Speakers
The experienced and talented people who will be bringing you their knowledge and sharing their secrets. See who they are and what they will be speaking about!
Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D.
Professional genealogist specialising in DNA evidence.
In 2007 he started The Genetic Genealogist (www.thegeneticgenealogist.com), one of the earliest blogs on the topic. Blaine is the author of The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy, and co-author with Debbie Parker Wayne of the award-winning Genetic Genealogy in Practice, the world’s first genetic genealogy workbook. He also co-authored “Genetics for Genealogy” with Judy Russell in 2018’s Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards (ProGen PPS) (Elizabeth Shown Mills, Author and Editor).
Blaine is or has been an instructor for genetic genealogy courses at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), and Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research. Blaine is a graduate of ProGen Study Group 21, a trustee for the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society’s Board of Trustees, and a board member for the Association of Professional Genealogists.
Speaking in: Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra & Sydney
Louise Coakley
Professional genealogist – Genie1
Louise Coakley has been researching family history for more than 20 years and using DNA since 2011. She presents on DNA, convenes a DNA Interest Group and a DNA Drop-In Clinic, maintains a website to guide beginners, and guides others to help them explore, interpret and apply their DNA results to their unique family situations. Louise created and leads the Facebook support group Using DNA for Genealogy – Australia & NZ and co-administers several other DNA groups and projects.
Speaking in: Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney
Discover more on Louise and the topics she will speak on.
Kerry Farmer
Professional genealogist – Family History Research
Kerry is a researcher, presenter and teacher in family history and genealogical studies and has been teaching family history classes since 1997. With degrees in both science and humanities, she is on the Board of the Society of Australian Genealogists and convenor of their Education Committee. She is also the Director of Australian Studies, developing the Australian Records certificate for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Kerry is a regular speaker at conferences & other events.
Speaking in: Canberra, Sydney
Discover more on Kerry including the topics she will speak on.
Michelle Patient
Professional genealogist – The Patient Genie
With a degree in Pure and Applied Chemistry and technical qualifications in Geology, Michelle Patient has a love of data, facts and research. Working for many years in civil engineering laboratories before moving into programming databases for marketing projects, she has spoken to various community and work-related groups since the 1970s. She has been using computers and the internet since the 1980s, and since becoming addicted to genealogy in 1999 she enjoys helping others make the most out of using technology to help further their research.
Speaking in: Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney
Discover more on Michelle including the topics she will speak on.
Helen Smith
Professional genealogist – Dragon Genealogy
Helen is a speaker, researcher and author and has been researching family history since 1986 in Australia, England, Ireland and Wales with forays into other areas. She has spoken in every state and territory in Australia, and internationally in New Zealand, Canada, USA, England and aboard the Unlock the Past cruises. She is the author of Death certificates and archaic medical terms and has written for ‘Inside History’, ‘Australian Family Tree Connections’ and other family history journals.
Speaking in: Brisbane, Sydney
Discover more on Helen including the topics she will speak on.
Brad Argent
Ancestry
www.ancestry.com.au
Brad Argent has worked for Ancestry for over a decade, across multiple countries. His current role as Head of International Programming has him spending most of his time turning AncestryDNA into stories for television.
Speaking in
Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne & Sydney
Fiona Brooker
Professional genealogist
Memories In Time
Fiona’s passion is to help you research and discover Yesterday’s Moments through your family history, stories, DNA and photographs and preserve and create Tomorrow’s Memories for future generations.
Speaking in: Sydney
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including the topic she will speak on.
Caz Brymora
Caz did a DNA test in 2015 and has used this to solve a long-term family mystery: the origins of her grandmother’s
grandmother. Since then she has been connect with relatives and actively helping others to understand their DNA results, figure out who their matches are and how to use DNA in line with traditional genealogy research.
Caroline is speaking and exhibiting for MyHeritage
Speaking in
Sydney
Shelley Crawford
Shelley Crawford has been researching her forebears for 30 years. With degrees in economics and science, and a day job wrangling and interpreting statistics, she has an analytical bent which she enjoys applying to her family history research. She has shared her family history research and methods online since 2009 through her genealogy blog Twigs of Yore.
Speaking in: Sydney
Dr Runa Daniel
Dr. Runa Daniel is a senior research, development and innovation scientist (Forensic Biology) in the Office of the Chief Forensic Scientist, Victoria Police Forensic Services Department. Runa has PhD in Forensic DNA Intelligence from the University of Technology Sydney (2009). Runa has a background in genetics and molecular biology with a research focus in DNA Intelligence and emerging DNA technologies.
Speaking in: Sydney
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including the topic she will speak on
Gail Edwards
Gail is a Council member of the South Australian Genealogy Society, co-administrator of the South Australian DNA Project and member of the Society’s DNA Special Interest Group. She is on the organising committee for a U3A family history group and teaches family history for beginners at her local library, provides individual tuition on more advanced topics as well as helping people who have taken a DNA test but don’t know what to do next.
Speaking in: Adelaide
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including the topic she will speak on
Claire Forster
Claire Forster, along with the team from Artemis Media created Every Family has a Secret, a new documentary series which aired on SBS and worldwide this year.
Claire is the Series Producer of Every Family has a Secret which takes everyday Australians on a journey to discover the truth behind a burning secret which has impacted their life and identity. The show, hosted by Noni Hazlehurst, also reveals the social context and world events which shaped family decisions.
Speaking in: Perth
Mike Murray
Professional genealogist
TimeTrackers
After retiring from a career in industry and international consultancy, Mike joined his wife Lesley in running TimeTrackers. Mike has had many speaking and educational engagements on a variety of genealogical topics, and is heavily involved with the WA Genealogical Society (WAGS), and, with Lesley, convenes the London and South England Special Interest Group.
Speaking in: Perth
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including the topics he will speak on
Jason Reeve is the Content Manager for Australia and New Zealand. Besides working with state archives & registries to acquire new record collections for the Ancestry community, you’ll also often find him on the road visiting local societies and events to speak on Ancestry & AncestryDNA.
Speaking in
Adelaide & Canberra
Dr. Jacqueline Savard is a lecturer in health ethics and professionalism at Deakin University. She has spent the past 10 years studying direct-to-consumer (online DNA) testing in Australia. Her research interests mainly focus on the ethics of new genomic technologies, how genetic information is used in daily life and how these new ideas can be communicated and engaged with the public.
Speaking in
Sydney
Charlotte Smith is the Manager of VANISH, the Victorian Adoption Network for Information Self Help, a secular not-for-profit organisation providing search and support services to people affected by adoption, people who were wards of the state and people affected by donor conception. VANISH was established 30 years ago when the adoption act changed so that adopted people could access their identifying information. Charlotte has a personal experience of adoption, contact and reunion.
Speaking in
Sydney
Bronwyn is an educator and science communicator currently living in Sydney. She has been talking about genetics, genomics and molecular biology for more than 20 years to just about anyone who’ll listen. Bronwyn has worked in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia in research institutes, museums and science centres. At the moment she’s particularly interested in what makes someone ‘genomically-literate’. Bronwyn coordinates genomics education programs for the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney.
Speaking in
Sydney