Fulfilling Your Family Building Dream

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.

Dr. Librach is the Director of the CReATe Fertility Centre.  A graduate of University of Toronto, he completed undergrad, graduate and a specialty degree in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Librach went on to spend 3 years at the University of California in San Francisco becoming a board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist. Since 1991 Dr. Librach has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Toronto. He is a Co-Director of the University of Toronto Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Clinic. He is the principal investigator in various clinical and embryology studies and on-going research at Women’s College Hospital and university of Toronto. Dr. Librach has played an active in presenting abstracts at various conferences and meetings. He is frequently interviewed for television, radio and print media.

Dr. Said Daneshmand is an internationally recognized Fertility specialist with extensive experience in complex IVF cases, as well as Egg Donor/Surrogacy Third party care.

Dr. Daneshmand serves on the board of several Surrogacy Advocacy groups. He has collaborated to develop in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols to improve pregnancy rates, including PTEC (post-thaw extended culture), which was one of the most successful IVF regimens that led to a surge in Frozen embryo transfers, as a means to maximize endometrial receptivity. These groundbreaking findings have been published in the internationally respected medical journal, Fertility and Sterility, where Dr. Daneshmand also served as a reviewer.

Dr. Daneshmand completed his fellowship and residency at UCLA. He is specialty board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and sub-specialty board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology.

He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Eileen Pike Medical School Valedictorian Award, the PCRS Fellowship and Practicing Physician Research Award, and the ASRM STAR AWARD, awarded to a select group of research scientists who have presented their original research at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine Conference for 10+ consecutive years. He has served as the President of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (Iota Chapter) and is a member of the DeCherney Society, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Dr. Daneshmand speaks French, Spanish and Farsi.

Intended parents have travelled from more than 40 countries in 2019 alone to seek his help in their journey to parenthood.  He was the Principal Investigator in the Multi-Center Global research trial of non-invasive PGT-A, the latest technique for assessing embryonic genetic health without the need for embryo biopsy.

Dr. Uliana started her professional career as an IVF specialist, coordinating the first international cooperation in Ukraine based on the import of sperm and export of embryos. Her vision of helping patients all over the globe motivated Dr. Uliana to establish a process of medical and administrative control of oocyte donation project, which developed into numerous international partnerships and has become recognized worldwide. Dr. Uliana studied medicine at Lviv National Medical University and practiced in such countries as Ireland, Israel and Great Britain. She also established the process of oocyte donation in different locations in Asia and Africa.  Dr. Uliana has over 12 years’ experience in the IVF field, performed over 5000 treatment cycles and treated patients from 36 countries.

Heather has an extensive background in customer service with a passion for developing partnerships and solutions. Supporting Australian intended parents and co-ordinating embryo shipping globally are Heather’s areas of expertise with our network of couriers.  She  works part-time but is available most days.

Lauri’s daughter was born via surrogacy in May 2005. Eighteen months later, the same surrogate gave birth to Lauri’s son. Lauri has experienced the depression and heartache of infertility herself. Like Kathryn, she too, had a career in television before infertility consumed her life. She was a producer/director/writer. But to Lauri, there is nothing more rewarding and ultimately as important as bringing a child who is so very wanted into the world.

Professor Hayden Homer has over 20 years’ experience in Infertility and Gynaecology and is a specialist in Obstetrics & Gynaecology with Royal Colleges in Australia & New Zealand (FRANZCOG) and in the UK (MRCOG). He has the unique distinction of also holding an advanced accreditation in Fertility and Reproductive Surgery in both Australia & New Zealand (CREI) as well as the UK (CCSST). Hayden’s practice focuses on fertility treatment (including miscarriage), gynaecology and minimal access surgery for many conditions including endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, pelvic pain and uterine abnormalities. He has a PhD in fertility research from the UK and holds a Professorship in Reproductive Medicine at the University of Queensland where he directs research aimed at developing innovative technologies for improving ageing egg quality.

Professor Homer combines an extensive clinical track-record with a deep understanding of the basic biology underpinning fertility and infertility, and he firmly believes that it is critical for patients to understand their own unique fertility problems. His treatment philosophy therefore centres on educating patients and taking the time to help his patients understand sometimes complex biological conditions. To allow for this, he favours longer appointment times that facilitate attention to detail, with patience and approachability. For these reasons too, he no longer practices Obstetrics thereby enabling him to devote his undivided attention to fertility and gynaecology patients. Hayden strongly believes that the best chance of pregnancy success comes from highly individualised treatment planning. His breadth of knowledge and fertility experience allow him to design patient-specific programs incorporating the latest developments in the field geared towards maximising success rates.

Hayden offers a highly personalised management style, is patient, thorough, approachable, and readily accessible during treatments. He is also available for consultations outside of normal work hours, including weekends.

Rich combines his passion for family formation with 20 years of experience in business and technology law. He has been published in the American Journal of Family Law and the Australian Family Law Journal; he has lectured at numerous legal and family-building conferences around the U.S.;  and he has been featured as a fertility law expert on National Public Radio, Parenting Magazine Live, and other radio shows. He is also an experienced fitness instructor, triathlete, a former paramedic, and board member of a medical device company. Rich and his husband are the proud parents of twin boys, through egg donation and surrogacy.

In addition to his busy legal practice, Rich devotes numerous volunteer hours to advancing the field of ART law and is a dedicated advocate for LGBT intended parents and families. His community service includes chairing the American Bar Association (ABA) Family Law Section Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology from 2013-2018, which played a leading role in developing model legislation to assist states in regulating assisted reproductive technology medical providers and donor and surrogacy agencies and providing guidance on resolutions approved by the American Bar on cross-border parentage and surrogacy issues as well as citizenship for children born abroad via ART to U.S. citizen intended parents.

Complimentary One on One Consultations are available during the event. To book please email Rich: rich@iflg.net

Richard and his partner Steven are fathers to twins born via US surrogacy in September 2012.  Richard has become an advocate helping prospective parents learn more about surrogacy.  In doing so he aims to help parents make informed decisions from the outset. Richard also helps US fertility clinics reach out to prospective parents in the UK. He has written a step-by-step guide to US surrogacy and has written on surrogacy for We Are Family Magazine.  He is also the author of www.guidetosurrogacy.com and is actively involved within the gay dad’s community.  Richard lives between London and Norfolk.Complimentary One on One Consultations are Available with our expert speakers. To book your expert speaker contact them via rwestoby@sdfertility.com

Sarah has practised solely in family law since the commencement of her career nearly 20 years ago, and has been an Accredited Specialist in Family Law through the Law Society of NSW since 2005.  She also is an accredited arbitrator, regular presenter of ongoing legal education papers on family law to the legal profession and is on the panel of lawyers appointed to act as the Independent Child’s Lawyer in proceedings under the Family Law Act.  Sarah Bevan Family Lawyers are experts in surrogacy, having assisted many Australian and international intended parents and surrogates. Sarah led the team responsible for the landmark NSW decision for the first same-sex couple to be registered as parents on their child’s birth certificate, after that child was born through a surrogacy arrangement.

Complimentary One on One Consultations are available during the event. To book please email Sarah: sarah.bevan@sbfamilylawyers.com.au

Tamari is an experienced international fertility manager,  with a long history working in local and international health care industry, a Medical degree and a Master’s degree in Public Health and Health Policy. She initially ran programs solely in Georgia and has recently opened a groundbreaking surrogacy and donor program in Argentina. Her specific interest is in the inter-dependencies of global and national practices, in how policies are written  based on different regional contexts and translated into real medical solution to ensure better health outcomes.

Complimentary One on One Consultations are available. To book please email tamarikachlishvili@yahoo.com

Dax is a graphic designer, web developer and photographer. He and husband Todd live in country Queensland. After four failed IVF attempts, Dax’s sister told he and Todd that she wanted to help them become dads – she became their egg donor.  They were featured on Sunrise, and were soon-after contacted by Todd’s sister, Danielle, who offered to be their surrogate. As Danielle and her family live in New Zealand (and the process was repeatedly being stalled by Covid), they sent the embryos to NZ in September 2021 for the transfer. Dax & his partner became parents to a daughter, Bailey, on 7 November, 2022. As their daughter is technically a Kiwi by birth, they needed to become parents via adoption (due to NZ law). Dax will discuss what they learned along the way.

Elijah is nearly 11 years old. He and his twin brother Huxley were born via traditional surrogacy in Brisbane to an experienced surrogate and egg donor. Elijah and Huxley live with their two dads, Jared and Michael, and enjoy regular catch ups with their surrogate Rachael and her family.

Huxley is nearly 12 years old. He and his twin brother Huxley were born via traditional surrogacy in Brisbane to an experienced surrogate and egg donor. Elijah and Huxley live with their two dads, Jared and Michael, and enjoy regular catch ups with their surrogate Rachael and her family.

Nicole MacRae

Mum via Greece

Nicole and her partner Jake signed up for surrogacy with MFI in 2021 after a long unsuccessful journey through IVF in Australia. They shipped sperm to Greece and matched with a local egg donor. After PGT and two embryo transfers, their beautiful daughter was born in Chania, Crete in September 2022. Nicole will share their journey to further assist others people make their dream family a reality.

Terry and his partner Ben had both of their daughters in Australia through altruistic surrogacy. A friend of Terry and Ben offered to be their egg donor and both girls were carried by their surrogate Kath who the boys met online. Ben and Terry’s journey was an interstate one, with the boys living in Brisbane and Kath living in Melbourne. Their second daughter Maeve was born in Victoria during Covid which meant the journey was very different to their first one, but even with these challenges, Ben, Terry, Kath and her partner Luke forged and even stronger relationship and have not only had two healthy happy daughters but also made life long friends.