Keynote Speaker — Dr. Carina Pereira Fernandes (Portugal)

Handwriting Changes in Alzheimer's Disease – A Forensic Handwriting Examiner's Perspective

Carina Pereira Fernandes has a PhD in Forensic Sciences from the University of Alcalá and a BSc in Biology from the University of Porto. She is a Forensic Handwriting and Document Examiner at NCForenses Institute (Associated Member of ENFHEX). She was part of ENFSI's CERTAIN-FORS Project, which developed e-learning tools for training and competency of Forensic Handwriting Experts on the examination of traditional and digitally captured signatures, as well as a team member of ENFSI's STEFA G8 project on "Forensic Examination of Digitally Captured Signatures and Handwritten Entries."

In 2017, she received the Bryan Found Research Award for "Best Student Presentation," attributed by the Association of Forensic Document Examiners. She is a member of the Editorial Board of "Journal of Forensic Document Examination" (JFDE), a member of the "International Graphonomics Society (IGS)" since 2016, and was the co-coordinator of the areas of Forensic Document and Handwriting Analysis at the Portuguese Association of Forensic Sciences until 2020.

Kathie Koppenhaver

Alphabet Soup: Understanding Standards

New standards have been released in the past few years and document examiners now have additional standards to use. As a result, there are several new standards for document examiners and we need to be aware of these standards. We need to understand them, especially when we testify in court because failure to follow the standards could cause you to fail to qualify in court cases. Kathie will discuss the various organizations and supply attendees with a "cheat sheet" to help attendees to be ready to discuss these standards when necessary.

Thomas Phinney

Font Detective

Thomas Phinney is a font forensics specialist and type designer. He has been consulted by a wide range of clients and entities, including the US Treasury, Oxford University Press, Ford Motor Credit, Google, Microsoft and Monotype. His font legal cases include Gorbachev v Guriev (UK, 2024), McGoey (Re) (Canada, 2019), and PK Music v Justin Timberlake (USA, 2019). Phinney's font forensic expertise has been recognized by courts in the USA, Canada, UK and the EU. He has presented to numerous document examiner organizations, including NADE, AFDE, SAFE, ASQDE/SWAFDE, ASFDE (Australasia) and the Malaysian government's document examination division.

Graziella Pettinati

New Look at Opinion Scales

Graziella Pettinati received her B.A. in Molecular Biology from the University of Quebec in Montreal. After 16 years of teaching biology and chemistry, she made a 180-degree turn when the college where she was teaching closed, leading her to open her first handwriting business. She developed a special expertise in graphic gesture, writing, and drawing. Her interest in handwriting eventually evolved into forensic document examination.

Jacqueline Joseph BA, CDE, D-BFDE

Personal Writing Habits as a Factor in Forming Authorship Opinions

Based in Portland, Oregon, Jacqueline Joseph is an active forensic handwriting and document examiner with more than 30 years of working with attorneys and the general public. A double board-certified document examiner (NADE and BFDE), Jacqueline also holds a B.A. degree in secondary education from the University of Arizona and a Graduate Certificate in Business Communication from Harvard Extension School. Worldwide, Jacqueline is one of ten document examiners certified by the Board of Forensic Document Examiners (bfde.org). As a certifying board, the BFDE maintains accreditation by the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (thefsab.org) which recognizes certification programs offered by its ten accredited forensic boards including the BFDE.

Heidi Harralson MA, Dipl., BCDE

Electronic Signatures and Digital Technology: Navigating Technology and Terminology

Heidi Harralson is the managing partner of Spectrum Forensic International, LLC, a full-time handwriting and document examination practice. She is court-qualified and is a board-certified diplomate through the National Association of Document Examiners (NADE). She has lectured extensively to professional organizations and universities on the handwriting sciences internationally. She has published original research in peer-reviewed journals and has authored three books, including Developments in Handwriting and Signature Identification in the Digital Age, Forensic Handwriting Examination of Motor Disorders & Forgery, and Huber & Headrick's Handwriting Identification: Facts & Fundamentals, 2nd ed. She holds a Master of Arts in handwriting science and forensic document examination and is an affiliate professor at East Tennessee State University, where she teaches courses in forensic document examination.

Reed Hayes

A Question of Tempo: Was the Disputed Signature Written in a Hurry as Claimed?

Reed Hayes operates a handwriting and document examination business in Honolulu, Hawaii. He has studied handwriting for nearly five decades, and has worked internationally as a handwriting analyst, including acting as a consultant for the book and video production of The Diary of Jack the Ripper as well as the book Alexander Cartwright: The life Behind the Baseball Legend. He has also examined and rendered opinions on the questioned will of Queen Lili'uokalani, Hawaii's last reigning monarch.

Reed is a graduate of the Andrew Bradley Training Course in Forensic Document Examination (beginning and advanced) and holds certification from the National Association of Document Examiners (re-certified, 2005, 2011, 2016, 2021) and a certificate of training from the American Institute of Applied Science. He is a member of the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation and a board member of the National Association of Document Examiners and the Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners.

Reed is the author and co-author of several books, including Between the Lines and Forensic Handwriting Examination: A Definitive Guide. His current writing project is Reflections of a Handwriting Expert (working title).

Bill Losefsky

Complex Investigations and Special Investigative Techniques

Delve into the intricate world of complex investigations with expert Bill Losefsky as he unveils a range of specialized investigative techniques. This session explores the depths of interviewing tactics, the art of statement and handwriting analysis, and the nuances of body language interpretation. Bill will provide insights into assessing the quality of evidence, strategies for discovering previously unknown witnesses, and methods for identifying signs of deception. Join us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the sophisticated tools and approaches essential for advanced forensic investigation.