Our Team
Gillian Ednie
Principal biographer (BA, Dip Ed, M Admin (Monash), Certified GAB Instructor)
Gillian is a full-time biographer. She started her biography business, Your Biography, in 2008. Her first biography, Nothing’s Impossible! The Alan Rea Story was published in February 2009 with team members Dan Ednie-Lockett and Ev Beissbarth. The group’s second major biography, Burtta Cheney – A Life in Golf, was published in November 2010. More recently, the group has produced My Life in Broadcasting: It’s been a lot of fun by Cliff Peel, and From West to East by Alex and Chris Gorrie.
Gillian studied literature and history at university, and later obtained a Master of Administration to support her career as management consultant in the healthcare system. Gillian has worked in most health care sectors, and it was through her research into spiritual health, specifically pastoral care and chaplaincy services, that she discovered the multiple health and wellness benefits of biography for clients and their
families. She is also a former Oceania Regional Coordinator of the Association of Personal Historians (APH); a world-wide professional association for the personal history and biography industry. More recently Gillian has become a foundational member of Life Stories Australia Inc, the Australian association for biography and life story professionals, and is bound by its Code of Ethics.
Ev Beissbarth
Specialist editor and publishing advisor (BA (Hons) La Trobe)
Ev has a long career in academic and general book publishing. She has worked at Monash University, Oxford University Press, Prentice-Hall and the State Library of Victoria and in a freelance capacity for numerous publishers.
In this latter capacity, Ev has edited among many other titles The Letters and Diaries of Charles Joseph La Trobe, a limited edition for collectors; Sand and Success: A History of Huntingdale Golf Club by Brian Meldrum and Garry Mansfield; The Athenaeum Club, Melbourne: 1868-1918 by Paul de Serville; Dear Family: Letters from Arnhem Land 1962–66 by Beth Graham; and oversaw the production of the recently revised edition of The Australian Club, Melbourne by Paul de Serville.
Ev has a major role in the editing, design and formatting of all the books published by Your Biography and is a specialist editor and producer of academic and history books.
Daniel Ednie-Lockett
Specialist language and public relations advisor (BA Hons, Melbourne,
M Education, Nanjing)
Daniel has completed a Master of Education, specialising in language acquisition, at Nanjing University in China and has a strong interest in cross-cultural communication. He has previously been a Director of Studies at English language centers in Melbourne and curriculum writer for the ELICOS sector.
Daniel had a leading role as the author of his great uncle’s biography, Nothing’s Impossible! The Alan Rea Story, which was completed over many years. Dan undertook and recorded the interviews with his Alan Rea and his family members, completed the transcriptions, prepared the first drafts and was actively involved in the extensive editing and formatting process. Daniel was involved in Burtta Cheney – A Life in Golf, providing all the transcription services and the media and promotional support. Daniel manages the public relations, graphic design and website development for Your Biography.