After an unsuccessful IVF journey, Jo and Ben's dream of having children came to an abrupt and heartbreaking end. What followed was a journey through profound grief, unanswered questions, and exploring a life they had never imagined. Over the years, they discovered ways to honour their loss, stay connected to others, find renewed purpose, and embrace new dreams, including the life changing decision to move from the UK to Australia.
Drawing on their lived experience, Jo and Ben developed the COMPASS Framework to support people navigating the grief of an unfulfilled dream. In this heartfelt webinar, they share their story, introduce the Framework, and offer practical, compassionate guidance for moving forward after infertility. You'll leave with renewed perspective, practical insights, and hope for a meaningful future.
DATE: Sunday 20th September
TIME: 9.00am BST - Find your timezone HERE
REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR HERE
Please note: Whilst the panellists will be recorded, your camera and audio will be turned off. If you are unable to attend the webinar live, you DO NOT need to register to watch the replay. Just subscribe to the World Childless Week YouTube channel and you’ll be notified when new recordings are added.
PANELLISTS
Jo Popplestone - Australia
Born in the UK, Jo moved to Australia with her husband in 2014 to build a new life together after an unsuccessful fertility journey. Since then, she has embraced adventure, challenged her limits, and immersed herself in nature. In recent years,
Jo has taken up trail running, completing multiple 22km and 50km events, proving to herself that your 40s can be a time of growth, resilience, and new achievements. She is also a proud cat mum.
Professionally, Jo has more than 25 years' experience in the community services sector across government and not-for-profit organisations, working as both a frontline practitioner and people leader. She currently holds a national role, advising on and implementing best practice initiatives across Australia.
As an ICF-accredited coach and a practitioner listed in Jody Day's therapist resource directory, Jo is passionate about helping others navigate change, loss, and new possibilities with courage and hope.
Ben Popplestone- Australia
From an early age, Ben had a dream of creating a family with his wife, Jo in the UK. When this dream came to an abrupt end after a challenging journey of infertility, he had to find a new direction and purpose. In the years since, he has made
Australia his home, expanded his career internationally, and pursued his passion for adventure.
Following a 25 year career in technology, culminating in leading teams for Adobe across Asia Pacific, he has recently embarked on a new venture, ‘Adventure Mentors’, focusing on developing leadership across organisations. He is also a board member for The Freedom Hub, a NFP helping survivors of modern slavery.
Ben lives in a boathouse on the side of river just south of Sydney with his wife, Jo and their cat, Mulberry.
