


Surrogacy & Donor Seminar- Wellington
Sun 12 June
1.30- 5.30 pm
Naumi Studio Hotel, 213 Cuba Street, Te Aro, New Zealand
This event is a chance for intended parents, parents and experts to network, share stories and learn from each other. Learn what the IVF, donor and surrogacy processes really looks like in New Zealand and internationally. Parents will join our popular ‘tell-all’ panel to explore how expectations can differ and how to survive the unexpected hurdles.
Face-to-face and online tickets available
This event will guide you on :
- Crucial decision-making on providers and destinations
- Risks and how to avoid them
- Sperm and Embryo shipping options
- Legal issues
- International travel updates
- Resources to support you
Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
TIMING & DESCRIPTION
- 1.30- 1.50pm
Surrogacy Planning in the Covid-19 era
When you are placing significant emotional and financial investment in family-building, you deserve to know the current reality. What is the evidence for vaccination in pregnancy? Why are surrogates refusing vaccination? Can I specify this? What is the impact on wait times? In non-English-speaking contexts, can I have an independent relationship with my surrogate? Sam Everingham provides answers to many of the questions agencies wont tell you.
Sam Everingham, Growing Families
- 1.50- 2.10pm
Selecting an Egg Donor & Surrogate Medical Screening
What criteria are used to assess suitability of egg donors and surrogates? What screening tests are used? What aspects affect success rates? What are the differences between IVF clinic-screened donors, agency donors and friends or relatives as donors?
Dr Lauri Arnold, California Center for Reproductive Medicine, USA
- 2.10-2.35pm
Surrogacy in Canada
How does the altruistic Canadian surrogacy model work for foreigners? What availability is there of egg donors and surrogates? How are surrogates motivated to carry? How are they supported? Who goes on the birth certificate? How enforceable are the arrangements given they are altruistic? |
Leia Swanberg, Canadian Fertility Consulting, Cindy Wasser, Hope Springs Fertility Law
- 2.35-2.55pm
Legal & Parenthood Considerations
Do I need a lawyer for domestic surrogacy or egg donation? Does my surrogate need a lawyer? Can we write our own agreement? Are these legally binding? What expenses can our surrogate be re-imbursed? How is this monitored? Who appears on the birth certificate? How does transfer of parentage work? Do I need legal support for international arrangements?
Stewart Dalley, D&S Law, NZ
- 2.55-3.15pm
Medical Preparation for Donor IVF treatment in New Zealand
Are there tests than can check sperm quality? What if quality is poor? Can I still make embryos? If undertaking surrogacy, can we create embryos before having matched with a surrogate? What counselling requirements do clinics have in relation to donors and surrogates?
Dr Leigh Searle, Fertility Associates, Wellington
- 3.15-3.30pm
The Role of Oranga Tamariki- Ministry for Children in domestic and international surrogacy arrangements
How to promote the long term needs of children born through surrogacy and an overview of the Ministry’s role in adoption applications for children born through a surrogacy arrangement.
Fiona Gardenier, International Surrogacy Co-ordinator, Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children
- 4.00-4.20pm
Surrogacy Programs in Georgia
The country of Georgia is one of the few globally that offers regulated surrogacy programs to foreign heterosexual couples. This means both intended parents go on the birth certificate. Increasing numbers of New Zealanders are engaging in such programs with their own embryos or using a donor. This session looks at the regulations in Georgia, who is eligible, surrogate match times and program types available
Dr Tea Charkviani, Natia Janadze ReproART Georgia
- 4.20 -4.40pm
Surrogate & Donor Panel
A NZ surrogate and NZ donor discuss their journeys, and their motivations to carry for those who cant.
Moderator: Sam Everingham
Panelists: Emma Williams, Angela McCamish
- 4.40 -5.10pm
Parent Panel
A panel of NZ parents via Egg donation or surrogacy locally or offshore discuss their journeys, the ups and downs, why they chose particular routes and recommendations for others
Moderator: Stewart Dalley
Panelists: Chris Hunter (Dad via NZ traditional surrogacy), Mark Catley (dad via USA)
Meet Our World Class Event Speakers
About Angela McCamish
Angela McCamish
Egg Donor (NZ)
Convenor of New Zealand Egg Donor forum and experienced donor
About Cindy Wasser
Cindy Wasser
Hope Springs Fertility Law, Canada
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.
About Dr Leigh Searle
Dr Leigh Searle
IVF specialist, Fertility Associates, NZ
Leigh enjoys helping people through what can sometimes be a challenging time in their journey to become parents. She works hard to ensure you are kept informed at every step of the way. Leigh is an obstetrician and gynaecologist who has completed further subspecialty training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the highest qualification for a fertility specialist. As part of this training she completed a fellowship at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne alongside some of the pioneers of IVF. Leigh has an interest in fertility preservation including egg freezing and adolescent gynaecology. She sees both fertility and gynaecology patients at the Wellington Clinic and she regularly travels to Palmerston North to consult. She is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago and training supervisor for trainee future obstetricians and gynaecologists at Wellington Hospital. Leigh enjoys living in Wellington with her family and the ease of spending time outdoors. She also enjoys travelling and discovering new places and cultures.
About Dr Lori Arnold
Dr Lori Arnold
Reproductive Endocrinologist, California Center for Reproductive Medicine
After graduating high school in Switzerland, Lori volunteered in Mexico and South America for the International Health Agency. Over 25 years ago, Dr Arnold performed her first surrogacy case for an Italian couple, and since then, surrogacy has grown both nationally and internationally, as has her interest in third-party reproduction. In the early days, Dr Arnold needed to recruit, screen and follow-up with surrogates and egg donors since there were not many agencies who performed these services. CACRM now recruit, screen, and perform the medical evaluations of surrogates and donors. Lauri’s team assist Intended parents throughout the entire surrogacy journey until after delivery of their baby. CACRM feels everybody should have an opportunity to have a family, and we do not discriminate regarding age, sex, race, or gender
About Dr Tea Charkviani
Dr Tea Charkviani
Reproductive Endocrinologist, ReproArt, Georgia
Thea Charkviani M.D. is a leading obstetrician gynecologist, reproductive endocrinologist at ReproART Georgian-American Center for Reproductive Medicine with over 25 years of experience, a highly acclaimed and demanded doctor both in Georgia and now abroad. She studied at the Tbilisi State Medical University, did an internship at the State Clinical Institute, and graduated from the Tbilisi State Medical Academy with qualifications in reproductive healthcare. Dr. Charkviani has helped thousands of infertile couples in making their dream come true and becoming parents. Her extensive knowledge and practical experience ensures that couples receive up-to-date treatment using the latest assisted reproductive technologies. She is also engaged in scientific publications, and her works in cooperation with the ReproART team were presented at the ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) and ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine). Free consultations are available with advance booking at: [email protected];
About Emma Williams
Emma Williams
Gestational surrogate (NZ)
Emma is a two times gestational surrogate for gay friends in Auckland, with the IVF procedure being done both times in San Diego. She carried their first child (a boy) for them in 2018, born in October when Emma was 30 and their second child (a girl) was born in December 2019. Emma lives in Whanganui with her husband Brian and their 3 children.
About Fiona Gardenier
Fiona Gardenier
International Surrogacy Co-ordinator, Oranga Tamariki
Fiona is a registered social worker and has worked in the United Kingdom, Guernsey and New Zealand. Her field of expertise is adoption work and she has over 20 years of knowledge working in this field as a social worker, supervisor and now as a senior advisor in the Intercountry Adoption Team, Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children. For the past four years, Fiona has been the Ministry’s co-ordinator for international surrogacy and is the initial contact person for intending parents. Throughout her career, Fiona has witnessed the lifelong importance of a person knowing their story and where they come from. (their whakapapa).
About Leia Swanberg
Leia Swanberg
Founder, Canadian Fertility Consulting
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.
About Natia Janadze
Natia Janadze
International Programs Manager, ReproART, Georgia
Natia has eight years of working experience with number of intended parents who have successfully completed surrogacy and egg donation programs in Georgia. Her activities include full program management and coordination, including donor and surrogate management for the successful completion of a defined program. Over her years of journey in the field, she has successfully implemented more than 2000 egg donation and surrogacy programs. 95% of the clients involved in the programs are international patients from different countries, most of the couples participating in the programs are from Israel, China, USA, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Canada, Australia, Greece, Spain, India and other countries. Many years of work experience helps her to determine the couple’s priorities, identify their needs and help them achieve the desired result. Free consultations are available at: [email protected]
About Stewart Dalley
Stewart Dalley
Fertility Lawyer. D&S Law (NZ)
Stewart is a Barrister and Solicitor at D&S Law, Auckland specialising in the law relating to assisted reproductive technology, domestic and international surrogacy, and adoption, as well as immigration and refugees. In addition, Stewart is a Board member of Fertility New Zealand.
Stewart together with his same-sex partner are the parents to children born as a result of domestic altruistic surrogacy. Stewart is a keen advocate for LGBTIQ rights and for access generally to assisted reproductive technology. In that regard, Stewart obtained a ground-breaking judgment in the New Zealand courts when he successfully argued the case for same-sex de facto couples to be able to be granted joint adoption orders. Earlier this year, Stewart represented a female same-sex couple in mediation with the Department of Internal Affairs, where he was successful in having the Department agree to change its procedures, and allow two women to be named on a child’s birth certificate as “mother” and “mother”, when the child was born as a result of assisted reproductive technology.
About Chris Hunter
Chris Hunter
Gay dad via traditional surrogacy
About Christian Yao
Christian Yao
Dad via USA
Grant and Christian became dads in 2020 when they welcomed their beautiful son Logan through surrogacy in the USA. They started their journal in 2017 and after two failed pregnancies with their first surrogate, they decided to try a final time with a new surrogate. Apart from the emotional rollercoaster they had to experience, they also faced the legal and logistical challenges because of COVID-19. Grant and Christian say the best thing about being dads is the fulfllment and happiness they experience every day!
If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us via email: [email protected].
Learn more about the Support we provide to the families or Intended Parents
TO RECEIVE THE GROWING FAMILIES NEWSLETTER, PLEASE CLICK THE BUTTON ON THE RIGHT AND ENTER IN YOUR DETAILS IN THE FIELDS PROVIDED.
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION
Kindly fill-up the form below to sign-up to our Newsletter.