Genetic Genealogist
Louise is an expert Genetic Genealogist specialising in Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG/FIGG) in Australia.
As a consultant forensic investigative genetic genealogist to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons (Mar 2023 – Oct 2024) and state law enforcement agencies, Louise has generated investigative leads to help identify Unidentified Human Remains (UHR) and potential suspects of violent crime.
In 2020, for the Queensland Police Service (in collaboration with Parabon Nanolabs), Louise used investigative genetic genealogy on the first unidentified human remains (UHR) case to use IGG in Australia. She generated investigative leads to assist the Queensland Police identify the biological family of Poona Paul – a John Doe found in QLD in 2008. She presented Who is this man? at the March 2023 Institute for Genetic Genealogy (I4GG) conference to demonstrate how genetic genealogy was used to identify Poona Paul’s family. The story was also shared by award-winning author and journalist Matthew Condon in the Queensland Police Service’s Podcast Breakthrough.
Louise’s expertise includes using GEDmatch PRO, GEDmatch, and FamilyTreeDNA, and working with SNP profiles generated from whole genome sequencing, microarrays, and targeted amplicon sequencing (ForenSeq® Kintelligence Kits). She is very experienced analysing atDNA, X-DNA, Y-DNA and mtDNA data and results, and researching genealogies of families from different ancestral backgrounds.
Louise assisted resolving a number of UHR cases using the first end-to-end FIGG capability in Australia, with two of these cases – William Henry Hardie and Tanya Lee Glover – featured in the co-authored publication Operationalization of the National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons’ Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy Capability for Human Remains Identification in Australia.
Louise has significant experience using genetic genealogy to unravel complex family relationships and resolve unknown and/or misattributed parentage cases – including for adoptees, donor conceived persons, foundlings (abandoned newborns), war babies, British child migrants, amnesiacs, and many others who never knew their origins or discovered from DNA testing that their parent(s) or grandparent(s) were not as expected.
It is never too late to start searching for answers, as was the case for 106-year-old Ellen Power, whose story was published by Matthew Condon, and which ranked in the Top 10 Best stories in The Weekend Australian Magazine for 2023.
Louise has expertise using all the major genetic genealogy databases/platforms (AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, 23andMe, Living DNA, GEDmatch), all relevant DNA types (atDNA, X-DNA, mtDNA, Y-DNA), third party DNA tools, and experience researching families from different ancestral backgrounds and in different locations.
As well as providing full-service genetic genealogy research and report writing services, Louise has mentored many clients to help them explore, interpret and apply their DNA results to their unique family situations, enabling them to experience the satisfaction of unravelling their own family stories and learning valuable research skills during the process.
Louise is available for selected speaking engagements/presentations related to Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) / Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG). Contact Louise to enquire.
Louise started her career working with big business data and now works with DNA data and family trees to resolve complex genealogical relationship puzzles and identify unknown relatives.
With more than 28 years of genealogical research experience, and 14 years applying DNA and genetic genealogy as a research tool, Louise has been at the forefront of genetic genealogy in Australia.
She established one of the first DNA Interest Groups in Australia and helped establish others. She created and leads Facebook groups Using DNA for Genealogy – Australia & NZ and Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) in Australia & New Zealand.
Louise manages or co-administers a number of DNA groups and projects, and she has been speaking, educating and spreading awareness about genetic genealogy in the community for more than a decade.
Louise is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the Society of Australian Genealogists (SAG) – through which she holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research (by assessment), Genealogy SA, the Genealogical Society of Victoria, the International Society of Genetic Genealogists (ISOGG), and the Australian & New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS). Louise is also a member of several local family history societies.
Louise complies with international best practices, codes of ethics, and strict confidentiality and privacy policies and practices relevant to genealogy, genetic genealogy, and investigative genetic genealogy.
Louise’s background is in business systems, data management and data analysis, and her professional qualifications include a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Business (BBus – Data Processing) and CPA.
