FamilyTreeDNA Live in Belfast.

Straight from the Source: Meet the people with all the information!

We are delighted to have four of the great minds at FamilyTreeDNA join us in Belfast for a whole day of talks at PRONI.

The programme will be finalised shortly but save the date for an opportunity to meet the people who give us such fantastic resources and information through their DNA testing. You will also be able to ask questions ( we all have some!) and hear about how the company is moving forward with new and exciting initiatives that will help all of us.

All the speakers have Ulster ancestry – find out if you are related to them on our Famous Faces page!

Meet the Speakers:

Dave Vance has been a genealogist for over 40 years and active in genetic genealogy since 2005. He is the author of “The Genealogist’s Guide to Y-DNA Testing for Genetic Genealogy: Second Edition” published in 2024 (first edition in 2020). Dave is also the author of the SAPP tool for Y-DNA phylogenetic trees and from 2021 to 2025 he served as editor for the Journal of Genetic Genealogy.

In late 2024 Dave was hired as General Manager responsible for FamilyTreeDNA, a genetic genealogy division within the Gene By Gene/MyDNA company portfolio.

Dave is also the administrator for the Vance/Vans/Wentz Y-DNA Surname project and co-admin for the R1b-L513 haplogroup project as well as the president and DNA advisor for the Vance Family Association, a traditional genealogy surname association.

He is active in various social media channels on genetic genealogy topics and speaks regularly at genealogy and genetic genealogy conferences.

Janine Cloud discovered her passion for genealogy in grade school, when a simple pedigree chart assignment sparked a lifelong curiosity about her ancestors.

She joined FamilyTreeDNA in 2011 and recently became Strategic Business Lead, which includes coordinating Group Projects, Events, and Forensics.

She is a registered member of the Cherokee Nation and has several lines that trace to Ireland in the colonial or pre-colonial period.

One of her favorite sayings is, “DNA shows the bones, and documents give them flesh,” reflecting her belief that genetic genealogy is an invaluable bridge between evidence and narrative.

Katy Rowe-Schurwanz has always loved stories. Growing up, her maternal grandparents told her tales of their family history, inspiring her to become a genealogist like her grandfather.

After studying creative writing, history, and anthropology at Southern Methodist University, she joined FamilyTreeDNA in 2015. As Product Manager, Katy uses her passion for storytelling to improve FamilyTreeDNA’s genetic genealogy products so everyone can discover their family story.

Mags Gaulden developed an early interest in family history, genealogy and the power of genetic testing in genealogy.

She is the founder of Grandma’s Genes, a genealogy consultation firm in Ottawa, and mitoYDNA.org, a free and accessible Y and mitochondrial DNA database for the genealogy community.

She is also a leader at WikiTree, a collaborative, global family tree website.

And we should mention that Mags is a member of the NIFHS Islandmagee DNA Project, with roots in the Parish – welcome home Mags!