Speaking

Probus Women’s Club of Burlington

October 26, 2026 — Burlington, Ontario

How are DNA and genealogical research helping to resolve decades-old mysteries? This presentation introduces Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) and explores its application within Canada to identify unknown individuals and advance cold case investigations. Attendees will be guided through the lifecycle of a typical case, from DNA extraction and database matching to the construction of family trees and the identification of potential candidates. The presentation will highlight the critical role genetic genealogy plays in modern investigative work, supported by a real-world case study that brings the process into focus. Attendees will also gain insight into how they could help solve a cold case.

SoFIGG Inaugural Symposium

September 11, 2026 — Edinburgh, Scotland

Toronto, Canada is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, with residents originating from every continent. This diversity presents both unique challenges and opportunities for investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), particularly when unidentified individuals or suspects are found to have very recent European origins.

This presentation will explore how the Toronto Police Service IGG team has successfully applied IGG methodologies to identify individuals born outside of Canada, including cases involving European origins such as Switzerland, Italy, and Portugal. Using case examples, the 20-minute presentation will demonstrate how traditional genealogical research can be combined with DNA evidence to resolve complex cross-border identifications. The session will focus on practical problem-solving approaches including targeted social media outreach within specific cultural or diaspora communities, the investigative value of clothing or personal effects found with the deceased, and innovative approaches to cases involving uncommon or geographically distinctive surnames.

This presentation aims to illustrate how IGG can be successfully adapted beyond a North American-centric framework and highlights the importance of cultural, historical, and geographic context when working international cases. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how IGG can function effectively in diverse urban environments and how similar methodologies may be applied in international investigations.

Ramapo Investigative Genetic Genealogy Conference 2026

June 28, 2026 — Ramapo, NJ, USA

Co-presenting with Matthew Waterfield

When IGG was first utilised nearly a decade ago, few could have predicted what would happen in the following years. Since the inception of IGG, practitioners have navigated a range of changes: GEDmatch changing their terms of service, FamilyTreeDNA opening its doors to IGG, partner labs starting up or shutting down, database upload fees skyrocketing, and many more. But as of 2026, our field has proved resilient – thousands of cold cases have been solved, technological advancements continue to pave the way for more successes, and IGG is now being employed across three continents.

Now that our field is more established, we have the opportunity to look to the future with the benefit of hindsight. With that in mind, this presentation will tackle a critical question – what do the next ten years have in store for IGG?

This presentation will cover potential developments, both positive and negative, that we should have on our radar in the coming years. In doing so, we aim to address some critical questions about the future of the field. For instance, what effect could monopolisation have on the IGG landscape? Which countries will be next to embrace IGG? What terms of service changes can we expect moving forward? How will formal education, standardized training, and credentialing affect who is able to practice IGG? These are just some of the topics that we will be covering as we explore the topics that will shape IGG over the course of the next decade.

It is also worth noting that our field is in a stronger position than it once was, thanks to a proven track record of success, the development of institutions and guidelines, and increased access to key decision makers. As a result, this presentation will also look at what the field ought to look like ten years from now. We are no longer at the mercy of events to the extent we once were, and we can now consider how our field can wield its influence in the years to come to ensure that IGG goes from strength to strength.