ANU Fertility Consultants Canada is a full-service surrogacy agency in Canada that offers guidance and support to couples & individuals who are unable to conceive – or who have had difficulty conceiving.
ANU Fertility Consultants Canada is a full-service surrogacy agency that provides compassionate guidance and comprehensive support to couples and individuals who are unable to conceive or have faced challenges in starting a family.
Terra van Leeuwen’s journey to ANU Fertility Consultants is rooted in personal experience—having faced secondary infertility and served as a two-time egg donor. These experiences give her unique empathy for intended parents, surrogates, and donors, and inspire her to help others build their families.
With a degree in Business Management and a strong background in administrative roles, Terra blends professional skill with heartfelt compassion.
At home, she’s a proud mom to three young children—a daughter and two sons—who keep life full and joyful. For Terra, this work is more than a career; it’s a calling fueled by hope, connection, and the belief that every family’s story matters.
My journey into surrogacy started back in 2005, after a heartfelt conversation with a close high school friend who was struggling with infertility. That was the moment I realised life doesn’t always follow a straight path and families can grow in the most extraordinary ways.
In 2006, I became a surrogate, and it changed me forever. Helping someone achieve their dream of becoming parents filled my heart in a way I can’t even put into words. In 2024, I watched my surro babe cross the stage at her high school graduation, and in 2025, I got to celebrate the same milestone with her younger sister. Moments like these remind me that surrogacy doesn’t just touch one family – it changes lives for generations to come.
Since becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 2013, I’ve worked in maternity and medical-surgical care, and I’ve been part of the Canadian fertility world since 2009. My passion has always been guiding intended parents and surrogates with compassion, education, and steady support through every step of their journey.
These days, I enjoy a full and happy life with my husband and our dogs. Whether we’re out exploring, connecting with our community, or sitting down with a coffee (Starbucks is my weakness!), I believe in kindness, connection, and making a difference – one heart at a time.
My journey into surrogacy started back in 2005, after a heartfelt conversation with a close high school friend who was struggling with infertility. That was the moment I realised life doesn’t always follow a straight path and families can grow in the most extraordinary ways.
In 2006, I became a surrogate, and it changed me forever. Helping someone achieve their dream of becoming parents filled my heart in a way I can’t even put into words. In 2024, I watched my surro babe cross the stage at her high school graduation, and in 2025, I got to celebrate the same milestone with her younger sister. Moments like these remind me that surrogacy doesn’t just touch one family – it changes lives for generations to come.
Since becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 2013, I’ve worked in maternity and medical-surgical care, and I’ve been part of the Canadian fertility world since 2009. My passion has always been guiding intended parents and surrogates with compassion, education, and steady support through every step of their journey.
These days, I enjoy a full and happy life with my husband and our dogs. Whether we’re out exploring, connecting with our community, or sitting down with a coffee (Starbucks is my weakness!), I believe in kindness, connection, and making a difference – one heart at a time.
Alex Brown is the compassionate and dedicated Team Care Coordinator at ANU Fertility Consultants. While not a surrogate or egg donor themselves, Alex has a deeply personal connection to the surrogacy and egg donation community. Growing up, Alex watched their mother, Lorraine Smith—ANU’s founder—navigate her own surrogacy journeys. This unique upbringing gave Alex a profound appreciation for the experiences of surrogates, egg donors, and intended parents.
Alex’s work at ANU is supported by their loyal service dog, Esme, who joined the team in August 2024. Esme stepped into her role after Alex’s previous service dog retired and now enjoys a well-earned rest living with Alex’s mother. Together, Alex and Esme create a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone they meet.
Passionate about building a caring and inclusive space, Alex ensures that every client and team member feels valued, respected, and empowered throughout their journey. Their dedication to creating meaningful connections makes them an integral part of the ANU team.
Kaila joins AFC as an Administrative Assistant from Central Alberta, who takes great passion in what she does.
She believes the ANU team is truly a family, with all the love and support we have for each other and those we work with.
Having experienced infertility second hand through family, Kaila would have loved nothing more than to help them.
Watching them go through the long process was heartbreaking. Having some medical issues preventing her from having more kids she couldn’t think of a more fulfilling job helping people reach their dreams of becoming a family. Originally from Manitoba, Kaila has worked in the service industry since she was a teen.
It has always been her passion to help people.
Kaila is a single mom of four. Her kids are her life. Next to that would be her love for animals.
In her free time, Kaila loves to bake and read with her kids.
Winter is spent skating, sledding, snowmobiling, snowball fights, a fire to roast hotdogs & there are many movie nights with lots of snacks. Christmas is Kaila’s favourite time of year – having all the family together, enjoying everyone’s presence, food, baking and goodies.
In the summer, she spends most of her time outdoors with her kids between swimming, camping, fires, walking in the woods, quadding & taking the kids horseback riding.
Christina joined the ANU team in 2016, shortly after completing her third surrogacy journey. She began as a Surrogate Support Coordinator and, after a few years, transitioned to the Finance team, where she discovered her passion and has been thriving ever since.
A true superhero, Christina is a seven time surrogate herself. Those who know her best often describe her as selfless, kind, and loving—qualities that shine through in everything she does.
At ANU, we are fortunate to have Christina’s unique combination of surrogacy experience and financial expertise. Her dedication to supporting Surrogates, Egg Donors, and Intended Parents ensures that everyone feels valued and cared for throughout their journey.
Christina has been married to her husband, Jason, since 2021, together they live with her two children, Benjamin, 20 and Anthony, 16, in Surrey, BC. When she has a free afternoon, Christina enjoys a little self-care—nothing beats a relaxing pedicure and a delicious lunch to make her day.
Christina is passionate about making sure everyone involved in the fertility process feels loved, supported, and important. Her warmth and dedication are an inspiration to all who have the pleasure of working with her.
Upon completing her first surrogacy in 2017, Jennifer found a passion for this industry and joined the ANU finance team shortly thereafter in 2018.
She is proud to say that she has now been a surrogate 5-times and has been a part of bringing 6 beautiful babies into this world.
Jennifer comes from a financial background, working in payroll and financial positions for 10 years before obtaining her position at ANU.
She brings her knowledge and experience to ANU, and says “I feel that my financial background and my time as a surrogate allows me to support our surrogates, egg donors and intended parents extremely well because I am able to understand where everyone is coming from and what their needs are.”.
Jennifer has been married to her husband, David, since 2013 and together they have three children.
Although sometimes hard, Jennifer feels that being a mother has been one of her greatest achievements in life. Living in central Alberta, Jennifer is an advocate for Cystic Fibrosis, as her youngest was born with the disease.
When she’s not running children off to their activities or the many doctor’s appointments, you will find her and her family out camping, volunteering, swimming, and creating memories.
Jessie joined ANU as an Administrative Assistant in April of 2022. She thoroughly enjoys everything that she does with ANU.
She is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives, and feels this job provides her with that satisfaction.
Jessie is a farm girl from central Alberta.
In her free time, she loves being around friends, family, and animals.
In the winter, you can find Jessie watching hockey while enjoying a peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks, and during Summer she will be outside doing everything she can under the sun!
Jara is a two-time egg donor and a mama. Her egg baby and baby are only 4 ½ months apart, so she actually had two babies in utero at once!
Jara is a Red Seal hairstylist, and still loves to get her hands in hair – but the call to help people build families was huge. She loves to help our donors and surrogates realize their purpose and potential to help others in a way that can never be repaid.
Jara grew up riding horses, chasing dogs around the farm, and doing ballet.
After finishing cosmetology school, she moved back to her hometown and started cutting hair as a self-employed stylist. She joined ANU in 2021 and is so grateful to be here.
Jara loves to be outside in the garden, chase her little boy around, ride horses, help families realize their dreams with our donors and surrogates, and she loves to play crib!
Maria lives her life with a sparkle in her eye, and a fierce determination to blaze her own trail. She is a woman of many passions, first for the people in her life. She comes to the ANU Team with 8+ years of experience in the fertility industry.
She wants to shine the spotlight on the beautiful gift of egg donation and surrogacy.
As well as being an experienced egg donor, Maria has a background in mental health and psychology.
When she is not at her desk she is often found with her horses practicing for the next show or using them to help on the family ranch. If she gets away long enough she may be at the rink with either white or black skates on her feet pending the day all with her toddler in tow!
Hope joined ANU in September 2023, bringing her creativity and passion for connection to the team. She focuses on administration and supports Intended Parents in sharing their journeys in meaningful and authentic ways through interviews and storytelling.
Outside of work, Hope and her husband, Jeremy, share a love for adventure and supercars, always seeking out new experiences together.
Hope joined ANU in September 2023, bringing her creativity and passion for connection to the team. She focuses on administration and supports Intended Parents in sharing their journeys in meaningful and authentic ways through interviews and storytelling.
Outside of work, Hope and her husband, Jeremy, share a love for adventure and supercars, always seeking out new experiences together.
Melissa brings both personal experience and professional expertise to her role at ANU. Her journey through infertility, loss, pregnancy, and newborn care has shaped her deep passion for supporting others.
For 10 years, Melissa navigated her own fertility challenges before welcoming her son with the help of an egg donor. That journey not only made her a mother but also ignited her commitment to helping others. For nearly a decade, she has dedicated herself to supporting individuals and couples as they navigate their own paths to parenthood.
Through her business, Inclusive Fertility, Melissa has helped hundreds of people worldwide, providing the education and guidance they need to feel comfortable, confident, and informed. She offers services such as injection training, childbirth and newborn education, and doula support—resources that many of our surrogates, egg donors, and intended parents have benefited from.
Melissa is well known in the fertility community, and those who work with her feel incredibly lucky to have her support. Her personal journey allows her to connect with intended parents on a deep level, making her an invaluable part of the ANU team as our Intended Parent Support Coordinator.
She truly loves helping intended parents feel prepared, supported, and ready to bring their baby home.
Melissa and her partner, Joey, live in Southwestern Ontario, where their home is always filled with family, two dogs, and a cat. Family is everything to her, which is why she is so passionate about helping others create theirs through ANU and Inclusive Fertility.
Leigh began her journey in third-party parenting after emigrating to Canada and later relocating to the United States, where she launched her career in IVF and family-building. In 2007, she returned to the West Coast of Canada and joined a local IVF clinic, continuing her deep commitment to helping others create families.
Leigh is a proud mum to two children, Aaliyah and Sean, though she often jokes that “making babies” was her first love.
Before entering the world of fertility, Leigh completed culinary school and worked as a sous chef for several years. She still enjoys cooking in her downtime and, as a self-declared girlie-girl, loves to unwind with a bit of pampering on her days off.
Creating families isn’t just her career — it’s her life’s passion. Leigh believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to join the most ‘elite’ club in the world: parenthood.
Ricole is the newest member of the ANU Surrogate Support team. She joined after finishing her first surrogacy journey and brings a fresh perspective and a kind heart to her role. She is excited to help guide others through their own surrogacy experiences.
Ricole lives in Northern Alberta, where she is a stay-at-home mom to two children with Autism. Her days are busy and full of love as she cares for her children, her husband, and their three dogs. In the warmer months, Ricole loves being outside as much as possible. When it’s snowy, you’ll find her enjoying cozy days by the fireplace with her family.
Ricole has always wanted to help others. Her empathy and caring nature led her to surrogacy as a way to spread love and kindness. She has already started her second surrogacy journey while working at ANU to help others on theirs.
Ricole’s passion for making a difference shines in everything she does. Her warmth and dedication make her a valued member of the ANU team. We are lucky to have her guiding and supporting surrogates through their journeys.
Natasha is a proud and enthusiastic member of the ANU Fertility Consultants team, now dedicated to supporting intended parents through their unique and transformative journeys. With her extensive background as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) and years of experience in fertility clinics, Natasha brings both clinical knowledge and heartfelt understanding to her role.
She is passionate about connecting with intended parents, helping them navigate each step of the surrogacy process with clarity, confidence, and compassion. Known for her supportive and approachable nature, Natasha is a trusted guide and steady presence during what can be an emotional and life-changing experience.
Outside of work, Natasha enjoys spending time with her many animals, riding horses, or relaxing with her husband. Her deep-rooted passion for helping others is evident in everything she does, making her a valued and trusted part of the ANU team.
Kim’s journey to ANU Fertility Consultants is shaped by deep compassion and her path of resilience, having overcome infertility to welcome two daughters.
Joining ANU felt like a natural extension of her purpose: helping intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors achieve the family miracle.
For Kim, this is more than a job; it’s a calling driven by empathy and personal experience. She finds joy in guiding families through life-changing moments, offering both professional expertise and firsthand understanding.
Her 20 years of medical experience—spanning long-term care, hospital settings, pharmacies, and virtual patient care—reflect her unwavering commitment to service.
Kim’s life outside work centers on her loving household, which includes her husband, daughters, father-in-law, loyal dog, and fish. Whether hiking or camping, she carries gratitude and a passion for connection—qualities that mirror ANU’s empowering mission.
She believes in the power of love, community, and sharing the journey of building families.
Heather brings a deep passion for surrogacy, birth advocacy, and women’s support to her role at ANU Fertility Consultants Ltd. Her firsthand experience as a surrogate mother, combined with her compassionate nature and unwavering commitment to others, makes her a valuable and inspiring addition to our team.
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Heather is a dedicated single mother of four and a dynamic force in both her personal and professional life. Outside of work, she finds joy in staying active at the gym, cheering from the sidelines at her children’s soccer games, and enjoying quality time with her family — preferably over a well-earned slice of pizza.
Lynda is an OG when it comes to the team at ANU Fertility Consultants Family and she has been supporting surrogates through their journeys for a lot longer than she cares to admit. Having come from an extensive health care background as a RPN(Registered Psychiatric Nurse) with her BA, in her past life she was a support Counsellor for pregnant and parenting youth as well as a certified Doula, she has developed an amazing amount of empathy and the ability to support clients going through challenging times.
Her passion for surrogacy started years ago when she felt a strong desire to carry a baby for somebody who otherwise wouldn’t realize their dream of becoming a parent. It is the utmost privilege to be a part of such a special journey and to help complete families. Being an experienced surrogate is an honour and truly one of her greatest blessings.
She is the proud mom of two young adults and one pre-teen through adoption with her husband in Ottawa, Ontario. Recently Lynda got the promotion to Grandma to one sweet grand-baby.
She is so excited to extend her love for helping others in the capacity of supporting surrogates through their journeys!
Karen comes to ANU Fertility Consultants Ltd with a passion for parenthood and direct experience with the power of mentorship. As a person who regards the privilege and responsibility of being a parent with breathless awe, she understands the deep calling to parenthood. Karen’s educational background is in biochemistry and genetics.
She is pleased and excited to pour her skills and abilities into mentoring intended parents through the intensely personal and passionate journey of becoming parents through egg donation and/or surrogacy.
Karen brings to ANU Fertility Consultants a skill set developed from a range of professional and personal experiences. In 1994 Karen graduated magna cum laude with a BSc in Biology and Chemistry from Walla Walla University. Her studies emphasized reproduction, embryology, genetics, molecular genetics with laboratory techniques as well as organic and biochemistry. She has used that degree as the foundation for a service which includes mentoring high school science students’ online, agricultural applications in the reproduction of dairy and beef cattle, and many years helping families with ANU.
Karen and her husband also operate a long-standing service business, where Karen serves as part-time office manager and bookkeeper.
Karen lives with her husband and three grown children in rural Alberta, where the family can often be found outdoors with a horse or a dirt bike or at the hockey rink chasing a dream.
Karen comes to ANU Fertility Consultants Ltd with a passion for parenthood and direct experience with the power of mentorship. As a person who regards the privilege and responsibility of being a parent with breathless awe, she understands the deep calling to parenthood. Karen’s educational background is in biochemistry and genetics.
She is pleased and excited to pour her skills and abilities into mentoring intended parents through the intensely personal and passionate journey of becoming parents through egg donation and/or surrogacy.
Karen brings to ANU Fertility Consultants a skill set developed from a range of professional and personal experiences. In 1994 Karen graduated magna cum laude with a BSc in Biology and Chemistry from Walla Walla University. Her studies emphasized reproduction, embryology, genetics, molecular genetics with laboratory techniques as well as organic and biochemistry. She has used that degree as the foundation for a service which includes mentoring high school science students’ online, agricultural applications in the reproduction of dairy and beef cattle, and many years helping families with ANU.
Karen and her husband also operate a long-standing service business, where Karen serves as part-time office manager and bookkeeper.
Karen lives with her husband and three grown children in rural Alberta, where the family can often be found outdoors with a horse or a dirt bike or at the hockey rink chasing a dream.
