Understanding the Current Egg Donor and Surrogacy Landscape

An overview of options globally, including embryo and sperm shipping options & costs, donor and surrogate availability,  travel for donor-IVF, the impact of Covid-19, entry and exit processes for births as well as surrogate & clinic interaction.

Sam Everingham, Growing Families

Medical Preparation for Intended Parents

Whether you are shipping sperm for egg donor IVF or surrogacy elsewhere, or making embryos in your own city, there are important steps in the medical screening and testing process. Understand the importance of blood & urine screening, how your reproductive capacity can be medically assessed and what can be done to increase the quality of your sperm or embryos

Dr Peter Illingworth, IVF Australia

Supporting You & Your Surrogate  – The US Agency Model

Agency for Surrogacy Solutions  is located in California – the heart of the US long history of surrogacy. Its owners are both parents via surrogacy and wanted to provide a service that they would have wished for when embarking on their journeys. They explain the ways in which the US model embraces transparency, care and support to ensure your surrogate comes away as joyful as you are

Lauri De Brito & Kathryn Kaycoff, Agency for Surrogacy Solutions, USA

The Impact of Covid-19 on Ukraine Surrogacy

Lotus Surrogacy has been assisting Australian intended parents with Ukraine surrogacy for more than five years. Before that they ran programs in India and elsewhere. Their large team have an unparalleled understanding of Ukraine paperwork and processes. Lotus principal Dana Magdassi discusses the impact of the pandemic on their own surrogates, parents and how they have learned to adapt.

Dana Magdassi, Lotus Surrogacy

Practical Advice on Legal and Parentage Issues 

Provides a simple guide to when & how you will need to interact with lawyers in undertaking surrogacy arrangements domestically or offshore

Cassandra Kalpaxis, Kalpaxis Legal

Morning Tea & Networking With Parents and Experts

Altruistic Surrogacy in Colombia

Surprisingly, Colombia offers a limited altruistic surrogacy program for foreigners with a focus on the needs of gay couples unable to locate a surrogate in their home country.  Dozens have enrolled in such programs and already Australians have welcomed children through Colombia. While Colombia is now open to travel, most intended parents are choosing to ship sperm. Dad via surrogacy Damien Chambers provides an update on the processes, including surrogate screening and care, the impact of Covid-19, donor and surrogate availability, costs and exit processes for Australians

Damien Chambers, Tammuz Family

Considerations for Australians needing to travel for Donor IVF or Surrogacy Births
While there is no need to travel to commence international surrogacy, given sperm or embryos can be shipped, many Australians need to travel for egg donor IVF, given the lack of donors in Australia and the fact that many have embryos offshore already. As well,  parents need to leave and enter Australia every week for surrogacy births. With the lack of airlines flying, the special permission required to travel and the strict quotas on arrivals, it is essential that you are well organised.
Craig Fyfe, Your Travel Expert, Australia

Parent Panel

Recent heterosexual and gay Australian parents via surrogacy in Australia and internationally  share their experiences, the highs and lows, what they learned and what they would have done differently

Moderator: Sam Everingham

Panelists: Rebecca Newson (via Ukraine), Michael & Iolanda (via Canada) Todd & Phil (via US) Tamara & John (via Australia)

LUNCH & NETWORKING WITH PARENTS & EXPERTS

The Australian Surrogate Perspective

Local altruistic surrogates provide a reality check for intended parents – one who had a positive journey and one a more negative journey- discussing what they expect from singles or couples they carry for, what motivates them and the ups and downs of the journey.

Michelle Fenwick (two-time NSW surrogate), Leanne McKay (NSW surrogate)