Expert Speakers
Guest Speakers
Building a family through surrogacy and donor conception is life-changing—but it’s also complex. Without expert guidance, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by costs, legalities, and uncertainty. That’s why Growing Families, with over a decade of experience, is here to help. We’ve guided thousands of intended parents to success—now it’s your turn.
Event Details
Date & Time:
Sat, 26 Jul 2025 11:00 am
Venue:
View Melbourne
Address:
562 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
Ticket Price:
$55
Why You Can’t Afford to Miss This Event:
Navigating surrogacy and donor conception comes with big decisions and potential challenges. This event will give you the clarity, expert advice, and connections you need to move forward with confidence. We bring together the world’s top experts, the most reputable agencies, and parents who have been in your shoes—so you can avoid pitfalls and move forward with confidence.
Direct Access to
Experts in the field
Hear directly from leading fertility specialists, lawyers, and agency representatives who have helped thousands of families.
Real Stories from Parents & Surrogates
Hear directly from people who’ve been through the exact journey you’re trying to start. Learn from their experience and improve yours.
Local & International
Options
Get clarity on whether an Australian or overseas program is best suited for you and understand the legalities of each.
Avoid Common (and Costly) Mistakes
Learn what works—and what doesn’t—so you can make informed decisions, avoid unnecessary setbacks, and ensure your journey is as cost-effective as possible.
Networking with
the Right People
Connect with professionals, surrogates, and like-minded intended parents who are on the same path—people who truly understand your challenges.
Personalised
Guidance
Get your most pressing questions answered in dedicated Q&A sessions and face-to-face discussions with experts.
Your Ticket Includes:
Morning and afternoon tea, lunch, and drinks throughout the day.
If you’re attending the Saturday sessions, you also get FREE drinks (wine, beer & soft drinks) at the networking session from 5:30 PM.
Private one-on-one consultations with select experts to discuss your specific situation.
Access to all speaker sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
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
conference Agenda
11:30 AM
Welcome – Chair: Alex Perchard
11:35 AM –
11:55 AM
What to Consider in Choosing a Path
Starting your family through surrogacy or egg donation comes with important decisions. What pathway is appropriate for my situation? This session explores global options, key considerations, and what to expect in terms of costs, timelines, risks, and resources. Discusses vital issues in regard to success rates, timelines, availability, emotional, cultural and practical considerations. We’ll also walk you through the agenda to help you get the most out of the weekend.
Chair: Alex Perchard
11:55 AM –
12:10 PM
Domestic Donor & Surrogacy Processes
Provides a step-by-step overview of what is involved in domestic Donor IVF and surrogacy pathways
Anna McKie, Surrogacy Australia Chair: Alex Perchard
12:10 PM –
12:30 PM
IVF for those new to the process
Medical considerations & screening for egg and sperm providers. 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? Carrier screening, Discuss embryo development, blastocysts, grading, Pre-Genetic-Aneuploidy Testing and how embryos are selected for transfer.
Dr Rahi Victory, VRC, Canada
12:30 PM –
12:45 PM
Genetic Counselling in the Australian context
This session highlights the role of genetic counselling in fertility and prenatal care in Australia. It covers key considerations for using donor eggs, expanded carrier screening, PGT-A testing, and NIPT. Attendees will gain practical insight into testing options and next steps when increased genetic risk is identified
Katherine Rose, Genetic Counsellor
12:45 PM
Lunch
1:45 PM –
2:10 PM
Donors & Donor Recipient Panel
Australian donors and those who used Donor IVF discuss their journeys, coming to terms with donor IVF, sourcing a donor, relationships with donors, counselling etc. Includes Q&A
Moderator: Courtney Smyth
Panelists: Andrew Mclean, Samantha Reynolds, Teagan Couper
2:10 PM –
2:30 PM
The Altruistic Headspace
Provides a step-by-step guide to Australia’s friendship-based Surrogacy model
Anna McKie, Surrogacy Australia
2:30 PM –
2:50 PM
Australian Surrogacy Laws & Parentage Orders
What should be included in these, what is their purpose, do they differ by state? How does legal parentage work after Australian surrogacy? Can my surrogate be in a different state? Does she need to be an Australian citizen? Can we do the IVF part offshore?
Sarah Wainwright, Landers & Rogers lawyers
2:50 PM
Afternoon Tea & Networking
3:20 PM –
4:10 PM
Parent Panel
Parents discuss their journeys via Donor IVF or domestic surrogacy.
Moderator: Sarah Bevan Panelists: Alex Perchard, Jess Mills, Jay Bowen, Michael Langtree
04:10 PM –
04:40 PM
Counselling – Looking After All Parties
Counselling requirements, what counselling involves and how to look after yourself whether you are a surrogate or intended parent.
Sarah Nowoweiski, Rita Alesi
04:40 PM –
05:30 PM
Surrogate Panel
Given the morning sickness, weight gain, fatigue & unending medical appointments, what motivates them? Australian surrogates discuss their motivations, decision-making, what they look for in recipients, relationships and hurdles. How do their partners support them? What makes a good IP profile? What do surrogates want to know about? What is in-appropriate? What elements stand out? New surrogates provide their feedback. Includes Audience Q&A
Moderator: Rita Alesi. Panelists: Charmaine Staal, Elisa Ricordi, Donna McCoull, Amanda McMillan
5:30 PM
Drinks & Networking
6:30 PM
SURROGACY COMMUNITY DINNER
(INDEPENDENT DINNER, NOT INCLUDED IN TICKET)
09:25 AM
Welcome – Sam Everingham
09:30 AM –
09:50 AM
Considerations in Selecting a Country
Where can I engage? Timeframe costs, Success rates. What are the pros and cons of each destination? How do timelines differ? Legal protections? How do costs compare?
Are there fixed cost programs? How do surrogate relationships differ? What egg donors are available?
Sam Everingham, Growing Families
09:50 AM –
10:05 AM
Maximising Success – In Donor IVF & Surrogacy
Why is medical screening so important? Genetic Carrier screening & tests during pregnancy. What issues rule out a surrogate or donor? Do international clinics insist on PGT-A testing? What is best practice in screening of surrogates? Are mock cycles still performed? What checks are done before transfer?
Dr David Smotrich, La Jolla IVF (US)
10:05 AM –
10:35 AM
International Surrogacy Experts Panel
Learn directly from experienced professionals who will cover program options, costs, agency selection, and country-specific regulations. Get insights into the best destinations for your unique circumstances.
Moderator: Sam Everingham Panelists: Naia Adamia (Be Parent); Alex McNab (Canada); Maka Mebaghishvili (New Life) Lesa Slaughter (US)
10:35 AM –
10:50 AM
US Surrogacy – Surviving the Process
This hilarious gay dad and podcaster will detail his six year rollercoaster ride which culminated in the birth of twins
“Sassy Scott” O’Halloran
10:50 AM –
11:20 AM
Working With Smaller IVF Clinics – Why It works – Q&A Panel
There is increasing awareness of alarming mistakes being made in large Australian IVF clinics. In the US too, big business has bought up many once good clinics. It is patient care which suffers. Learn from two boutique US clinics why they have chosen to stay independent, what it means for patient, donor and surrogate care and why individualised care is so important in surrogacy cases
Moderator: Sam Everingham Panelists: Dr Vuk Jovanovic, (Tree of Life Fertility USA), Dr Minoos Hosseinzadeh, (FISD, USA)
11:20 AM
Morning Tea
11:50 PM –
12:35 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: Alex Perchard Panelists: Rachel Noel (Georgia), Daniel Montgomery (Canada); Nick Wray (Colombia), Marcus Sellen (USA)
12:35 PM –
1:00 PM
The Reality – Outcomes for Kids
Teenagers born via international surrogacy or egg donation discuss their lives, disclosure and their sense of self.
Moderator: Sam Everingham Panelists: Tamzin McLean, Remy Caithness, Lia Russell, Alyssa Booth
01:00 PM
Lunch & Networking
01:40 PM –
02:00 PM
Ask Me Anything – Breakout 1-
Surrogacy & Insurance in the USA
Moderator: Sam Everingham
Panelists: Jason Smith, Oren Cohen, Yang Jiao, Dr Minoos Hosseinzadeh, Lesa Slaughter
Ask Me Anything -Breakout 2
Surrogacy in Georgia –
Moderator: Anita Fiorenza
Panelists: Naia Adamia (Be Parent), Maka Mebaghishvili (New Life)
02:00 PM –
02:20 PM
Ask Me Anything – Surrogacy in Canada
Moderator: Sam Everingham Panelists: Alex McNab; Lindsay Smith, Dr Rahi Victory, Daniel Montgomery
02:20 PM –
02:40 PM
Ask Me Anything – Surrogacy in Mexico or Colombia
Panelists: Naia Adamia, Tina Nishnianidze, Sam Everingham
02:40 PM –
03:00 PM
Meet Your Needs via Hybrid Programs
Making embryos somewhere and using them somewhere else
Dr Minoos Hosseinzadeh, Fertility Institute of San Diego, Nir Keren, Babies Come True
03:00 PM –
03:20 PM
Legal Processes for Australians after Overseas Surrogacy
What countries present a challenge; what issues do intended parents need to address?
Sarah Bevan, Surrogacy & Family Lawyer
03:20 PM –
03:40 PM
Concierge Support to Smooth Your Journey
Sperm & Embryo shipping, Citizenship & Passports for newborns, document aquisition, notarisation & apostilling, Centrelink, Medicare, Immunisations, international flights with a newborn; powers of attorney, international funds transfers; making sense of insurance; Why is this so important?
Sam Everingham & Anita Fiorenza, Growing Families
3:40 PM –
4:30 PM
Afternoon Tea & One-on-One with Experts
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Gold Sponsors
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