Ireland Surrogacy & Donor Conference 2022

Alonso was born in Zapopan, Jalisco Mex. and holds a BA in Business Administration and Business Startup, from MesaLands Community College in Tucumcari, New Mexico. With more that 8 years of experience in Patient Coordination, he is more than capable of guiding individuals or couples through their journey to parenthood. Dedicated to the pursuit of a successful outcome of all programs, he bases his life around the 3Ds: Desire, Dedication, and Determination. “I believe there is a solution for every obstacle, the trick is to identify the best course of action and stick to it until the goal is reached, but also be open to adjustments and changes along the way.” Every negative situation has a solution and working together with the proper experts can get us to the desired results faster than if you were doing everything alone. More than 25 years of experience in international relations has given Alonso the understanding of multiple cultures and the ability to communicate with everyone involved.

Specialising in family law, Annette Hickey has twenty years’ experience in practice. She heads up the Surrogacy & Fertility Law team at Poe Kiely Hogan Lanigan and is a leading expert in the field. She has assisted many clients through the Irish legal complexities of surrogacy arrangements and has a reputation for providing a reliable, efficient and sensitive legal service. Complimentary One on One Consultations are available . To book please email: [email protected]

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. Kumar is board certified in reproductive endocrinology and obstetrics and gynecology and practices near Los Angeles, California. In recent years Dr. Kumar has focused his efforts for those that have had difficulty conceiving and require an egg donor and/or gestational surrogacy. Over half of his current patients are from overseas which include Australia, Austria, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, & the UK. He has been asked to present his work across the world including Australia, India, China, and Italy and has contacts in numerous clinics that collaborate closely to provide seamless care.
He has worked with world-renowned leaders at both UCLA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Kumar has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals on endocrine and surgical aspects of infertility. Dr. Kumar has written several textbook chapters on management of tubal factor infertility and ovarian function including premature ovarian failure, and has a special interest in hormonal and functional causes of infertility such as polycystic ovary syndrome, tubal disorders, male factor infertility, and donor/surrogate reproduction. He is also a member of the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society and American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Complimentary One on One Consultations are Available with our expert speakers. To book your expert speaker contact them via [email protected]

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 role in presenting abstracts at various conferences and meetings. He is frequently interviewed for television, radio and print media.

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.

Dr. Jovanovic is an internationally respected fertility specialist who focuses on providing exceptional care to the LGBTQ community in Southern California, but at the same time dedicated to all patients with the desire to have a child or children. Under his leadership, Tree of Life developed into a trusted brand for all patients in need of surrogacy and egg donation. Dr Jovanovic completed his postgraduate medical training at Duke University and Columbia University in New York City. He is double board-certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and OB/Gyn in both, in the United States and Europe. The experience of practicing reproductive medicine in different countries is a tremendous asset to any patient seeking cross-border reproductive care. Dr Jovanovic is constantly working to find new ways to maximize patient success rates and use the latest technology and optimized treatment protocols. Apart from the medical expertise, Dr. Jovanovic is easily approachable and a passionate LGBTQ advocate. He is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Dr. Jovanovic speaks English, German and Serbian

 Fiona qualified as a solicitor in 1980. She is a partner in the firm of Patrick F. O’Reilly and Company in Dublin. She is a member and former chair of the Litigation Committee of the Law Society of Ireland. She is a member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and has just retired, after 10 years of service, as a member of the Circuit Court Rules Committee. She is a member of UK and Ireland LGBT Family Law Institute and works closely with LGBT Ireland. Fiona has in excess of 20 years’ experience working and advising on the law relating to Assisted Human Reproduction. She acts for and advises clients on fertility law to include surrogacy, donor conception and cross border parenting. Fiona’s expertise and reputation in this area of law is highly regarded and recognised both in Ireland and internationally. She has written extensively on Surrogacy and is regularly asked to speak at conferences 

Iulia is 35 years old, divorced and mum to a 12 year old boy. She works as a Russian language specialist and is an experienced surrogate with ReproArt. She lives in Tbilisi, Georgia. She will discuss her motivations and experience carrying as a surrogate for a foreign couple

Hello!  My name is Janene,

I am a mother of 3, & soon to be a grandma.  I enjoy spending time with kids, teaching them about the wonders of the world, especially the intellectual side of things. I love to read & create memories. I believe the most fulfilling part of life are the experiences we have & exposing ourselves to different perceptions within those experiences.  I love food & trying new things.

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.

Lisa co-founded The Baby Lawyers with Lynn so they could dedicate themselves to protecting growing families throughout one of the most important and exciting journeys of their lives.  Lisa specializes in all areas of assisted reproductive technology law and has helped hundreds of clients with family formation.  Based in San Diego, California, Lisa runs the West Coast office of The Baby Lawyers.  Lisa graduated magna cum laude from UCLA in 1991 and from UCLA Law in 1994.  She is also a member of Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS) and the Assisted Reproductive Technology Law Section of the American Bar Association.  [email protected]

Mary (she/her) is a Fine Gael Senator and party Seanad spokesperson on Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Privacy Rights.  She is a member of four Joint Oireachtas Committees, including the recent Committee on International Surrogacy  which tabled its recommendations in early July.  She  has been particularly active on the legislation for Birth, Information and Tracing Bill and the Institutional Burials Bill, working very closely with mother and baby home survivors.  She has been very outspoken on the call for legislation to end the discrimination of children born via surrogacy and for the establishment of rights regarding Assisted Human Reproduction including International and Domestic Surrogacy. Mary is married to David and mother to Scarlett who was born via international surrogacy in May 2015. Mary first qualified as a Counselling Psychologist and practiced in private practice for a number of years. She is a practicing Barrister specialising in Privacy and Employment Law; prior to her appointment to the Seanad together with David she was active in running a successful consultancy company specialising in Management, HR and Legal Services.

Nevzat Arshan is the Managing Director of the Cyprus IVF Hospital.

The Cyprus IVF Hospital belongs to the largest private hospital, Cyprus Central Hospital. This IVF centre was established in 2008 and was the first in North Cyprus to obtain International Organization for Standardization (ISO 9001) certification due to the quality treatment it provides to patients.

With unsurpassed previous diplomatic/embassy experience and contacts, Poonam has made many friends amongst intended parents via international surrogacy for her no-nonsense services ensuring a seamless process for parents eager to return home with their newborns. Well known for her work in India, she has translated this expertise to assisting Australian citizens exit from  Ukraine & Georgia with minimal delays She is an expert in  travel documents, passport and citizenship requirements, flights and hotel arrangements, particularly for Australian  citizens.

Ravi Sharma has dedicated his life to the sufferings of childless couples and individuals. He is never tired of assisting people and egg donors and made himself available for them 24X7. He is working in the segment of Infertility treatment for 8 years. He is associated with the successful launch of Medical Tourism Company offers assistance in various infertility treatment options. His baby The ARTbaby offers various IVF treatment options to clients worldwide. He has written various articles on IVF treatment options his practical experience touching the life of the Indented Parents. He is a true professional with a great human touch and feel. With his dream & commitment towards creating families for all, he has a clear focus on providing products, services & knowledge in the fertility field.

Róisín Venables has worked as a specialist Fertility Counsellor for 25 years. She works  with those affected by fertility issues including; Infertility/IUI/IVF/Donor conception/Onco-Fertility and Surrogacy as well as miscarriage, pregnancy loss and termination of pregnancy. She offers implications counselling as well as support and therapeutic counselling before during and after treatment(s). She is a trained Mind Body Medicine practitioner and has designed and run programmes for individuals preparing for and going through fertility treatment here in Ireland as well as those travelling outside the country.  She is one of the founding members and the current chairperson of the Irish Fertility Counsellors Association which was established in 2008. As well as running a busy private practice in Dublin, she is the Director of Counselling and head Supervisor with the Irish Family Planning Association.  She sits on a number of research and advisory committees and up until recently she guested on a radio programme near her home town, where she discussed different issues relating to mental health, counselling and fertility.

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 donor & surrogacy trends and capacity. 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 four books.

Shawna is a manager with Gifted Journeys, a California based egg donation and surrogacy agency.  She has worked as a Cycle Director for egg donation and surrogacy cycles for over 9 years.  In addition, Shawna was an egg donor to several wonderful intended parents, as well as a surrogate for a high profile couple in Los Angeles, CA.  Shawna has been featured in People Magazine and took part in a reality series documenting her surrogacy journey. She has also been a presenter for Pregnantish, the first online magazine that helps people navigate the realities of infertility and fertility treatments. Shawna currently lives in Danville, CA. with her husband and two amazing children.

Helping others has always been my passion in life. For more than 15 years I was a preschool teacher. Guiding young children through their developmental stages and watching them grow and move onto their next classroom, this was my daily contribution of helping others. As I loved my children in my classroom, I knew I wanted to do more. I was approached by a friend that was a surrogate and her experience sparked an interest. I did some of my own research and was not ready to commit to that experience at that moment. It took me a few years to commit to the idea of being a surrogate along with numerous Google searching. I knew that I did not want any more children of my own, and I loved being pregnant and I wanted to help others. Deciding to be a surrogate has been the most life changing experience ever, not including the birth of my own daughter.

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. What she enjoys most  is the variety of roles and the type of environments she is exposed to. Being involved in the fertility sector allows Tamari to work with different teams on new projects/programs, work in different cultural environments, be exposed to various systems, and manage her time and efforts against very specific deliverables, thus being able to gain insight into managing projects from different angles.  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 [email protected]

Catherine and her husband keith  knew they might have fertiliity issues given Catherine’s history of endometriosis. After the devastting loss of their first daughter Helen,  they were told they needed a surrogate to have a child. Under financial pressure, they investigated Ukraine and realised they would need to mortgage their home for the journey They set off with  film crew in tow. Catherine has featured in a documentary and is involved closely in advocacy group Irish Families Through urrogacy.

Christian & Stefan Bair have been married for 11 years. They live in Germany, have one daughter Maja who is two years old. with the help of egg donation and surrogacy in California.
Christian works as a sales representative for a food company and part-time as a representative for the fertility clinic that helped them to have a daughter. With openness and experience from his own journey, he helps others who have this path ahead of them. Very close to his heart is helping LGBTQ patients in the desire to have a child together.

Gearoid and his partner Seamus embarked on an extra-ordinary surrogacy journey, initially working with multiple donors and a surrogate in Canada – it was a terrible experience. Shattered and having run out of embryos, they refused to give up their dream of parenthood. They switched to creating new embryos with a leading Californian IVF clinic. Drained of funds to afford a US surrogacy agency, they matched independently with an altruistic UK surrogate and flew her to California for the transfer. Now dads to boy/girl twins, their story demonstrates initiative and doggedness in the face of adversity. Based on Growing Families advice they moved their embryos to North Cyprus IVF clinic for baby #3  due to Covid.  Gearoid has become a spokesperson for Equality for Children – a group of parents lobbying for the right to have both legally recognised.

Jason and his partner attended previous Growing Families Dublin conferences in 2018 and 2019 and are now dads to two boys (19 months, and 4 weeks) with the help of Canadian Fertility Consultants and CReATe in Canada. Arriving back in Ireland from Canada on 1 Sept 2021 they are keen to give back to the community they learned so much from. Jason will share their experience, as well as practical issues around costs, travel and exit processes during the pandemic.

Marie was born with congenital conditions, including a unicornate uterus  in the village of  Ardarain County Donegal. Coming to terms with being unable to carry a child was difficult. Marie was incredibly fortunate in having not one but two sisters who offered to carry for her. But when no Irish IVF professionals would perform an embryo transfer to her sister, Marie and her family became reproductive refugees. They were forced to travel to Czech Republic in 2013  to undertake the required IVF process. Not everything went to plan.  Nine years after Lucy’s birth, Marie has been involved in the current campaign to allow her to be recognised as  Lucy’s legal mother

Mark & Damian’s journey began at our 2016 conference where they met a number of Surrogacy agencies and fertility clinics. They first thought Canada was going to be their country of choice, but found the attention to detail and availability of well-screened surrogates left much to be desired. So they re-connected with a Californian agency in LA and by August 2016 were matched with a Surrogate. A month later they completed their IVF with San Diego Fertility Centre who transferred their first embryo in Feb 2017. While their surrogate experienced a premature membrane rupture at the 29 week mark, with the right support, all ended well and on 21 September 2017 they welcomed Isabel Rose. Mark will talk about the ups and downs and what they learnt along the way