About the Speaker

Helen Smith

Helen Smith is a speaker, researcher and author with a strong interest in medical and social history. With an English born father and a fifth-generation Australian mother she has been researching her own family since 1986 in Australia, England, Ireland and Wales with forays into the USA and the many countries of the old British Empire. She has registered the surname Quested, with the Guild of One Name Studies & the Surname Society, researching them around the world, anywhere, anytime. She is also working on two One Place studies - Lintern Street Red Hill Brisbane and Hernhill, Kent, England. She has presented on genealogical topics since 1992 in Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Canada, and the USA including RootsTech, Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference, Virtual Genealogical Association conference, Who Do You Think You Are? London Live!, Legacy Family Tree Webinars and on 18 Unlock the Past cruises.  Helen was a public health microbiologist and molecular epidemiologist for 36+ years utilising molecular techniques to investigate bacterial outbreaks. She has been actively involved in genetic genealogy since 2011, educating and helping people looking for biological family as well as those trying to make sense of their DNA results. Helen started the Genealogical Society of Queensland DNA SIG in May 2015 and was its convenor for seven years. She is the author of “Death Certificates and Archaic Medical Terms”, “Google the Genealogist’s Friend”, a contributing author to “Brisbane Diseased” and has written numerous family history articles. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and Genealogical Speakers Guild.