About us
Welcome to The IVFN, where we provide invaluable resources and a supportive community for individuals navigating fertility challenges. We understand that facing fertility issues can feel overwhelming, but we believe that with the right support and information, you can feel in control of your journey.
In addition to our individual membership. We also offer corporate membership options designed to assist businesses in supporting their employees’ fertility challenges while navigating work responsibilities. We provide guidance for HR professionals and line managers on how to incorporate fertility support into their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) policies.
As the UK’s fastest-expanding fertility community, we offer global content tailored to anyone seeking information or support regarding fertility health. Our membership has been curated by individuals who have personally experienced various fertility challenges. Ensuring that our resources address the essential elements for achieving family success and understanding fertility prognoses.
What We Offer
At The IVFN, we prioritise patient-centred care and emotional support. While we do not provide medical recommendations, testing, or financial support, we offer something of greater significance. A strong sense of community, access to comprehensive and topical content, and opportunities to engage with leading global experts through monthly events.
Our corporate membership includes a fertility policy toolkit, customized content, workshops, and training for line managers to effectively support their teams while implementing DE&I policies.
Founders’ Story
The IVFN was founded by Charlotte Gentry, who personally experienced the challenges of infertility. Charlotte’s journey involved seeking opinions from multiple clinics before ultimately achieving success and welcoming her baby boy in April 2020. Motivated by her experience. Charlotte created an information portal to serve as the leading global resource for individuals facing fertility challenges.
Through The IVFN, Charlotte aims to help thousands of people worldwide. By providing access to top private specialists and facilitating informative discussions through live events. Charlotte’s dedication has earned her recognition, including a nomination for Entrepreneur of the Year at the Female Frontier Awards in 2023.
Meet the team
Charlotte Gentry
CEO & Founder
Charlotte is a well known entrepreneur in the communications sector and owns a renowned corporate communications agency. Pure Communications Group and a new med tech start up called The IVFN.
As a result of undergoing 4 years of fertility treatment, Charlotte has set up The IVFN to help people. Who like herself, find it hard to know who to entrust their chances of having a family.
Charlotte’s skills in communications, content and events has set her in good stead to build a team to execute highly professionalised on demand content from the top private fertility experts
Charlotte has worked in the events and marketing sector for over 20 years. She feels passionately about helping people who need to take back control of their fertility journey.
Claire Fennelow
Director of Operations
A senior manager with expertise in leading an industry association (EVCOM). Her experience in both the corporate and not for profit sectors has encompassed the creative sector, events, European projects and training.
Experience includes developing and delivering on strategy and budget, operations and the planning and
delivery of national and international programmes, including professional
development, awards schemes, B2B events, conferences and bespoke projects.
Previous roles have included secondments to New York and Johannesburg and throughout her career she has enjoyed managing teams large and small.
Her mantra is ‘Collaboration is everything and enjoy what you do.’
Tina Powell
Content and Events Director
Tina has over 20 years’ experience in developing and delivering engaging content and events strategies in a wide variety of industries.
Creativity is at the heart of everything that she produces – transforming
organisational visions into impactful storytelling.
Tina draws upon expertise and strategic insights to support businesses with their content evolution, helping them to build communities, engage audiences, and surpass business goals.
Laura Jacobs
Finance Director
Laura has been with The IVFN since its inception.
She is a chartered accountant with
over 20 years experience in the technology, media and marketing sectors and has worked in the UK and internationally.
Laura is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
When not working, Laura spends
most of her time with her young family.
Francesca Steyn
Community Nursing Director
Francesca Steyn is a senior fertility nurse specialist with over 18 years experience in the sector. She is the current chair of the RCN Fertility Nursing Forum and most recently set up her own practice at Tailored fertility to offer independent support and fertility advice.
She has worked in various busy London units in both the NHS and private sectors and has had the opportunity to learn and develop a wide range of skills, including performing surgical sperm retrievals under consultant supervision, assisting with the management of the fertility needs of patients diagnosed with a blood borne virus, managing large donation programmes, leading and implementing surrogacy programmes and building out a remote fertility care service.
Francesca has presented her work on an international level and has co-authored RCN publications and guidance for fertility nursing staff and published Department of Health guidance on surrogacy best practice and care in surrogate births. She was awarded surrogacy professional of the year in both 2018 and 2019 at the National Surrogacy Awards and was awarded the RCN Award of merit in 2023 for her contribution to nursing and the RCN. She is a member of the legislative reform advisory group, appointed by the HFEA to modernise the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act and a member of the NICE Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (update) group.
Alessia van Oekel
Senior Account Manager
Alessia van Oekel is a Senior Account Manager at The IVFN, where she works closely with partner organisations to build strong, supportive and long-lasting relationships. She brings experience from across the health start-up world, from helping scale a Covid testing company to managing corporate and insurance partnerships in her previous role, a mental-health tech platform improving access to online therapy. Alessia is passionate about working with organisations that make a genuine difference to people’s lives, and she’s known for her warm communication style, thoughtful problem-solving and commitment to delivering a seamless experience for every partner.
Rowan Turner
IT Representative
Rowan, the IT Representative for The IVFN, is a seasoned professional who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in cloud technologies, cybersecurity, and IT modernisation to the table.
With a proven track record of driving business transformation through innovative IT solutions, Rowan is instrumental in ensuring that The IVFN remains at the forefront of technology. They are committed to delivering secure and efficient systems that support the organisation’s mission.
In addition to their role at The IVFN, Rowan serves as an Associate Director at a prominent Managed Service Provider. In this capacity, they spearhead strategic IT initiatives for a diverse range of clients.
Drawing on their extensive background in consulting, Rowan
excels at crafting customised solutions that seamlessly align technology with business objectives.
By balancing these dual roles, they effectively bridge the gap between technical innovation and practical implementation, delivering tangible benefits to organisations like
The IVFN and beyond.
Beyond their professional commitments, Rowan is driven by a deep-seated passion for
harnessing technology to create meaningful impact. They are dedicated to fostering partnerships that empower businesses to thrive in the digital era, leveraging their expertise
to drive success and growth.
Tanvi Shah
Digital Marketing Executive
With four years of hands-on experience across digital, print, event and advertising marketing, Tanvi brings a well-rounded creative spark to every project. Highly collaborative and driven, she’s helped deliver campaigns spanning online channels, printed media, and live events – always blending strategy with creativity.
When not at work, Tanvi lives life full-on: a self-confessed foodie and drink-lover, she’s a big reader (with a goal of 40–50 books a year), an avid traveller and always keen to explore new cultures, experiences and perspectives. Her energetic, “happy-go-lucky” attitude helps keep the buzz alive, both in and out of the office.
Alison Owen
Freelance Bookkeper
A highly motivated and dependable part-qualified ACCA accountant and ICB qualified bookkeeper, Alison possesses over 29 years of experience in the finance department within
the travel and events industry.
Throughout her career, Alison has been instrumental in optimizing financial processes and implementing efficient bookkeeping systems. Her
proficiency with various accounting software and her ability to adapt to new financial technologies have established her as an invaluable asset to her teams.
Alison’s dedication to excellence and her passion for the travel and events sector make her a valuable addition
to any organization.