SPEAKERS AT OUR LONDON SURROGACY & EGG DONOR EVENT
Antonia Felix
Partner, Family Team
Antonia Felix is a member of the Surrogacy and Modern Families Group and was named one of the top 100 private client lawyers by Citywealth in 2021. She specializes in complex financial remedy cases, cohabitation disputes, and private law children matters, including surrogacy.
Ali Al Chami
Deputy Medical Director
Mr. Al Chami specializes in advanced 3D gynecological ultrasound scanning, HyCoSy, and hysteroscopy, with a focus on fertility preservation, reproductive surgery, and adjuvant IVF treatments. He has published research on luteal support, PCOS, unexplained infertility, and recurrent miscarriage.
Fiona Powney
Mum via Georgia
Fiona’s 20-year journey to motherhood included freezing her eggs, a clinic mishap, multiple miscarriages, and exploring surrogacy. After a successful but lengthy surrogacy in Georgia, her second attempt in Ukraine faced the challenges of war.
Meet Our Expert Speakers
Parents & Families Speaking About Their Experience
What to Expect at our London Surrogacy & Donor Event?
Join us at this unique event in London, where you can explore a range of options all in one place. Connect with providers and engage with other parents, donors, and surrogates within the United Kingdom.
The path to parenthood can be complex, with its own set of challenges, emotions, and abundant information. Every individual’s journey is unique, and our London events celebrate this diversity, offering tailored support and guidance to our local community.
This event will provide:
Comprehensive Insights
Gain a deep understanding of the key factors and steps in international family building, including budgets, timelines, and surrogate/donor relationships.
IVF Essentials
Learn about the medical considerations and screenings for egg and sperm providers, embryo development, and the impact of age on fertility.
Surrogacy Logistics
Understand the process and challenges of embryo and sperm shipping, surrogate matching, and selecting the best location for surrogacy.
Support Networks
Discover the importance of peer support, prenatal classes, and post-birth support networks for both heterosexual and gay parents.
Personal Stories
Hear from parents and surrogates about their personal journeys, motivations, and experiences in surrogacy and donor IVF.
Engage in Face-to-Face Conversations with London’s Leading Experts
Engage in interactive ‘Ask Me Anything’ panels with new parents sharing their diverse paths to family-building. Network with peers and gain insights through one-on-one discussions with experts at their booths, exploring varied avenues to achieve your family-building goals.
Personalised Consultations
Your ticket includes access to arrange private consultations with multiple experts. Review each speaker’s profile and contact them via email to schedule personalised meetings.
London Surrogacy & Egg Donor Event Agenda
09:45 AM –
10:00 AM
Introduction to Growing Families & Where Are We at Globally
Who are we, our International Advisory Board and partners. What impact are US abortion laws having? What is the status of programs in Canada? What has changed in Argentina? What is the status of surrogacy in European countries like Ukraine, Greece, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and North Cyprus? Why has the EU parliament put out a warning about surrogacy?
Paul Riggio & Sam Everingham, Growing Families
10:00 AM –
10:20 AM
Clinical Pathway for Egg Donation and Surrogacy
Will focus on preparation, medical considerations & screening, carrier screening, and improving outcomes screening. What can IVF specialists do to assess Sperm & egg quality prior to IVF? What impact does age have? What can I do to improve quality? Discusses embryo development, blastocysts, grading, Pre-Genetic-Aneuploidy Testing and how embryos are selected for transfer
Ali Al Chami, CRGH
10:20 AM –
10:40 AM
Considerations in International Family Building
Budgets, timelines, your age, existing children, citizenship, type of surrogate or donor relationship desired, embryo quality. Risks of working with travelling’ surrogates? What are the key steps in the process? Which order should they be done in? What can hold up the process? Surrogate and Newborn Insurance
Sam Everingham, Growing Families
10:40 AM –
11:10 AM
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 5 jurisdictions
Moderator: Sam Everingham
Panelists: Lauri De Brito, Anastasia Polonska, Steven Swanepoel, Mercedes Muino
11:10 AM –
11:40 AM
Morning Tea
11:40 PM –
12:20 PM
International Parent Journeys
Recent 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
Moderator: Paul Riggio
Panelists: Paul (dad via USA) Michael (dad via Colombia) Sam (dad via Canada) Fiona (mum via Georgia & Ukraine)
12:20 AM –
12:35 PM
Surrogacy in the USA – Ask Me Anything
Lauri De Brito, Kathryn Kaycoff, Paul Riggio, Anita, Paul A
12:35 PM –
12:50 PM
Surrogacy in Colombia or Mexico – Ask Me Anything
Steven Swanepoel, Michael Rana-Cox
12:50 PM –
01:30 PM
Lunch & Networking
01:30 PM –
01:45 PM
Nationality & Immigration Law
What citizenship will my child acquire? What passport are they eligible for? What are the processes involved? How do timelines differ? What are the typical hold-ups? Who can assist?
Hannah Barnett, Mishcon de Reya; Lydia Stephenson-Slater, Mishcon de Reya
01:45 PM –
02:10 PM
International Surrogate Panel
Surrogates from Georgia, Argentina, US & Canada discuss their motivations, expectations, journeys and contact with IPs and children.
Brittany Sheely (US) Meghan Kolodka (Canada); Sindy Rivera (Colombia) Tea Jamagidze (Georgia) Erica (Argentina)
Legal Protections for US Surrogacy
Why has the US become the gold standard in surrogacy arrangements? How do surrogacy contracts work? Who needs legal representation? How does transfer of parentage work? How does this differ in various states? What are my rights and responsibilities?
Dean Masserman, Masserman Vorzimer Law, USA
02:10 PM –
02:25 PM
Obtaining Parental orders in UK post-surrogacy
Domicile evidence for foreigners; Cost, time, process required; What issues does your lawyer need to address? What countries present a challenge
Antonia Felix, Mishcon de Reya; Alice Mantle, Mishcon de Reya
02:25 PM –
02:40 PM
Surrogacy in Argentina – Ask Me Anything
Mercedes Muino, Babies Come True
02:40 PM –
02:55 PM
Surrogacy in Georgia – Ask Me Anything
Anastasia Polonska, Silk Medical, Fiona Powney
02:55 PM –
03:00 PM
Sum Up & Further Support
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
