Creating families – The pathway to parenthood

Alison Bull is a partner at Mills & Reeve and a leading family mediator, children and financial arbitrator and collaborative lawyer. She helps modern families including unmarried parents, LGBTQ+ couples and those building families through surrogacy, donor conception and adoption reach child‑focused agreements without court wherever possible.

As head of the firm’s national non‑court dispute resolution practice, Alison pioneered the “One Lawyer, Two Clients” service and offers hybrid, child‑inclusive and cross‑border mediation to keep decision‑making dignified, efficient and safe. Known for her therapeutic, culturally sensitive approach, she regularly helps clients to craft clear parenting plans and resolve complex international and high‑value financial cases, whilst also advising clients in family court proceedings and contributing to national bodies shaping the future of family law.

Dr Carl Austin-Behan OBE DL is a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and former LGBT Advisor to the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. Currently Greater Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Community Ambassador. This role includes visiting schools, youth groups and workplaces to promote diversity, equality, inclusion and respect as well as working on projects with Community Action, Public Sector Liaison and LGBTQ+ Networks across GM.

Carl was one of the last people to be discharged from the RAF in 1997 due to his sexuality although having an exemplary service record. He joined Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in 1998 and left 1999, then went on to win Mr Gay UK 2001.

Having served on Manchester City Council representing Burnage from 2011 – 2018, Carl was the first openly gay Lord Mayor of Manchester 2016 – 2017. Also owns his own Cleaning Company VA Clean – working with Property Management Companies specialising in the communal areas of apartment blocks.

Carl has devoted himself to LGBTQ+ advocacy. Ambassador for The Proud Trust, George House Trust, Broughton House; Patron of Contact Theatre, Manchester Proud chorus; Chair of Pro-Manchester EDI Network, City of Trees Trust. He was also a founder member for Fighting with Pride (LGBT veterans charity run by veterans. The first and only lived-experience charity addressing the health and wellbeing of LGBT+ veterans.) he passionately promotes diversity, equality and inclusion within our communities. In November 2019 Carl was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and was awarded an OBE in the 2020 Queens New Year’s Honours List for services to Charity and the LGBTQ+ Community.

Carl is married to Simon and they have a 5 year old daughter Willow, who they have duel parenting arrangements with a Lesbian couple.

Rose-Marie Drury is Head of fertility law and a family lawyer at Mills & Reeve. She is an expert on issues involving children including co-parenting arrangements, parentage arising out of donor arrangements, UK and international surrogacy, child arrangements orders and relocation applications.

Her work also includes advising clients on financial issues arising from divorce or separation as well as wealth protection through cohabitation and pre and post-nuptial agreements.

Natalie is a marketing and events professional and business owner with over 17 years of experience delivering results-driven campaigns and events. She is founder of Natalie Asprey Marketing Consultancy providing marketing solutions for start ups and small businesses and is Co Founder of Empower, a non profit organisation with a mission to create accessible, safe and supportive spaces where individuals can embrace vulnerability and confidently advance in their unique journeys, whilst empowering others to do the same. She is Mum to two children both the result of a long fertility journey and is passionate about creating a narrative where shared fertility experiences are the norm.

With 20 years of experience at Autotrader, Principal Delivery Lead Sheryl utilises her professional platform to drive cultural change around fertility and baby loss. Having navigated her own personal journey with baby loss, fertility, and IVF, Sheryl draws on these lived experiences to provide authentic support to others and empower managers to lead sensitive conversations with confidence. As the lead of Autotrader’s Fertility and Baby Loss Focus Group, she is a frequent speaker and panellist, emphasising the employer’s vital role in creating empathetic workplace cultures. Her advocacy was central to her organisation becoming accredited as a Fertility Friendly Employer.