Supporting language
professionals worldwide
Midlands Network
Forthcoming events are currently being planned and will be publicised here soon.
The Midlands Network runs a variety of professional development events, benefitting CIOL members and non-members alike. Click an event to see its original listing and, if applicable, event reports and downloadable materials:
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Coventry, Saturday 9 November 2019
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Coventry, Saturday 28 September 2019
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Yelvertoft, Saturday 20 July 2019
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Northampton, Saturday 11 May 2019
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Nottingham, Saturday 26 January 2019
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Birmingham, Friday 7 December 2018
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Birmingham, Saturday 3 November 2018
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Birmingham, Saturday 8 September 2018
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Worcestershire, Saturday 16 June 2018
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Birmingham, Saturday 7 April 2018
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Coventry, Thursday 18 January 2018
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Birmingham, Friday 24 November 2017
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Birmingham, Saturday 9 September 2017
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Alvechurch, Saturday 20 May 2017
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Birmingham, Saturday 18 March 2017
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Birmingham, Saturday 19 November 2016
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Nottingham, Saturday 22 October 2016
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Birmingham, Thursday 21 July 2016
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Ludlow, Saturday 18 June 2016
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Birmingham, Saturday 16 April 2016
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The Midlands Network was officially formed on Saturday 16 April 2016 and now runs a variety of events aimed at supporting CIOL members who live and work throughout the region.
Committee
The network is managed by a committee which meets informally every month. If you would like to join a meeting to contribute to the discussion about future events and activities please contact the network via the link on the right for committee meeting dates and locations.
Over the last 12 months the network has held a series of varied events including walks, visits and networking opportunities and is now planning the events programme for the current membership year. For an indication of events previously held take a look at the committee’s event reports via the tab above.
Get involved
If you have any suggestions for events or you are interested in lending a hand simply email the committee.
The committee endeavours to hold events throughout the Midlands so please do let them know if there is a place of interest near you or if you know of a speaker that may be able to give as talk of interest.
And finally, don’t forget you can join in the discussion via LinkedIn and Twitter too.
| Role | Bio | |
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Mrs Jane MARTIN BA DipTrans MCIL CL |
Chair |
I worked in Spain for several years as an English teacher and fell in love with all things Spanish. I set up Sunflower Spanish in 2001 which provided Spanish lessons in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, teaching all ages and levels of students: my two highlights from this time were teaching my local rugby team, the Northampton Saints, and helping a class of 60-year-olds to pass their Spanish GCSE. I passed the Diploma in Translation in 2011 and now combine teaching and translating, a combination which works well. I have really enjoyed helping to set up the Midlands network and meeting other people who work in this sector. |
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Mr Peter BARON BA CertEd DipTrans MCIL |
Events Coordinator |
Peter worked as a language teacher for 29 years before early retirement, then over 20 years in a new career, combining coaching with translation. Despite his background, it took the passing the IOL Dip French and the Dip Trans to get translation work, mainly from French, specialising in technical fields, with some basic Spanish, German and Italian, having 6th form Spanish but only "A" in GCSE German as paper qualifications. Now semi-retired, he’s still pottering in both fields. Sport always has been part of his life. The last 50 years has been mainly linked to fencing, in which he bloomed as a competitor in later years and has spent a much time organising. |
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Mrs Isabel COBO PALACIOS BA MCIL CL |
Member |
I graduated with a BA in English Philology & Tourism from the Universidad de Jaén, in my hometown. I achieved an online MA in Applied Linguistics in Spanish as a Foreign Language at FUNIBER and the passion I have for my work led me to qualify as a Teacher in Spain and in England. I have taught Spanish in several secondary schools in the UK and at Coventry University as Assistant Lecturer in Spanish. At the moment I am studying for a PhD at the Open University as part of an AHRC-funded project called Language Acts and Worldmaking. My research interests revolve around the role of mediator that foreign language teachers play in the classroom and their personal and professional perceptions and reflections on this process. It is a pleasure for me to be part of CIOL Midlands Network to help to foster the use of foreign languages and support every professional in this field as part of our team. |
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Ms Eleanor BRIDGWOOD-HILL MA DipTrans MCIL CL |
Secretary |
I am a Spanish-to-English translator based in Birmingham, specialising in business and education. I have been a member of the CIOL since I passed the Diploma in Translation in 2012. Last year I returned from living in Uruguay, where I had spent seven years, and helping to set up and run the new CIOL Midlands Network was a good way for me to meet local linguists with whom to share relevant information and experiences. |
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Mr Graeme HUNTER BA MA DipTrans MCIL ACIL |
Treasurer |
After 25+ years working in I.T. for the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, banking and local government sectors in Australia, France, Belgium and UK, I switched to translation full-time in 2014, several years after being awarded the DipTrans and joining CIOL. Originally from Sydney, I have always been passionate about languages and I work in French, Italian and Polish. I love meeting new people and exploring new places, and the CIOL Midlands Network is a great way to increase my opportunities for networking, make new friends and promote languages as a profession and as a vector for future economic success. |
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Mr Stephen DOSWELL MA MCIL |
Volunteer |
Steve Doswell is a corporate communication practitioner with extensive experience spanning energy, power engineering, robotics, financial services and higher education. He has also had experience as a translator (French/German-English) and became a CIOL member in the 1990s after completing the Final Diploma in Spanish. He was President of FEIEA, the European Association of Internal Communication 2010-2012 and CEO of the UK’s Institute of Internal Communication (IoIC) 2011-2016. Steve took time out aged 50 to complete a Masters in European Politics (University of Birmingham). Steve has a deep affinity with Slovenia and is learning Slovene. A keen club runner, Steve is currently writing a book of his experience of running in all 28 EU countries during 2018-19 for charity. “I’m a Londoner but I’ve lived in Birmingham for almost 30 years and I’m really pleased to be able to support the Midlands Network. We can be both local and international in our outlook and that’s a real strength.” |
If you are interested in supporting the Midlands Network we'd be delighted to hear from you.
Simply fill in our Online Eligibility Check form and a member of the committee will contact you for a no obligation discussion.
