Janis Wilton is a public and applied historian with a particular interest in oral history, local and family history, ethnic community history, and history and museums. Before her retirement in 2017, she was based at the University of New England where she coordinated and taught into the university’s courses on local, family and applied history, and supervised research work in these areas. She is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor with UNE.
Working both as a sole researcher/author and as part of a team, she has communicated her work through books, monographs, reports, articles, book chapters, conference papers, guest talks, exhibitions, websites, online databases, an audio-tour, radio programs, an education resource kit and exhibitions. She has also, and with passion, shared her experiences and expertise through workshops and through working with community groups to develop their own public and applied history projects.
A former President of the International Oral History Association, and a former Trustee of the Historic Houses Trust of NSW (now Sydney Living Museums), in 2006 she was awarded an OAM for her service to the community as historian, author and researcher, and in 2009 she was awarded the Hazel de Berg Award for Excellence in Oral History and Honorary Life Membership of Oral History Australia.
