About FSANZ

The Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand is the peak body representing scientists, doctors, researchers, nurses, consumers and counsellors in reproductive medicine in Australia & New Zealand.

Training & Events

Australia has an outstanding record in helping couples experiencing infertility. Thousands of women in Australia and around the world have conceived and given birth using pioneering in vitro fertilisation techniques developed and perfected in this country.

Each year FSANZ holds a Scientific Meeting attracting experts in reproductive health from around the world to present research and discuss new technologies and treatments.

In addition FSANZ continues to develop training programs to assist its members with their professional development.

Training & Events

Vision & Objectives

01To provide clinical guidance and direction to improve the standard of reproductive medical practice in Australia including medical review and quality assurance activities.
02To determine, oversee and improve the standard of fertility service offered in Australia and New Zealand.
03To encourage research in reproductive health.
04To provide a basis for affiliation between all professional and consumer groups involved in the delivery and receipt of fertility treatment in Australia and New Zealand.
05To provide educational opportunities for FSANZ members to raise the standard of care.
06To assist the government and other interested parties in developing strategies relating to fertility in Australia and New Zealand.
07To create a forum for the discussion on the problems associated with infertility and fertility control.
08To facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to these problems.
09To establish rules for membership of the Society and to make and maintain a register of members of the Society.

Board members

Prof Luk Rombauts

Prof Luk Rombauts

President

Luk Rombauts is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University and the Head of Reproductive Medicine at Monash Medical Centre, Southern Health. He is the Group Medical Director of Monash IVF Group and a Research Fellow of the Hudson Institute of Medical Research. He is the President-Elect of the World Endometriosis Society and a trustee of the World Endometriosis Research Foundation.

His clinical interests include the management of male and female infertility, reproductive microsurgery, and laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of endometriosis.

Dr Petra Wale

Vice President | SIRT Representative
Dr Petra Wale

Petra is a passionate Clinical embryologist having worked in both Australia and the USA. Petra did her postgraduate training at the University of Melbourne in the laboratory of Professor David Gardner.

She is a past Chairperson of SIRT and currently serves as the SIRT representative on the FSANZ Board and RTAC. Petra is a highly sort after subject matter expert in Best practice clinical embryology and quality control together with effective laboratory workflow and quality assurance.

Ms Jan Mackenzie

Ms Jan Mackenzie

Secretary | FNA Representative

My role on the FSANZ Board is the representative for FNA and the secretary.

My current role is Nurse Unit manager at MonashIVF in Parramatta in western Sydney, where I lead a team of nurses over 3 sites. I have been involved in ART nursing for more than 20 years.  As well as a love of the job and the day to day care of our patients, my passion also extends to being a part of the process that provides support and educational opportunities to nurses working in ART. My career started in WA, where I became involved with the then Nurses Special Interest Group, now known as Fertility Nurses of Australasia (FNA). I then moved to Sydney, where my involvement with FNA continued including positions on the executive as the Secretary, the Chair and now the FNA representative on the Board of FSA.

Mr Douglas Yek

Treasurer
Mr Douglas Yek

Doug Yek is a Director of PIVET Medical Centre in Perth and Cairns Fertility Centre in Queensland. He has over 20 years of experience in the IVF and healthcare sector, with a background and qualifications in accounting, finance and management.
Mr Hamish Barblett

Mr Hamish Barblett

General

Hamish Barblett is a senior IVF Scientist at Genea Hollywood Fertility in Perth and past chair of the FSANZ professional group, Scientists in Reproductive Technology (SIRT).

He performs all IVF laboratory techniques and has an interest in the education of clinical scientists.

Dr Sally Catt

Dr Sally Catt

Sally completed her first degree at Edinburgh University in 1983 and took her first job as an embryologist at Bourn Hall, Cambridge UK, training under Mr. Patrick Steptoe and Professor Bob Edwards. She then worked on cattle IVF, in Cambridge and New Zealand moving to Australia in 1991. She completed a PhD at Sydney University evaluating the commercial practicality of producing lambs with sex-sorted sperm in 1997. She then returned to the clinical IVF field working as an embryologist Fertility First, Sydney and later joined Sydney IVF (Genea) as a research embryologist notably refining vitrification prior to release in clinics from 2004. Sally has been in her current role of Coordinator of the Master of Clinical Embryology Course since 2006, she also coordinates industry-led specialized IVF short-courses. She was instrumental in introducing a nationwide CPD scheme for SIRT members and currently a member of the “Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) Advisory Panel”.
Dr Anne Clark

Dr Anne Clark

IVF Directors Representative

Dr Anne Clark trained as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist before becoming the first female doctor in Australia to obtain the CREI subspecialist qualification in reproductive medicine. She is currently Medical Director of Fertility First, which is an IVF and Fertility Clinic that also focuses on lifestyle modifications and peri-conception health to maximise a couple’s fertility and healthy ongoing pregnancies.

In 2015, Anne was appointed by the Federal Minister of Health as a person of ART experience to the NHMRC Embryo Research Licensing Committee.

Dr Yanhe Liu

Dr Yanhe Liu

A/Prof Yanhe Liu is the Scientific Director of Fertility North in Perth. He is also a current associate editor for the journal of Human Reproduction and has adjunct appointments with several universities including University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University and Bond University.

With over 20 years’ experience in IVF laboratory practice and management in both Australia and oversees, A/Prof Liu is passionate in the clinical introduction of new ART technologies. He is well published in the field of embryo selection using time-lapse imaging and artificial intelligence.

Ms Narelle Dickinson

Ms Narelle Dickinson

General

Narelle is a Fertility Counsellor in Brisbane and has worked as a Clinical and Health Psychologist for the past 25 years. She currently operates a private psychology practice with a focus on women’s mental health, including perinatal mental health and fertility counselling support.

She is a 2015 Churchill Fellow Recipient, investigating the risks and implications of Cross Border surrogacy for Australians. Narelle has presented nationally and internationally on topics including fertility, grief and loss, and clinical initiatives in maternal mental health care, and has contributed to the psychological research literature in these areas.

Mr Stephen Page

Consumer Representative
Ms Maree Pickens

Dr Simon McDowell

Dr Simon McDowell

General

Simon McDowell is a Fertility Specialist working at Fertility Associates, Wellington, New Zealand. He is a qualified subspecialist and has a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery, primarily focusing on the management of severe endometriosis.

Simon holds an additional roles at Wellington Public Hospital and the University of Otago.

Dr Christos Venetis

DART Representative
Dr Christos Venetis

Christos Venetis is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist. He is an NHMRC Early Career Fellow and serves as a Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales and as the Director of Clinical Research for IVFAustralia.

His clinical and research interests include ovarian stimulation, endometrial receptivity, the management of low ovarian response and recurrent implantation failure, reproductive epidemiology and the health of mothers and babies after ART.

Dr Iolanda Rodino

Dr Iolanda Rodino

ANZICA Representative

Iolanda Rodino is a Clinical Psychologist and Fertility Counsellor working in private practice . Over the past 20 years she has developed an independent consultancy service to several fertility clinics in Perth, offering evidenced based psychological care to patients facing the diverse emotional and relationship challenges associated with infertility.

Iolanda has a passion for psychosocial infertility research with particular interests in weight related concerns in women undertaking fertility treatment, PCOS, preconception care and third party reproduction.

Dr Michele Kwik

Dr Michele Kwik

More information coming soon
Prof Beverley Vollenhoven

Prof Beverley Vollenhoven

Professor Beverley Vollenhoven is a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist. She is the Deputy Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University and the head of Gynaecology at Monash Health, Victoria’s largest Health Care Provider.

She has been a clinician at Monash IVF since 1997. Her clinical interests are in all aspects of infertility both male and female, ovulatory disorders, eating disorders, menopause and fertility preservation. Her research interests are in the same areas.

Dr Manuela Toledo

Dr Manuela Toledo

Manuela Toledo is the Medical Director of TasIVF based in Hobart and practices as a fertility specialist at both TasIVF and Melbourne IVF.

Manuela is the only CREI qualified fertility specialist in Tasmania.

She trained at the Mercy Hospital for Women and the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne where she holds a VMO position and trains future fertility specialists. She holds a Master of Medicine and Genetics from the University of Sydney.

Manuela has been a long standing fertility specialist at Melbourne IVF and also served on the Melbourne IVF board 2013 - 2018. Manuela has a special interest in clinical governance, complex infertility and providing expert second opinions.

FSANZ history

Should you wish to contact a Board Member please send any correspondence through to:

Kim O'Dea

Kim O'Dea

FSANZ Secretariat

PO Box 1022
Altona Meadows Vic 3028

+ 61 434 152 392