Dr. Penny Walters
International speaker and author
After dinner speaker

Forthcoming presentations 2025​

​

• 5 June - Freed Olsen Cruises - Croatia, guest speaker - in-person

  • An introduction to starting a family tree

  • Mixing DNA with a paper trail

  • An introduction to forensic genetic genealogy

• 30 June - Essex FHS - Incorporating AI into genealogy

• 11 August - Burntwood FHS - Demystifying DNA 

• 8 September - Birkhamsted U3A - Adding social history to your family tree 

• 20 September - Rhode Island Genealogical Society - Ethical Dilemmas in genealogy; UK Censuses

​​

​Feedback

RootsTech in-person 2025

"This presentation was fantastic! Penny is a captivating presenter."

"Dr. Walters is a very knowledgeable and enjoyable speaker."

"Presenter was great and very knowledgeable!"

"Excellent and informative presentation with humor; speaker was knowledgeable and passionate, I thoroughly enjoyed the session."

​

Other conferences and webinars

''Very knowledgeable. Her presentation was streamlined, and her delivery was excellent. I also enjoyed her little touches of humour.'' Ontario Ancestors

"I was happy to have finally met you in person. I have heard nothing but rave reviews about your talks and about your warm, wonderful personality." Ohio GS

The highlight of the conference for me was Dr. Walters who was extremely engaging and entertaining, and was able to explain the complicated issue of DNA, so that even I could understand it. Really Useful Family History Show

‘' You opened my eyes to several things to be cautious about when it comes to things I may take for granted in genealogy. Thank you for this information and for taking time to chat with me privately!’' AAHGS

"Penny did a great job explaining the UK Censuses. And her accent made listening even more fun." New Jersey G.S.

''I have participated in this and several of your programs over the past few years. I am impressed by your clear-eyed and realistic presentation of the issues and considerations around adoption and reunion. Not something easy to do.'' Roots Tech attendee

'Many presenters are obviously reading from a script. Penny spoke as if she was with her best friends and is joyful in her voice.'' Ontario Ancestors

"I really enjoyed your presentation and the personal motivations and connections that you wove through it." Afro- American Genealogical Society (AAHGS) 

''Last night’s talk was brilliant. I’ve had several complimentary messages today from members and visitors. The most common comment was thought provoking.'' Fleet and Farnborough FHG

''It was a great presentation and very informative. You're going to be a hard act to follow according to all the raves in the chat.'' Browood FHS, Florida 

''Thanks for your extremely thought-provoking talk last night. I had a couple of members email me with their family history ethical dilemmas - and they weren't insignificant! You will be pleased to know that your talk attracted 72 people. We haven't had that many at a presentation before.'' Malvern FHS 

''Penny is a much respected writer and public speaker, particularly on DNA, adoption and moral dilemmas encountered during family history research. However, on this occasion, she took us on an engaging and enlightening journey through the decennial National Censuses of the UK'' Alde Valley Suffolk FHG

''I have just watched your DNA talk and must tell you how much I enjoyed it. For the first time I have understood some of the DNA mysteries I have chewed over for some time. Not least, some of your charts explain relationships brilliantly. The conference was excellent and your talk was definitely the highlight!'' RUFHS

''Fascinating talk, and it was good to have the handout which enabled us to concentrate on the talk rather than trying to take notes at the same time.'' 

‘'Thank you for a very informative session! There were points you made... that honestly I never asked myself. It is so important to make sure you share accurate information, be considerate in what you share, and how you share it.’' AAHGS

''The speaker was so well organized. It made me think the whole time. Very good exercise for the brain.'' BIFHGSO 

''I attended another one of your amazing webinars. I appreciate your warmth, sensitivity, ethics, and humor in your webinars.'' Barbara

''Thanks again for your talk, it went well and was attended well, it was our best so far.'' Peter

''Your Zoom talk prompted further discussion between us as to our own family ethical dilemmas. Such a fascinating and insightful talk.''  Yvonne

​

In-person and online presentations:

 

Conferences

• Roots Tech - in-person and online

• Who Do You Think You Are, UK - in-person

• Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) Conference - online

• Association of Professional Genealogists Professional Management Conference, Kansas City, USA - in-person

• Brigham Young University, USA - in-person

• Captivating Criminality Conference UK - in-person

• Celtic Connections Conference WISE (Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England) FHS - online

• East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference, USA - online

• Federation Of Family Histories annual Conference, UK - in-person and online

• Guild of One Name Studies Conference, UK - in-person

• Heartland Family History Conference, Topeka (Kansas) Genealogical Society - online

• IAJGS Annual Conference - Jewish Genealogy - in-person and online

• New York State annual conference - in-person

• Ohio Genealogical Society annual conference, Cincinnati - in-person

• Ohio Genealogical Society annual conference, Cleveland - in-person

• Ramapo College of New Jersey (in-person) Forensic Genetic Genealogy Conference

• Roots Tech London - in-person

• Southern California Genealogy Jamboree - online

• TIARA Conference - online

• We Are Cousins Conference - Mexico - online

​

USA webinars

• American-French Genealogical Society

• Association for the Advancement of Dutch American Studies 

• Association of Professional Genealogists Pro talks 

• Augusta Genealogical Society 

• Blog Talk Radio

• Broward County

• Bruce County

• Centre County GS, Pennsylvania

• Chula Vista (California) Genealogical Society 

• Colorado APG

• Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy

• Evalogue Life

• Gen. Friends

• Glendora GS of California

• Hispanic America - Southern California (GSHA SC) 

• Legacy

• Lee County Florida GS 

• New York FHS

• New Hampshire 

• New Jersey Genealogical Society

• New York Genealogical and Biographical Society

• Northeast Ohio GS 

• Ohio Genealogical Society 

• Orange County California Genealogical Society

• Pima County (Arizona) DNA Special Interest Group

• Pinellas GS

• Portsmouth (USA) Public Library 

• Seattle Genealogical Society

• Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society

• Utah Genealogical Association (UGA) Pro Talk

• Utah Genealogical Association Summit of Excellence

• Virtual Genealogical Association VGA

• Vivid-Pix 

• Whittier GA

• Wisconsin FHS

 

UK webinars 

• ABC FHS, N. Ireland 

• Adoption UK

• Airedale and Wharfedale Family History Society (FHS)

• Alde Valley,Suffolk FHS

• Alton FHS

• Andover FHS 

• Bath FHS - in-person

• Berkshire FHS 

• Birmingham FHS - in-person

• Bolton FHS 

• Bristol University - in-person

• Bristol & Avon FHS

• Bristol U3A 

• Blackmore Vale FHS 

• Chesterfield FHS

• Chiltern Jewish Genealogy Society 

• Buckinghamshire FHS

• Calderdale FHS

• Chepstow U3A 

• International Association of Jewish Genealogy Societies - in-person

• Cheshire FHS 

• Chesterfield FHS

• Chippenham FHS

• Cleveland FHS

• Coventry FHS  

• Devon FHS 

• Devizes FHS 

• Dorset FHS

• Downend Bristol FHS

• Eastbourne FHS

• East London FHS

• Essex FHS

• Families in British India (FIBIS)

• Family Tree Live

• Fareham FHS

• Fleet and Farnborough FHS - in-person

• Glamorgan FHS

• Gwynedd FHS

• Family History Federation - in-person

• Folkestone FHS

• Glastonbury FHS - in-person

• Gwent FHS

• Hampshire FHS Conference - in-person

• Herefordshire FHS

• Lancashire FHS

• Llandogo Womens Institute (WI)

• Liverpool and SW Lancs. FHS

• Malvern FHS

• Midlands Ancestors

• Mirthy Events

• Norfolk FHS North of Ireland FHS

• Nottingham FHS

• Northants FHS 

• NW Kent FHS 

• Nottingham FHS 

• Oxfordshire FHS

• Peterborough FHS

• Powys FHS 

• Radio Wales

• Really Useful Family History Show

• Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) - in-person

• Rest Less Events 

• Romsey

• Rugby FHS

• Ryedale FHS

• Secret Lives Conference - in-person

• Sheffield FHS

• Shropshire FHS

• Society of Genealogists - in-person

• Somerset & Dorset FHS - West Dorset branch

• Southampton FHS

• Stalbridge FHS

• Sussex FHS

• Swindon U3A - in-person

• The Name Event - in-person

• West Middlesex FHS

• West Surrey FHS

• Wiltshire FHS

• South Bristol U3A - in-person

• Windsor FHS

• Yate FHS - in-person

• Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society, Family History Section

 

Ireland webinars

• Back To Our Past, Cork - in-person

• Clans & Surnames, Nenagh - in-person

• Cork Foundation - in-person

• Daniel's Genealogy podcast

• Irish Famine Summer School, Roscommon - in-person

 

Canada webinars

• Albuquerque Genealogical Society

• British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa

• Hatton Peel, Ontario

• Ontario Ancestors - Huron County Branch; Lambton branch; London Branch; Niagara branch; Quinte branch; York branch

• Ontario Genealogical Society 

• Quebec FHS

• Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society

• Whittier Area Genealogical Society 

 

Australia webinars

• Family History Down Under Conference - in-person

• Heraldry and Genealogy Society of Canberra

• New South Wales Annual Conference 

• Queensland FHS

• Society of Australian Genealogists

 

​

​