanberg, Canadian Fertility Consultants, Cindy Wasser, Hope Springs Fertility Law
- 4.00-4.20pm
Surrogacy & Donor IVF in Georgia
The country of Georgia is one of the few globally that offers regulated surrogacy programs to foreign heterosexual couples. This means both intended parents go on the birth certificate. Increasing numbers of New Zealanders are engaging in such programs with their own embryos or using a donor. This session looks at recent changes in Georgian Surrogacy enrolment requirements to prove de-facto status. What embryo transfer procedures are acceptable and what are not? How surrogate mothers are selected, communication and after-birth care; What willingness do surrogates have to get Covid vaccinated? How does the Georgian Birth – Certificate process work?
Dr Tea Charkviani, ReproART Georgia, Jennifer Wademan, Barrister, NZ
- 4.20 - 4.40pm
Surrogate & Donor Panel
New Zealand surrogates & donors share their journeys of carrying a child for couples in need
Panelists: Samantha Watkins, Stacey Gibson
- 4.40 - 4.55pm
Growing Up
Young adults born via donor IVF or surrogacy talk about the importance of disclosure, their sense of self and how they relate to their surrogate and their own friends
Panelists: Alice Nelson
- 4.55 -5.30pm
Parent Panel
Recent New Zealand parents who engaged in surrogacy locally or overseas share their journeys of navigating the challenges posed by Covid, travel, red tape and coping with the unknowns
Moderator: Sam Everingham
Panelists: Cameron Owens (dad via US), James Sweetbaum (dad via US), Jennifer Wademan (Georgia expert)
Discussion Panel
About Alice Nelson
Alice Nelson
Adult born via Surrogacy
Alice is a 30 year old twin born via gestational surrogacy in the UK. She came to Auckland in 2009 after high school on a gap year and ended up studying at university and staying. New Zealand was so good, her family migrated also. Alice is a personal trainer and is happily settled in life with her partner and his children. She will talk about growing up and disclosure -how her parents told her about how she came into the world and what effect it has on her own sense of self.
About Cindy Wasser
Cindy Wasser
Hope Springs Fertility Law, Canada
Cindy Wasser practiced as a Canadian Criminal Defence lawyer from 1987 until 2008. In that year, she became a mum to the first of two daughters through an egg donor and gestational surrogacy. This journey led her to her legal specialisation in Fertility Law. Cindy provides legal advice and services to intended parents, Canadian carriers and donors. Cindy has also provided legal advice to fertility medical practitioners and fertility consultant agencies. She has lectured in the area of fertility law at medico-legal conferences and hospitals.
About Dr Olivia Stuart
Dr Olivia Stuart
IVF specialist, Fertility Associates, NZ
Olivia is of Ngapuhi, Ngati Kahungunu descent and is the only Maori female fertility Subspecialist in New Zealand. Olivia is one of the few in NZ to have completed CREI Subspecialist training, and Australiasian group of fertility Subspecialists who are leaders in fertility and develop guidelines for the care of fertility patients. Olivia specialises in fertility preservation, fertility and gynaecological ultrasound and surgery and male infertility. Olivia is also very passionate about the provision of healthcare to those with reduced access, both at home, doing clinics in Northland, as well as overseas in developing countries and has volunteered in Ethiopia and Vietnam. As well as her fertility and gynaecology private practice at FA, Olivia practices Private obstetrics through Birthright. Her spare time is spent with her tamariki, her whanau and huskies.
About Dr Tea Charkviani
Dr Tea Charkviani
Reproductive Endocrinologist, ReproArt, Georgia
Thea Charkviani M.D. is a leading obstetrician gynecologist, reproductive endocrinologist at ReproART Georgian-American Center for Reproductive Medicine with over 25 years of experience, a highly acclaimed and demanded doctor both in Georgia and now abroad. She studied at the Tbilisi State Medical University, did an internship at the State Clinical Institute, and graduated from the Tbilisi State Medical Academy with qualifications in reproductive healthcare. Dr. Charkviani has helped thousands of infertile couples in making their dream come true and becoming parents. Her extensive knowledge and practical experience ensures that couples receive up-to-date treatment using the latest assisted reproductive technologies. She is also engaged in scientific publications, and her works in cooperation with the ReproART team were presented at the ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) and ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine). Free consultations are available with advance booking at: [email protected];
About Leia Swanberg
Leia Swanberg
Founder, Canadian Fertility Consulting
Leia is a mother to five, a two-time gestational surrogate, and a six-time egg donor. She began Canadian Fertility Consulting and Egg Helpers in 2007 after her second surrogacy, with the intention of creating a more rewarding experience for surrogates, egg donors and intended parents. With a background in business development and management, Leia turned her professional passion for alternative family building into a full-time business. Leia believes that surrogacy and egg donation is more than a medical transaction – bringing someone’s child into the world through surrogacy and egg donation is a milestone that deserves to be honoured and celebrated.
About Margaret Casey
Margaret Casey
Queens Counsel, Auckland, New Zealand
Admitted in 1983 Margaret has been a barrister sole since 1993. She has an undergraduate degree from Auckland University and a Masters from Kings College London. Margaret was the Inaugural Chair of the NZ Family Law Section and member of the Section Executive for a number of years. She has 2 significant areas of international speciality. The Hague Convention on Child Abduction and international surrogacy. Margaret has acted for clients who have undertaken surrogacy in the United States, India , Thailand , Australia and the UK .
Her cases are the most widely reported in NZ on this issue and she is acknowledged by her peers and the judiciary as an authority on this developing and complex subject. Margaret is a trained and experienced mediator and collaborative lawyer and member of the Collaborative Law Association.
About Megan Hall-Greenberg
Megan Hall-Greenberg
Founder, Surro Connections, Oregon USA
Megan founded Surro Connections after seeing first-hand the need for this unique company both Domestic and Internationally. Megan is directly involved with every Intended Parent and Surrogate Mother who becomes a part of Surro Connections. Megan is the mother of 3 beautiful children, 1 born through IVF and has been a Gestational Surrogate for three other families as well. Her experience in deeply rooted careers after graduating with her MBA in both Business Administration and Accounting were not nearly as fulfilling as the work she does today with each individual involved in Surro Connections. She has also met all qualifications to be a Mediator within the State of Oregon.
About Sam Everingham
Sam Everingham
Global Expert & Growing Families Director
Sam is the dad to two girls Zoe & Ruby via surrogacy and as the global Director of Growing Families has become one of the globe’s foremost commentators and researchers on surrogacy trends, capacity and bst practice. Through conferences, seminars and consulting he has assisted over a thousand singles and couples to plan safe and reliable routes to building families through surrogacy & donor IVF. With a background in public health and research he is also the author of three books.
About Samantha Watkins
Samantha Watkins
NZ Surrogate
Samantha is a mum to 4 children aged 19, 14, 12 & 9 and has been married for 21 years. After seeing her Intended Fathers story on Facebook and consequently spending time with them she became their gestational surrogate, carrying their son in 2019. Navigating COVID and lockdowns put pressure on their journey but resulted in not only a wonderful child but an incredible relationship between their two families. The team are looking to attempt a sibling journey at the end of 2021.
Meet Our Parent Speakers
About Cameron Owens
Cameron Owens
Gay Dad via USA
Cameron and his husband started their surrogacy journey in November 2018, and their daughter Holly was born in November 2020 in Boston, USA. Their fertility clinic was ORM in Portland, Oregon. Their surrogate undertook two successful embryo transfers, but sadly she suffered a miscarriage at 7 weeks. Their second transfer was in March 2020 when Covid was escalating, and they flew to the US from NZ in October 2020 in the peak of the pandemic, so there was much to navigate – all worth it in the end and they now have a beautiful 1 year old daughter Holly. They are about to do it all over again for a sibling journey.
About James Sweetbaum
James Sweetbaum
Gay dad via USA
James & his partner JP, who live in Auckland NZ, had been together 17 years when they decided that life was not complete without children. James went to university in the US so they decided on a US surrogacy journey with the help of Rich Vaughn at LA based IFLG – International Fertility Law Group & the advice of NZ lawyer Margaret Casey QC on all New Zealand matters relating to adoption, immigration & compliance matters. They made embryos with Dr Said Daneshmand (now at San Diego Fertility) and were matched with surrogate Valerie Kimball (who now works with Pitter Patter surrogacy) by Donor Concierge in CA. After a first failed transfer after 5 weeks, Valerie brought their son Anton (now 4 1/2) and 18 months later, a second child Elio (now nearly 3) into the world, both born in California. James will discuss the ups and downs of their journey.
About Stacey Gibson
Stacey Gibson
Altruistic surrogate
Stacie is a mum of 4 children aged 12, 10, 7 and one in heaven. Having once felt the pain of seeing others with their babies while her arms were left empty from the lost of a first born, and also seeing a friend struggle through IVF to extend her family, Stacie knew that if she could she wanted to be able to help others achieve their dreams of having a family. Stacie has been a gestational surrogate and birthed a beautiful baby girl in 2018, and then went on to complete two traditional surrogacies for two separate families, with beautiful little boys born in 2019 and 2021. There are plans in the pipeline for one last journey.
If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us via email: [email protected].
Learn more about the Support we provide to the families or Intended Parents
TO RECEIVE THE GROWING FAMILIES NEWSLETTER, PLEASE CLICK THE BUTTON ON THE RIGHT AND ENTER IN YOUR DETAILS IN THE FIELDS PROVIDED.
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION
Kindly fill-up the form below to sign-up to our Newsletter.