2024 Victoria Mother of the Year | Member Vic Health Donor Conception Advisory Group (DCAG) | Founder of ASMBC | Business Owner |ART & Donor-Conceived Advocate

Michelle Galea is a dedicated solo mother to her 11-year-old donor-conceived son Charlie. A passionate advocate for ART (IVF) & the Donor-conceived community.

In recognition of her unwavering commitment to supporting Solo Mothers and their children, she was awarded 2024 Victoria Mother of the Year by the YMCA & City Of Melbourne.

With over 30 years of business experience, Michelle is the proud owner of a thriving small to medium-sized enterprise (SME), demonstrating resilience, leadership in both the business and advocacy worlds.

Beyond her entrepreneurial success, she is a prominent figure in the donor conception community.

She founded Australian Solo Mothers by Choice (ASMBC) in 2013 to provide vital peer support, advocacy, social connection for solo mothers and those considering donor conception.

Under her leadership, ASMBC has grown to support over 4,300 families across Australia and New Zealand and is recognized as the support group of choice by VARTA and allied health professionals.

Sarah is a qualified early childhood educator, trainer and assessor, and supported playgroup facilitator, with specialised training in the Small Talk program. She is a proud solo mother by choice, to a 6.5-year-old child via sperm donation and IVF.

Sarah joined ASMBC (Australian Single Mothers by Choice) in 2018, quickly becoming an active participant in both online and face-to-face events. Through her involvement, she built a strong and supportive village, leading to lasting friendships and shared experiences including weekends away, and interstate trips with other solo mums.

From 2018 to 2020, Sarah attended VARTA’s face-to-face support groups in Melbourne, where she gained valuable insights and strengthened her belief in the power of peer support.

She is passionate about helping women considering solo motherhood by choice, navigating assisted reproductive treatment, and parenting solo.

Sarah firmly believes in the immense value of connecting with others who are on a similar journey or have already walked that path, stating, “I feel so lucky to have such a big village. We have connected with two of my child’s donor siblings, and that would not have been possible without ASMBC & ART Families Australia.”

In addition to her peer support role, Sarah actively collaborates with ARTFam to advocate for best practices and equality for all.

Her personal and professional experiences make her a powerful advocate and a trusted resource for those navigating the challenges ART, solo parenthood and donor conception.

Nandi Segbedzi is a lawyer by profession and the solo mother of an 8-year-old via donor conception.

Nandi joined the Facebook ASMBC Community when her son was 1 year old and found a ready-made solo mum community, both online and locally in the West of Melbourne.

In 2024, Nandi was one of the working group who compiled the ASMBC submission opposing the abolition of VARTA in Victoria.

The disappointing response from the Victorian Government to donor-conceived families during the VARTA abolition inspired her to help set up ARTFam, of which she is the Secretary, to give a voice to people who are using IVF and donor conception to create their families.

Nandi is also Chair of Abbeyfield Australia, a not-for-profit social housing provider.

Bec Adams is a music marketing executive by profession and a new Solo Mum By Choice to her 9 month old daughter.

Bec first became a member of the Facebook ASMBC Community in 2021 when she needed support deciding on the best pathway to approach becoming a Solo Mum.

The newest team member, Bec brings 20 years of marketing, branding and creative expertise to the ARTFam and ASMBC Strategic Advisory Panel.

Kylie Mannix is a marketing & customer experience leader with more than 20years’ experience across property, membership organisations, gaming & insurance.

She has led brand, communications, digital & CX teams at executive level, translating customer insight into practical strategies that build loyalty, engagement & commercial performance.

Known for her collaborative leadership style, Kylie enjoys working across complex organisations to improve how customers experience brands, from first interaction through to long-term advocacy.

Donor Nick is a Clinic sperm donor who donated in the mid-1990s after reflecting on his family’s history and a desire to support others in building families. He chose to donate as a meaningful way to honour his lineage and contribute to helping individuals experience parenthood.

Although Nick later had children of his own, he acknowledges the unique considerations that came with his decision—particularly for his children, who are mindful of potential genetic connections as they navigate relationships.

To date, Nick has donated to nine families, contributing to the birth of 17 children. Over the years, several donor-conceived adults have reached out to him after turning 18, leading to positive and respectful relationships. Nick describes these connections as deeply rewarding and values the role he has played in helping create families.

In addition to his personal experience, Nick is an advocate for openness, ethical donor practices, and the wellbeing of donor-conceived people. He supports transparency and ongoing conversations around identity, connection, and the long-term impacts of sperm donation, helping to raise awareness and improve understanding within the community.

Ian was a sperm donor in Victoria, Australia in the mid 1980’s.  He has seven children born from his donations (and two children from his marriage).  Ian has met two of his donor-conceived offspring and knows something about two others. He welcome the opportunity of possibly meeting others.

Ian works extensively with others who have lived experience of donor conception: sperm and egg donors; donor-conceived people, and recipients of gamete donations.

Ian is currently undertaking doctoral studies in the La Trobe University Law School – his work is focused on the retrospective law reforms enacted in Victoria in 2014/16 that removed anonymity from all sperm and egg donors. Ian actively brings his personal connection to, and interest in, the topic of donor conception to his research work.

Melissa is an experienced egg donor and surrogate with qualifications in Community services, counselling and mental health. With nearly 20 years in the egg donation field, she has developed extensive knowledge of the systems and processes in Australia, offering invaluable support to intended parents navigating egg donation, embryo donation, and surrogacy.

Melissa has helped 22 children come into the world through egg donation and surrogacy—a journey that has infused her work with empathy, hope, and an unwavering belief in the power of human connection.

Melissa has a particular passion for donor conception, providing guidance, education, and emotional support to both intended parents and donors to help them feel confident and informed throughout their journey.

Beyond her direct support work, Melissa has been actively involved in advocacy through writing, media engagement, and campaigning for legislative reform to improve outcomes for donor-conceived families across Australia.

Rebecca is a passionate advocate for donor conception awareness and family building through IVF. Following years of infertility, unsuccessful IVF treatment, and the heartbreaking loss of her first daughter, Ruby, Rebecca and her husband pursued egg donation to fulfil their dream of becoming parents. Their journey led them to Spain, where Rebecca successfully welcomed three children through anonymous egg donation.

Rebecca brings a valuable lived-experience perspective to the ART & Donor Conception Advisory Panel.

Andy’s experience includes work with major mainstream, direct marketing, business-to-business, industrial and sales promotion agencies. He was Creative Director of several major ad agencies, and has won many awards for TV commercials, brochures, and sales literature.

In addition to creating communication strategies and text for websites, print, TV, and radio advertising, Andy has extensive experience in writing direct marketing campaigns, newsletters, press releases, and op-eds, as well the writing and production of corporate videos and related material. He has a feature film screenplay under option.

I’m a Learning and Development Specialist with 30 years’ experience in the disability sector, alongside my role as an IVF mentor.

I’m also a proud mum to Henry and a solo mum by choice.

My journey to motherhood included 13 IVF cycles, two surgeries for endometriosis, and three miscarriages – an experience that has shaped both my resilience and my commitment to supporting others navigating fertility treatment and parenthood.

Lorena Otes is a proud solo mother by choice, author and dance teacher. Her deeply personal memoir, Solo Mum by Choice (Hawkeye Publishing), tells of her journey to and through this unique but exponentially growing version of solo motherhood through the lens of her own experience.

It placed runner-up in the Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize 2024. She has written for Feels Blind Literary, The Brussels Review, Mamamia, and Bounty Parents.

Her humour articles have appeared in Witcraft Magazine, Defenestration Literary Humour Magazine, Scalar Comet, and Little Old Lady Comedy.

Yunlin has a background in Information Technology with a focus on Human-Centred Interaction (HCI). Her design approach values clarity and accessibility, focusing on user needs and information structure to support approachable, inclusive digital experiences.