Ella McNamara assists Australian intended parents seeking surrogacy in the U.S.
In Australia, IVF is government-funded and readily available, but surrogacy and egg donation are uncommon. Surrogates and egg donors are legally prohibited from receiving compensation, and altruistic surrogacy is only legal for heterosexual couples. For most people who need a gestational carrier to have a baby, Australian surrogacy isn’t an option, so they seek out a United States fertility center for the advanced fertility treatments they need.
For those hopeful parents, The Fertility Center of Las Vegas’ director of agency relations, Ella McNamara, serves as a lifeline, connecting them with surrogacy or egg donation agencies in the United States, as well as the top-level fertility treatments available at our fertility center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“My role is to help intended parents understand the U.S. fertility care system, which is unfamiliar to Australians, and to help them navigate the decisions they need to make when choosing their providers in the United States,” Ella says. “The other half of my job is to serve as a liaison to egg donation and gestational carrier agencies, to help them understand how FCLV can be their ally in helping hopeful parents finally bring home their babies.”
Based in Sydney, Ella meets with hopeful parents wherever it’s convenient for them, whether it’s in their home, at a local café or via Skype conference. Throughout the decision-making process, Ella is available to answer questions and educate intended parents about the IVF and gestational carrier process.
“Choosing to use surrogacy is one of the most expensive and important things people will ever do, so most of the time, intended parents are nervous and have lots of questions,” she says. “They have open access to me, and I work with them to understand the entire process before they take the leap. I help them with anything they need that is Australia-specific, from lawyers to medical aspects, and I touch base with them throughout the process once it is under way.”
Ella also travels around Australia to give educational seminars, and comes to the United States a few times a year to visit U.S. surrogacy agencies and connect with the FCLV team in person.
Infertility experience, in work and in life
Ella started her career as an events and marketing manager, working for the state Chamber of Commerce and organizing government events. Then, she moved into fertility pharmaceuticals marketing before taking a job as a marketing manager for a non-profit called Families Through Surrogacy, where she organized conferences and international events all over the world.
Ella’s deep understanding of surrogacy laws and practices worldwide made her the ideal candidate to represent The Fertility Center of Las Vegas and educate patients seeking Australian surrogacy alternatives, and she joined our team in 2016.
Ella has a special place in her heart for people who need Australian surrogacy to grow their families, as she has first-hand experience with the harrowing journey of infertility.
“I’ll never forget the day that I went to the doctor and was told I’d never have children,” she remembers. “It was a crushing feeling. But then, I moved forward and found out there was a way. When people find out they can’t have kids, I wish I could stand next to them at that moment and say, ‘No, there is a way!’”
Today, Ella and her husband have two gorgeous little boys, ages four and five, conceived through two rounds of IVF.
A job that brings joy
Ella is delighted that her unique job and personal experience with infertility can help so many others have the children they long for.
“I love working with The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, not just because it’s a really friendly place to work, but because the work is grounded in top-level science,” she says. “Dr. Shapiro and Dr. Bedient are truly driven by science first and focused on our intended parents’ success, and the practice is highly ethical and treats patients extremely well.”
Outside of work, Ella loves to spend time with her husband and stays busy chasing their two active little boys. On weekends, she can often be found watching football or scootering around town with her family.
To learn more about Australian surrogacy or our United States fertility center, contact us to schedule a consultation. Ella McNamara, together with our entire team of experienced professionals, looks forward to assisting you.
