This was my tenth year in business and it has been an exciting one. Here are some of the highlights and a taster of what’s coming in 2023 (with some big news at the end)!
Key translation projects
- Research reports on sustainable landscape
management in Cameroon, indigenous rights in the context of forest
conservation, migrant workers’ rights in Madagascar, and the impact of Covid-19
on women-owned businesses in Burkina Faso.
- A number of project reports on the Sahel
Women's Empowerment and Demographic Dividend project, on women’s rights initiatives
and on children’s rights.
- I worked on the “State of the Forests of the Congo Basin” report, as part of a team of translators and editors.
- I edited a report on a European Works Council meeting for a large multinational undergoing structural changes.
Events
- I spoke at the Chartered Institute of Linguists conference on how translators can ensure they are making the most of ongoing training opportunities in their specialist areas.
- I attended the Institute of Translation and Interpreting
conference in Brighton in May and the online BOND conference on Power in
Development in September.
- I helped organize a business retreat for fellow members of the ITI East Anglia network, so we could work on our business strategy.
- I also attended many webinars and workshops to ensure I stay up to date with the latest developments in my fields and keep my translation skills on top form. You can find my updated CPD record here. In fact, I logged over 100 hours on my ITI CPD Record!
Professional Contribution
I believe it's important to give back to my professional community and to ensure that professional translators are able to access high quality training and support, enabling them to better represent our profession and deliver for our clients. To this end:
- I helped set up the International Development &
Cooperation Network of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, a forum
for professional translators working in the sector. You can find out more here:
https://www.iti.org.uk/iti-international-development-cooperation.html.
- I volunteered as part of the ITI French Network Events team
with the wonderful Alanah Reynor. We ran a number of training events for
members, including translation slams, webinars and regular “Termstorms”
(our own creation).
- I co-wrote articles for the Institute of Translation and Interpreting Bulletin (bi-monthly magazine).
- I helped edit the MediterraneanEditors and Translators’ resource hub (The Hive) as part of a volunteer
team.
What’s next for 2023?
In February, I will be presenting to the Chartered Institute of Linguists about working in the field of sustainable development (info here). I will in particular emphasise that translators and editors have a duty to understand the power dynamics at play in this area and how language can further, or hinder, progress on development and human rights.
Because I’m passionate about the need to specialize to deliver higher value to clients, I’m also hoping to develop training sessions to help translators working with human rights and development organizations. I’ll be sure to emphasise how language can be used to further human rights and address racist and colonial mindsets.
For the big news… I will be going on maternity leave for three months from around April before returning to work part time. I’m currently preparing a roster of trusted colleagues who will be able to support my clients in my absence.
I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!