Practical Professional Development 

Business development was a key theme at Translators Day. Vasiliki Prestidge and Ilenia Goffredo (pictured below) delivered valuable advice on building and maintaining client relationships.
 

As Chloé Bianéis observed, these "practical tips and positivity" were "key, and timely, to grow as individual businesses and to elevate our visibility and reputation together as a profession."

Rebecca Nicholls' session on translation for TV and film was among the highest-rated presentations, providing insights into opportunities and challenges in the media industry, and Nisreen Alzaraee from the British Library gave a fascinating talk on the work of the Arabic translation team digitising historical collections related to the Gulf. 

Voices from the Community 

As Stephanie Martinez-Hill shared on LinkedIn, Susie Dent's 'in conversation' session was a highlight for many, delighting the audience with fascinating words and phrases like "hingum-tringum" (feeling barely presentable) and "respair" (fresh hope, recovery from despair).
 

"I could listen to Susie Dent talk for hours," remarked Chloe Jones, who particularly appreciated Susie's observations on gendered language, including "negative adjectives that are exclusively directed at women." 

Innovations in Format and Content 

Our double-stream format proved particularly popular this year, allowing attendees to select presentations most relevant to their own interests. One Translators Day attendee commented: 

"I really appreciated being able to choose the talks that suited me and the positive feeling of the day. It was also great to have space to sit for lunch this time." 

This personalised approach resonated with many participants, who valued the ability to flex their own conference experience. It was great to be able to offer a new format that better serves our diverse community of linguists. 

Interpreters Day 

Highlights from Interpreters Day included Michelle Deeter's excellent presentation on content creation for interpreters, and Diana Singureanu co-presenting fascinating findings from the EmpASR project with Sabine Braun and Constantin Orasan from the University of Surrey Centre for Translation Studies, exploring how interpreters can be empowered with AI and Automatic Speech Recognition. 

An important panel discussion featuring Sara Robertson (CEO of ITI), Mike Orlov (NRPSI), Sue Leschen and John Worne addressed the state of public service interpreting in the UK. The panel highlighted the joint advocacy work by all the UK's professional bodies that fed into the House of Lord's inquiry into interpreting in the courts.
 

In the afternoon, Katie Santos FCIL CL (pictured above) delivered an inspiring talk on unlocking portfolio careers with languages, showcasing opportunities in education, tourism, accessibility services and beyond. Finally the closing panel refected on the themes of the day and the sometimes very personal challenges Public Service Interpreters face in the their daily work. As Mariana Bejenari summarised, attendees left "feeling inspired to be more active and proactive" in their work. 

Online Conference: Expanding Horizons 

Our Online Conference complemented the in-person events by bringing together a great range of speakers and topics accessible to participants regardless of location. Gwenydd Jones MCIL CL, a freelance translator, editor, and writer with expertise in training translators, shared her insights on the art of translation. Michael Lynas, UK Country Director for Duolingo, along with colleagues Dr. Audrey Kittredge and Dr. Sharon Wilkinson, explored how AI is supporting the future of language learning.

Ethics featured prominently in Ibrahim Kadouni's presentation on professional standards and real-world challenges in interpreting, providing attendees with both theoretical understanding and practical strategies to navigate complex ethical situations. The conference also explored some more specialised fields, with Zoe Moores discussing multilingual access through respeaking, Paul Kaye from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Translation examining how AI and other technologies are changing translation work at the Commission.

Rounding out the event, John Worne spoke on the value of lifelong learning of langauges and Dr Norma Schifano from the University of Birmingham presented on "Crossing Borders: What happens when languages meet," exploring the fascinating effects of language contact on linguistic evolution. The breadth and depth of topics covered in the Online Conference reflected the diverse interests and specialisations within our profession, with recordings made available to attendees for continued professional development. 
 

The Value of Community 

Beyond formal sessions, networking opportunities alway prove invaluable for linguists - and it was wonderful to connect in person again! As Xenia Andriuta reflected, "The conversations over coffee, reconnecting with colleagues and meeting new professionals who share the same passion... are just as valuable as the formal sessions." 

For newcomers like Chloe Jones, who described herself as "a fledgling freelancer," the conference provided crucial connections with experienced colleagues. As she put it: 

"From the CIOL Awards to the talks and the networking, it was fantastic to chat to and hear from some incredible people who are so passionate about language and translation... the most valuable thing about the day for me was the opportunity it provided for connection and feeling part of a community." 

Looking Forward: Areas for Enhancement

While feedback was overwhelmingly positive, we're committed to continuous improvement. One or two attendees highlighted catering as an area for further enhancement, particularly regarding special dietary requirements. We're already exploring options with our venue partners to ensure more diverse and accommodating catering options for future events. Your comfort and enjoyment are important to us! 

Some attendees also suggested improvements to the technical aspects of presentations and session pacing: