Join Us in Irvine, CA!

Hyatt Regency Irvine

November 5 & 6, 2026

Regency Ballroom

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Registration & Breakfast begin at 8:00 am

Program runs 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Cocktail Party 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm @ Hangar 24 Orange County

Friday, November 6, 2026

Breakfast begins at 8:00 am

Program runs 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

CONFERENCE AGENDA

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Limited Tickets Remain

To access member pricing, you must login to your SEEDS account.

CONFERENCE FUNDRAISER

We would like to give our attendees a heads-up about an exciting fundraiser launching at this year's SEEDS conference!  We'll be introducing a QR code fundraiser to raise donations for Media and PR Services.  These services will help SEEDS share our mission, respond to press inquiries quickly, and strengthen the voice of ethical Egg Donation and Surrogacy practices. At the conference, simply scan the QR code with your phone to give any amount you choose. Thank you for supporting SEEDS, and we look forward to seeing you there!  

SPONSORSHIPS & EXHIBITORS

Interested in available Sponsorships or Exhibiting? 

Email Ashley DiSanto at admin@seedsethics.org

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Laura High is a stand up comedian and advocate for donor conceived rights. You may have seen her on your social media as ‘Your Donor Conceived Person of TikTok.’ Laura has now amassed over a million followers across all of her social media platforms while providing humorous educational content on how the fertility industry functions. Laura has helped lobby for fertility fraud legislation, and organized the first protest for donor conceived rights. Laura has helped donor conceived people get their story published by CNN, USA Today, and LGBTQ Nation. Laura has also headlined all around the country and has been featured in the New York Comedy Festival, Big Pine Comedy Festival, Vermont Comedy Festival, and SLO Comedy Festival. 

 

EMCEES

Ashley Mareko is the Director of Partnerships & Community Development and part owner at SurrogateFirst, where she is passionate about building meaningful relationships between agencies, clinics, attorneys, and industry partners to better serve intended parents and gestational carriers. She also serves as a Surrogacy Coach for medical provider, helping families navigate one of the most important journeys of their lives.

A longtime advocate for ethical surrogacy, Ashley serves on the SEEDS Officers Team as Co-Secretary and is an active member of both the Education and Mentorship Committees. She is passionate about collaboration, transparency, and elevating best practices across the industry.

Outside of work, Ashley calls Hawaii home, where she enjoys outrigger canoe paddling, homesteading, horseback riding, and tackling just about any DIY project she can find. She is also the founder of the TAZ Pathways Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for underserved communities through education, athletics, recovery support, and housing initiatives.

Known for her energy, quick wit, and ability to connect with just about anyone, Ashley believes the best conferences are the ones where people leave with new ideas, new friendships, and maybe a few good laughs along the way.

Amber Patterson is the Chief Operating Officer for IARC Surrogacy and All Families Surrogacy, part of the RSW Fertility family of companies, and this fall, she’s trading at least a few spreadsheets, strategy meetings, and surrogacy logistics for the microphone as your conference emcee.

With more than 20 years in third-party reproduction, Amber has experienced this industry from nearly every angle: Clinical Coordination Advisor, Intended Parent Coordinator, executive leader, three-time gestational surrogate, and one-time egg donor. Her commitment to family building is both professional and deeply personal, sparked decades ago by a story of selfless sacrifice that became a lifelong mission to help make parenthood possible.

Amber’s work has taken her around the world, including serving as an medical contract intermediary while living in Turkey and Germany. She holds an MBA with a focus in marketing and public relations and is a passionate advocate for transparency, ethical practices, and the kind of honest conversations that move our industry forward.

Her story began on a dairy farm where cows outnumbered people and somehow led to championing family building on a global stage. She’s spent two decades bringing people together, solving complicated problems, and doing her best work when there’s a room full of people to connect—so handing her a microphone seemed like the natural next step.

As your emcee, Amber promises to keep things moving, keep things interesting, and, whenever possible, keep us on schedule. No promises on that last one. 

AGENDA TOPICS

• Keynote Speaker: Laura High - Stand Up Comedian & Donor Conceived Advocate
  
• Making the Invisible Visible:  Unconscious Bias in Surrogacy and Egg Donation - Presenter: Melanie Funchess
  
• President Message - Board Updates: State of SEEDS

• Using AI and Automations without Losing Empathy or Credibility

• The Evolving Landscape of Genetic Testing in Egg Donor Screening

• Business Liability: The Fine Line Between Helping and Hurting Your Agency

• The Modern Birth Team: Non-Traditional Professionals who Improve Outcomes

• Bundles of Joy, Not Lawsuits: Safeguarding the Overall Surrogacy Journey

• State of the Field: Updates in Surrogacy and Egg Donation

• All Things Escrow: Access and Transparency for All Parties

• Beyond Birth: Understanding Postpartum Mental Health in Surrogacy

• Coaching is an Investment in Ethical Leadership

• Three Voices, One Pregnancy: Navigating Autonomy, Medical Judgment, and Surrogacy Ethics

• Unlocking the Potential of AI in Ovarian Stimulation and ART

• Expanding Support for Gestational Carriers

• From Gaps to Guardrails: Strengthening Agency Systems

• Red Flags and Green Lights: A Physician's Field Guide to Surrogate Screening

• Perception vs. Reality: What Research Says About Public Perception and Messaging 

REGISTRATION DETAILS

SEEDS Members

To receive member pricing, you must use the email account associated with your SEEDS account when registering.  Members are only allowed to register other members within their organization.

• $950: Late Member Registration 10/23/26-10/29/26
• $400: Non-Profit Member Registration* 8/6/24-10/29/26

*Member Non-profits will need to email Ashley DiSanto for the discount code: admin@seedsethics.org

Non-Members 

• $1,100: Late Non-Member Registration 10/23/26-10/29/26

(Become a member to take advantage of cost savings on registration)

Registration fee includes

• Attendance to the Two-Day Conference
• Swag Bag full of Industry Goodies
• Breakfast, Lunch, Coffee/Snack Breaks 
• Cocktail Party on Thursday Evening

Cancellation Policy

All cancellation requests must be made via e-mail. An administrative fee of $50 will be charged for each guest's cancellation. Cancellation requests received after October 22, 2026 will not be refunded.

HOTEL DETAILS

Hyatt Regency Irvine

17900 Jamboree Road

Irvine, CA 92614

Please note that the Room Block is Full and the Cutoff Date has passed.  For a room, please book directly with the Hyatt Regency Irvine, pending availability.

Parking

Group receives discounted parking of $27.00/night for self parking or $47/night for valet.

MEDIA RELEASE

Photo and Media Release Authorization

By registering for the SEEDS Conference, participants acknowledge and agree to the terms of this Photo and Media Release.

Grant of Authorization

I hereby grant to the organizers of the SEEDS Conference (the “Organization”) and their authorized agents, representatives, and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right and permission to capture, use, reproduce, publish, distribute, and display photographs, video recordings, audio recordings, and other media (collectively, “Images”) in which I may appear in connection with the SEEDS Conference.

Permitted Uses

The Organization may use the Images for any lawful purpose, including but not limited to:

• Conference promotional and marketing materials (print and digital)

• Social media platforms, websites, and online publications

• Press releases, newsletters, and annual reports

• Educational and training materials

• Future conference advertising and outreach

• Grant applications and funding-related communications

Scope and Duration

This authorization is granted without compensation and applies worldwide for an unlimited duration. I understand that I will not receive any financial compensation, royalty, or other remuneration for any use of the Images.

Waiver of Rights

I waive any right to inspect or approve the finished Images or any written or electronic matter that may accompany them. I release the Organization and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and successors from any and all claims, damages, or liability arising from the use of the Images as described herein, including but not limited to any claims based on rights of privacy, publicity, or defamation.

Thank you to our Conference Sponsors!!