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SEMINAR PROGRAMME


We are please to introduce our 2011 seminar programme.

Our listing include experts speakers and leading authorities from all over the world. Every seminar has a link to the biographies of the speakers taking part.

SEMINARS CAN ONLY BE BOOKED BY PURCHASING A TICKET FIRST. The booking system can then be accessed using the link and password given in the confirmation email.

Download a example form as a PDF to allow you to plan you seminars.

SEMINAR AND TICKET BOOKINGS ARE NOW LIVE

10:30

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Inseminar: Egg-sharing and donor insemination

Dr Kamal Ahuja, Managing & Scientific Director, The London Women's Clinic
Zeynep Gurtin-Broadbent, Centre for Family Research, Cambridge University
Deidre Myburgh, Senior Fertility Nurse, The London Women’s Clinic


Looking for treatment using donor sperm? The LWC’s INSEMINAR presentations offer a practical guide through the stages of fertility treatment starting with how to pick your sperm donor, the various treatment options involved and the cost effectiveness and success rates you should expect.  Egg-sharing, a programme pioneered by the directors behind the LWC will also be discussed, which has proved to be a popular and successful choice for lesbian and single women offering free IVF treatment to women under 35 with a success rate of around 69%.

CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES
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Celebrating difference - Different families in schools

Director of Public Affairs - Ruth Hunt, Stonewall

Stonewall will discuss their work with schools on how to include the many different types of families in their teaching. It will cover the many resources Stonewall have developed and how parents can get them into their child’s school.




CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES
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Surrogacy and IVF for same sex couples and singles

Dr Susan Treiser, IVF New Jersey and Barrie & Tony Drewitt-Barlow The British Surrogacy Centre LLC

This seminar will explore the use of IVF in surrogacy and the methods used to get your surrogate pregnant.  It will cover a technical overview of creating embryos and explain the differences between embryos and blastocyst. It will also highlight the areas that the agency and IVF clinic work together in and how everything is brought together from finding a surrogate and egg donor, to getting a successful pregnancy. The seminar will also highlight the costs of the procedures and will conclude with questions and answers.

CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES



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Becoming a foster parent

Colin Hall – Mosaic Fostering Manager and Tony Hockley - Service Development manager from Kites Childrens Services

Staff members from Kites will provide a historical overview of the organisation and the future plans for developing the service.They will then outline the criteria needed from aspiring foster carers as a baseline for applicants. A brief discussion will follow on the benefits of a career in fostering. {Including remuneration}. Following this a foster carer will give a brief description of what it’s actually like to be a foster carer. Lastly the process of becoming a foster carer will be explained, and questions taken.



CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES


11:30

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A few good men: The quality of sperm donors on the London Sperm Bank Catalogue

Ms Toyin Jegede, Donor Recruitment & Campaign Officer, The London Sperm Bank

Britain has been talking about the donor crisis for awhile now, but is the crisis over?  After completing the first phase of our new recruitment campaign we are confident in our ability to offer our patients the choice that has been lacking in UK donor banks.  In this seminar we will discuss the background of our donors, their reasons for donating and the variety our bank will offer to women looking for donated sperm.  We will also talk you through our new online catalogue of donors and how to start the process. 








CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
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International aspects of parenthood

Anne-Marie Hutchinson OBE of Dawson Cornwell, Andy Vorzimer an attorney from California, John Weltman an attorney from Boston, Pritpal Nijjar a specialist attorney from India, Valery Fedichin an attorney from Ukraine and myself and Barry O’Leary an immigration expert and Hassan Khan a Barrister at 4 Paper Buildings.

More and more couples are going overseas for the making of surrogacy arrangements for their children who will live in this country.   Significant issues arise out of international surrogacy arrangements both in terms of the law and in terms of immigration and citizenship.  This interactive panel discussion will offer advice from the jurisdictions of USA (California and Massachusetts),India and the Ukraine. The panel will also cover the immigration issues and pitfalls that commissioning couples must be aware of before they embark on the surrogacy process.”
Anne-Marie Hutchinson will cover the essentials of obtaining parental rights and parental orders in England following an overseas surrogacy arrangement


CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
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Legal aspects of surrogacy in the  USA

Tom Pinkerton Esq & Michelle Keeyes Reproductive Law Center, Inc SD USA

This seminar will answer all your questions on surrogate contracts and egg donor agreements. It will discuss the enforceability of the contracts and it will also your legal position. It will discuss the Pre Birth Order and the implications this will have. It will talk about the states that legally recognise surrogacy and those you need to stay away from. Tom Pinkerton is THE leading legal brains behind PBO’s. Obtaining the first ever PBOs for a same sex couple in 1998 he has been leading the field ever since. This will be your opportunity to ask questions of Americas leading fertility lawyer. Tom is in demand all over the USA to give presentations and has had countless many TV appearances on the legal aspects of surrogacy and egg donation but this is the first ever time that Tom has agreed to come to Europe to present a seminar. This is “THE SEMINAR “ of the day and one that should not be missed by anyone who is planning to have a child through Surrogacy in the USA.

CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES
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Single mothers by choice

Ms Susanna Graham, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge

This talk will explore the growing phenomenon of single women choosing to have a child without the involvement of a partner. These women, often called ‘single mothers by choice’ or ‘choice mothers’ can achieve motherhood in a number of ways but many choose to do so through attending fertility clinics for donor sperm. Drawing upon research with women embarking upon motherhood without a partner, this talk will explore the motivations and experiences of choice motherhood as well as detailing what we know about how the children in these families might fare.










CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES
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Considering Donor Conception

Caroline Spencer, choice single mum, alternative family and fertility coach

This seminar is for single women and couples considering having a child by donor conception.  You will hear one woman’s story and perspective of having and raising a donor conceived child. There will be tips on things to think about and plenty of opportunity for questions and answers.


CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES

 


12:30

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Looking after yourself before and after conception

Mrs Anya Sizer, Fertility Support Co-ordinator, The London Women’s Clinic

For many people going through fertility treatment can be a difficult and demanding experience. In this seminar we will look at some of the challenges and how best to support yourself through them. Drawing on stress management techniques, Coaching and practical solutions our hope is to leave you better equipped and more confident.

CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPIES
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Gay dads - From adoption to surrogacy

Sam Dick, Senior Public Affairs officer, Stonewall, and Anne-Marie Hutchinson OBE of Dawson Cornwell.

All the information men need to know when making a decision to become a parent.  The seminar will be based on ground breaking research from Stonewall’s ‘Guide for Gay Dads’ launched in 2010.





CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES
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Surrogacy in America

Karen Synesiou director of Center for Surrogate Parenting and Dr Guy Ringler. California Fertility Partners. Reproductive Endocrinologist

CSP’s seminar is based on our 31 years of experience. This seminar will demystify the uncertainty of the journey through surrogacy, such as how to choose an agency, understanding medical insurance issues, obtaining birth certificates and passports, citizenship issues, and taking your baby home.  The second half of the seminar is dedicated to the understanding of the medical aspects of surrogate parenting and that advantages that US based medical clinics can offer.

CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
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Making arrangements for your family

Rhiannon Lewis of Dawson Cornwell, Stewart Leech QC of Queen Elizabeth Building, Philip Marshall of 1 King's Walk and Gerald Wilson, of Tanfield Chambers

The session will cover issues relating to cohabities and civil partners, the international recognition of same sex marriages, pre-nuptials agreements, property rights, inheritance and other family provision.






CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES





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First Generations

An opportunity to talk to children of same sex couple and single parents in an informal setting.


13:30

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Lesbian and single mothers: Using a known sperm donor

Ms Venessa Smith, Sperm Bank Manager, The London Women’s Clinic

The LWC has an active donor insemination (DI) programme with more than 4000 cycles performed in the last 4 years in its London centre alone. Over the last 10 years we have noted a large increase in the number of patients using known donor sperm, particularly among single women and same sex couples, with either a friend or non-blood relation acting as their sperm donor.  This presentation aims to discuss the reasons for the increase in known donation and discuss the process, benefits and the possible legal and emotional implications for all those involved.

CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES

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Is she mine, is she yours, is she ours? Legal parenthood, adoption, surrogacy, co-parenting and the law.

Peggy Ray, partner of Goodman Ray and Deirdre Fottrell, barrister of Coram Chambers

Peggy Ray and Deirdre Fottrell will discuss international and domestic adoption and surrogacy.  They will also discuss legal parenthood and the advantage of entering into a co-parenting agreement  in advance of a child being born.






CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES



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Surrogacy and Egg Donation for the Gay and Lesbian Community

Growing Generations is the largest surrogacy agency in the United States and has unparalleled expertise in assisting members of the Gay and Lesbian community.  Since its founding in 1996, the US based agency has assisted over 1,500 gay and lesbian clients from 30 countries, including the UK, realize their dreams of becoming parents through surrogacy.  Growing Generations puts safety and service first and has a 100% success rate in having all clients named the parents of their children and insurance covering the maternity medical costs. 

This workshop will present you with all of the information you’ll need to understand surrogacy in the U.S. and avoid the risks associated with the process.  The stellar panel includes the most recognized experts in surrogacy for the GLBT community including: Dr. Kim Bergman, Co-Owner, Growing Generations. Will Halm, Esq., International Fertility Law Group. Dr. Brad Kolb, Medical Director, HRC Fertility. Jeanne Marie Bagalini, Vice President, Growing Generations.




CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES


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Fostering and Adoption

The seminar is led by Chris Christophides, Children’s Services Adviser and Trainer Consultant at the British Association for Adoption and Fostering, and Andy Leary-May, adoptive father and Director of New Family Social, the UK Charity for LGBT adopters and foster carers.

This seminar aims to give an overview of adoption and fostering; the demands and rewards, and some of the issues specific to lesbians and gay men.  Participants will gain an understanding of the needs of the children waiting for homes, and an up-to-the-minute picture of how lesbians and gay men, both as couples and single people, are experiencing the process. 







CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES



14:30

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Inseminar: Egg-sharing and donor insemiantion

Dr Kamal Ahuja, Managing & Scientific Director, The London Women's Clinic
Zeynep Gurtin-Broadbent, Centre for Family Research, Cambridge University
Deidre Myburgh, Senior Fertility Nurse, The London Women’s Clinic


Looking for treatment using donor sperm? The LWC’s INSEMINAR presentations offer a practical guide through the stages of fertility treatment starting with how to pick your sperm donor, the various treatment options involved and the cost effectiveness and success rates you should expect.  Egg-sharing, a programme pioneered by the directors behind the LWC will also be discussed, which has proved to be a popular and successful choice for lesbian and single women offering free IVF treatment to women under 35 with a success rate of around 69%.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES
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Searching for donors and donor siblings: What shall we tell the children?

Dr Tabitha Freeman, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge

In 2005, donor anonymity in the UK was replaced by identity-release donation. Therefore, from 2023 onwards, people conceived by gamete donation will be able to find out the identity of their donor on reaching age 18 years. It will also be possible to find out the identity of any other children who may have been born using the same donor. The introduction of identity-release donation takes us into new terrain, raising several important questions for all those involved. Will children want to find out about their donor and donor siblings? And if so, why and what will they do with this identifying information? And what happens if donor relations do get in touch with each other and meet up? In order to gain insight into the psychological consequences of identity-release donation, this talk will draw on research on the experiences of donor relations who have made contact via the US-based website, the Donor Sibling Registry. The talk will discuss people’s motivations, expectations and experiences of discovering the identity of their donor and donor siblings, and look at the new forms of ‘family’ relationships that may be created.

CLICK HERE TO READ SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES

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The latest in IVF, egg donation and surrogacy trends for successful family creation

Expert advice, personal accounts and an interactive Q&A session on how to build your family through surrogacy in the US.
 
The panel will include Blair Sullivan Cuje, founder of The Surrogacy Experience; Dr. Michael Doyle, Medical Director of Connecticut Fertility; Dr. Marcus Harbord, a UK gay parent; and Tina Dettlaff, a two-time American surrogate mother.
 
The seminar will cover the following:

•      The latest medical technologies, screening practices and legal strategies to ensure a successful and hassle-free surrogacy experience

•      How to tailor the surrogacy journey to fit your personal goals, values, circumstances and financial resources

•      A comparison and contrast of currently available options for surrogacy in the US  and the UK

•      Strategies for avoiding possible medical, financial and legal pitfalls

•      How to benefit from the best of what US surrogacy can offer, including medical and financial options, informed decisions, fully pre-screened donors and surrogates, high ethical standards, seamless coordination and complete journey support


CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES

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Maximising success and minimising expense for european couples pursuing parenthood via IVF

Oregon Reproductive Medicine - John Hesla, MD  Reproductive Endocrinologist

Oregon Reproductive Medicine - John Hesla, MD  Infertility Specialist

Finding the right physicians and laboratory is most significant and effective way to control the costs of IVF using donor eggs and a gestational surrogate.
 
Dr. John Hesla, medical director of PVED (Parents Via Egg Donation) and one of the senior physicians at Oregon Reproductive Medicine, will help prospective parents understand donor egg pregnancy and live birth success rates (reported and recorded by the U.S. government) and the importance of utilizing this data to make an informed decision about where to pursue their dream of having a baby.
 
Oregon Reproductive Medicine was recently named the #1 IVF center by www.PregnancySuccessRates.com because of the extraordinary live birth success rates that the practice has enjoyed recently. With Donor Egg live birth rates of over 82% and Donor Egg/Gestational Carrier live birth rates of 85%, Oregon Reproductive Medicine has among the highest overall success rates in the U.S. that attracts patients --- gay and straight --- to their offices from around the world.
 
Dr. Hesla will also cover related topics that can increase the chance of success and minimize the need for repeat cycles that can bring significant additional expense: genetic testing and single vs. 2-embryo transfers.


CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES





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Support Networks

Anne Marie Hutchinson OBE of Dawson Cornwell, Anna Whowell of LittlePink, Andy Leary-May of New Family Social and Caroline Spencer of the Donor Conception Network

Anne Marie Hutchinson OBE of Dawson Cornwell will explore considerations for new and future parents when choosing their route to parenthood.  Support networks that are available to new families will provide information on their work and the benefits of their network, speakers are Anna Whowell of  Littlepink the same sex parents family network, Andy Leary May of New Family Social the adoption network, and Caroline Spencer of Donor Conception Network.

CLICK HERE TO READ SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES



15:30

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Family ties and the law: Singles, gays and lesbians

Ms Natalie Gamble, Partners - Natalie Gamble Associates

Understanding the law is crucial if you are thinking about conceiving an alternative family.  Leading fertility lawyer Natalie Gamble shares her years of experience shaping the law and working with same sex and solo parents, covering donor conception (including known donation arrangements and the new rights for lesbian parents), co-parenting arrangements, and UK and international surrogacy for gay men.









CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES
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Changing perceptions of alternative families

Professor Susan Golombok, Director, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge

This talk will look at changing attitudes to alternative family forms from the 1970s until the present time, focusing on lesbian mother families, gay father families and single mothers by choice. Drawing from research on different types of assisted reproduction family - IVF, donor insemination, egg donation and surrogacy as well as research on families headed by lesbian mothers, gay fathers and single heterosexual parents - the question of what really matters for children’s healthy psychological development, and whether it is necessary to have two parents, a father or a mother present, parents who have a genetic link with their child, or parents who are heterosexual, will be explored.



CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES

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Affordable surrogacy in India

 Surrogacy Abroad - Benhur Samson from Surrogacy Abroad, Dr Varsha Patil - Practicing fertility specialist , Carrie Anne Bloedorn - multiple time egg donor

Benhur moved to Chicago in 1987, He started a company whose main focus is to guide Intended Parents through every detail of the process for surrogacy abroad. His goal is to make each parent feel confident that every aspect of the process is being managed for them, and the overwhelming stress usually associated with international surrogacy in general was removed from the experience. He knew that if he could provide these services to Intended Parents he could offer a positive alternative to those who had encountered countless obstacles on their journey to parenthood in the U.S., UK and other countries.Our goal is to make your surrogacy journey as hassle-free and emotionally rewarding as possible and affordable. We will guide you throughout the entire process right from initial enquiry up until you take your baby home.



CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES
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Sperm Banking in the 21st centuary

Peter Bower, Ph.D. Director of the European Sperm Bank

Sperm banking has advanced and matured over the past Century. Sperm donors are today tested and screened for many diseases. Sperm is quarantined and the follow-up on successful or unsuccessful use of a donor’s sperm are important factors in operating a sperm bank. Legislative requirements, namely the EU Tissue Directive and individual country requirements, give rise to quite complicated market segmentation. Furthermore, patients are becoming autonomous in choosing a sperm donor. This gives the patient an excellent opportunity to participate. Single women seeking donor insemination is a growing group utilizing these possibilities.









CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES

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Donor Conception  in the United States "Going Abroad "


New England Fertility offers same sex (gay and lesbian) couples help in achieving their dream of starting a family. Treatments include sperm donation, artificial insemination (IUI), and in vitro fertilization (IVF) for same sex female (lesbian) couples and egg donation and gestational surrogacy for gay male couples. New England Fertility provides fertility services for those who live in countries where treatment is not available or restricted. The majority of the treatment program can be accomplished remotely with the evaluation and sperm collection  and testing performed in  a clinic in the native country.

At New England Fertility, we know that the process of selecting an egg donor and a gestational surrogate may appear daunting. That’s why our third-party reproduction team has worked hard over the years to make the egg donation and gestational surrogacy process as smooth and uncomplicated as possible, helping clients not only select the proper candidates but helping them with legal and psychological issues along the way.

Dr. Lavy will address the medical, legal and social aspects  of donor conception in the United States, using sperm , egg or embryo and gestational surrogacy. Dr. Lavy is also  medical director of LifeLine Cryogenics Cord Blood Bank and will present the  information on  umbilical cord blood stem cell banking and its’ importance when using donor tissue.


CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES

16:30

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Gay at the gate

The first hurdle is having a child, next up is dealing with society's prejudices that still exist. Although the laws are changing to give gay people, including parents, equality, some ignorant quarters of society still feel gay people shouldn't have kids. Sarah Garrett (mother of twins and founder of g3 magazine), will be heading up at panel with Charlie Condou (the actor and gay dad who plays Marcus Dent in Coronation Street), Suran Dickson (founder of Diversity Role Models which tackles homophobia in schools), who will be highlighting the difficulties and how to deal the issues.

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International Surrogacy Pitfalls – Weaving your way, successfully, through the issues.

Melissa Brisman Esq will help to share with and guide intended parents through the surrogacy process.  Knowing that you will be far away from most of the processes and procedures can make managing a surrogacy a difficult process.  How do you know that your child will be born with your name(s) on the birth certificate?  How do you get your child back into your home country?  How are medical expenses for your child covered after birth?
 
These questions and many more will be covered as Melissa shares her experiences, challenges and successes with international surrogacy.