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From the British Isles
Paul Blake (England) Paul Blake is a full-time researcher, lecturer and writer, with over twenty years experience, and he holds the Diploma in Genealogy from the Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies. Based in London, England he specialises in London and military ancestry but has wide general expertise and is therefore available for commissions for all England and Wales. He is a regular visitor to The [British] National Archives and the several London record offices. He is joint author of the books, The complete guide to creating your own family tree and Discover your roots (UK and US editions). He is a regular writer for Family History Monthly magazine, including its monthly Q&As section, Your Family Tree magazine and other periodicals. Paul also contributed to the highly successful Readers’ Digest book, Explore Your Family’s Past. Paul has undertaken research for the television series The People Detective and Revealing Secrets, and has appeared on the latter, as well as on BBC national and local radio. Paul has worked as an advisor to the History Channel and the BBC and undertaken research into the family histories of several celebrities for the Sunday Magazine. Paul lectures widely on a variety of genealogy and related subjects, in England, in North America and elsewhere overseas, and on cruise ships. Paul has served on many committees. He is a past chairman, of the Society of Genealogists Executive Committee and of its Lectures Committee. He was vice-chairman of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Family History Societies, and its Director of Publicity. He serves on The National Archives Online Advisory Board and on the Regular Users Committees of TNA and the Family Records Centre. Paul is President of the East Surrey FHS and a Fellow of the Society of Genealogists. (biography taken from APG website)
Jackie Depelle (England) www.yourfairladies.ning.com Jackie is an enthusiastic full-time family history tutor and lecturer working for several adult education providers as well as running her own genealogy event company, Your Fair Ladies (www.yourfairladies.co.uk). She is an active member of the Yorkshire Group of Family History Societies, a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies and regularly lectures on Researching Yorkshire Ancestors. Jackie began seriously researching and recording her ancestors when moving into her grandparents’ house, becoming the sixth generation to live there. An interest in house and local history followed subsequently turning into a new career. During 13 years teaching family history, Jackie has supported events in universities, country houses and museums. She has keen interest in sharing knowledge, enthusiasm and the skills needed to accurately research and record family history. Jackie is supported on this cruise by Family Historian and will be presenting and offering expert advice on this leading genealogy program.
Marie Dougan (Scotland) http://ancestralconsultants.com Marie Dougan is a professional genealogist based in Scotland who holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Genealogical Studies from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. She has been involved in researching genealogy for many years. Her background is in education, and in particular, the applications of technologies in learning. Marie provides a range of high quality professional genealogy services and visits locations across the UK and Ireland in order to undertake her research. Marie provides a variety of training courses and is also a speaker on genealogy topics, which can be delivered live online or at various locations. She has spoken at events across Scotland and at the Rootstech conference in Salt Lake City. She has also delivered live webinars with up to 1000 participants from across the world. With her background in technology, she has a particular interest in the applications of a variety of technologies to assist in genealogical research and keeps up to date with the latest developments in this area. Marie is currently a tutor on a range of genealogy and family history courses at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland She is a member of a number of genealogy societies and organisations including the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Scottish Genealogy Society, the Society of Genealogists and a number of Family History Societies. She is also a member of the Scotlands People User Group.
Eileen Ó Dúill (Ireland) www.heirsireland.com Eileen Ó Dúill, has been a professional Irish genealogist since 1990, specializing in legal and probate genealogical research. She is currently the only Certified Genealogist in Ireland. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and served on the board of the as the International Trustee for Britain and Ireland (2007-2012). Eileen has lectured at national and international conferences in the US, Ireland, Canada and the U.K. from 1999 to 2014 and co-presented a webinar on Irish genealogical research for Ancestry.com. She was a course tutor and lecturer on the Diploma in Family History (Genealogy) at the Independent College, Dublin. She has been admitted as an expert witness in the Surrogate Courts in 6 counties of New York Eileen was able to turn a lifelong hobby into a business providing a professional genealogical research service. Being an American living in Ireland for 38 years, has enabled her to have a unique perspective on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and an understanding of her fellow countrymen in their quest for their Irish heritage.
Sean Ó Dúill (Ireland) www.heirsireland.com Sean O’Duill is a fluent Irish speaker from Louisburgh, Co. Mayo. He taught in St. Declan’s College, Dublin and has published several articles in Irish and English on Irish folklore. Sean earned a higher diploma in Irish translation from Galway Mayo Institute of Technology in 2007. Sean was the keynote speaker at the 2005 National Genealogical conference. He also lectured at FGS Conference in Boston in 2006 and at the Irish Genealogical Conference in Sligo in 2004. He has assisted with numerous genealogical research trips to Ireland and now works as a researcher in the General Register Office in Dublin. Sean’s research into Irish Folklore has developed several lectures which have been of great interest to family historians in Ireland. Understanding the life our ancestors lived provides a background and substance to the study of genealogy.
From the United States
Lisa Louise Cooke, Genealogy Gems – http://lisalouisecooke.com Lisa Louise Cooke is the owner of Genealogy Gems, a genealogy and family history multi-media company. She is producer and host of the Genealogy Gems Podcast (with over 1.3 million downloads) the popular online genealogy audio show, as well as the Family History: Genealogy Made Easy podcast, both available at www.GenealogyGems.com, in iTunes. Her podcasts bring genealogy news, research strategies, expert and celebrity interviews (Henry Louis Gates Jr., Lisa Kudrow, etc.) and inspiration to genealogists in 75 countries around the world. Lisa is the author of four books including How to find your family history in newspapers, The genealogist’s google toolbox, and her newest book Turn your iPad into a genealogy powerhouse. She’s also the producer of the DVD series Google Earth for Genealogy and over 60 videos at the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel. In addition to Genealogy Gems, Lisa produces and hosts The Family Tree Magazine Podcast, regularly writes for the magazine, and is an instructor and curriculum developer for Family Tree University. Lisa is a sought after international genealogy and technology speaker, regularly featured at Who Do You Think You Are? Live in London, as well as an innovative webinar presenter. Whether in person or online, Lisa strives to dig through the myriad of genealogy news, questions and resources and deliver the gems that can unlock your family history treasure trove!
From Australia
Rosemary Kopittke (Queensland) Rosemary has been tracing her family history since 1985. A statistician by training, she has worked in that field as an hydrologist, teacher and biometrician. Her tertiary qualifications include a BSc (Mathematics) and BA (Computer Science) both from the University of Queensland. More recently she has completed the Certificate in Genealogical Studies (English Records) with the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. She currently works as a consultant for Gould Genealogy & History, is regularly invited to speak on findmypast and other topics at events in Australia and New Zealand and has presented on all the Unlock the Past cruises. She has published numerous indexes to cemeteries and government records though is probably best known for her work with husband Eric on the Emigrants from Hamburg to Australasia 1850-1879 publication. She is editor of Unlock the Past publications and author and contributor to several. A member of the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations (AFFHO) Council from 2009 to 2013 and a current member of the Queensland FHS Management Committee, Rosemary is a Fellow of the Queensland Family History Society and in 2006 received the AFFHO Award for Meritorious Services to Family History.
Mike Murray (Western Australia) www.timetrackers.com.au Mike’s interest in genealogy started in 1989, sparked by the sudden death of his mother and the realisation that she was the font of all family knowledge, which had now gone. Mike resolved to find out more about the family’s roots, and has been successful in tracing his mother’s side in Ireland for many generations and the Murray family’s Scottish roots back to the 1600s. Like many of us, the quest for his family roots aroused his passion for genealogy and history. After retiring from a career in industry and international consultancy, Mike joined his wife Lesley in running TimeTrackers, which specialises in British and Australian research, education, publishing and film-making. Mike does the publishing and film-making. 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 is the Convenor of the Computer Interest Group and, with Lesley, the London and South England Special Interest Group. Mike’s engaging presentation and teaching style stems from his successful consulting background and passion for his subjects.
Lesley Silvester (Western Australia) www.timetrackers.com.au Lesley’s a Londoner who came to Australia with her family in 1961. After a career in nursing and administration, Lesley’s long-standing interest in genealogy resulted in her starting the busy genealogical firm TimeTrackers in 2000. TimeTrackers has helped thousands of clients across Australia and in the UK, New Zealand, USA and a smattering of other countries. Lesley’s interests are historical and genealogical research and education. As well as working for clients, she is also heavily involved in WAGS and is a regular volunteer helping people find their families at a support centre for Child Migrants. In her later life Lesley took to tertiary studies with gusto: she gained a BA (Archaeology) from the University of Sydney, a Graduate Diploma in Cultural History from Curtin University (WA), an MA and most recently a PhD in Medieval and Early Modern Studies from the University of Western Australia. Her theses for both her MA and PhD both heavily relied on genealogical methods to address specific historical issues. Her PhD thesis was a longitudinal study of the poor of Norwich in the 16th century and encompassed issues of kinship, demography and survival strategies of the desperately poor.
Helen Smith (Queensland) helenvsmithresearch.blogspot.com.au Helen has been researching her family since 1986 when her mother lamented the fact she had never known her grandfather, George Howard Busby. Helen found some information and a newspaper photo of him, was hooked and has been addicted ever since with research in Australia, England and Ireland. She is researching the surname Quested anywhere, anytime and has registered the name with the Guild of One-Name Studies. 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 as well as scientific publications. She is the author of a number of blogs which can be accessed via http://helenvsmithresearch.blogspot.com.au and you can follow her on Twitter @HVSresearch She has spoken to a wide variety of audiences including Genealogical Society of Queensland Day Conferences, Library Technician Conference, all the Unlock the Past cruises, Unlock the Past Expos and Roadshow and numerous family history society meetings. Professionally, she is a Molecular Epidemiologist specialising in Public Health Microbiology and has a strong interest in infectious diseases and Public Health through the ages. She has a Graduate Diploma in Public Health, Bachelor Applied Science: Medical Laboratory Science and Associate Diploma in Clinical Laboratory Techniques. She is currently studying with the National Institute for Genealogical Studies towards the Certificate in Genealogical Studies: English Records .