Hello everyone. I’m a British biologist, originally from Tiverton in Devon, and I translate from Dutch into English. I also edit scientific manuscripts and teach scientific writing here in the Netherlands.

I’ve never been to Newcastle before. I’m told that it has changed enormously in recent years and I’m very much looking forward to seeing as much of the city as I can fit in. The nearest I ever got, apart from holidays in Scotland, was probably back in 1990 when I was at Sheffield University in the first year of a Biochemistry & Physiology degree. During my year off before uni I’d met a Dutchman and I spent a lot of time between lectures and practicals working to pay for air and boat fares to go and see him.

How did the story end? And might it have something to do with my becoming a translator? Indeed. I left Sheffield after only a few months and moved to the Netherlands to be with my Dutchman. I learnt the language properly (O level German helped a lot) and started a biology degree at Nijmegen University. And have been here ever since (apart from a 5-year stint in Athens, Greece, but that’s another story…).

I didn’t start translating straight away though. Mine is one of those meandering careers during which it took a while to find my true calling. After completing my masters and spending 5 years in a molecular genetics lab, I realised I didn’t want to be a researcher after all and turned my hand to teaching: I taught biology at secondary schools in both Dutch and English (some schools here have a bilingual stream). But after 10 years, I decided that teaching wasn’t for me either and took the plunge to give up the day job and start out as a freelance translator and editor.

And this is what I really enjoy doing! I’ve been a member of ITI for 5 years now and even though I live abroad I still feel connected to fellow members, and not only through the online forums. I attended the Birmingham conference in 2011 and really enjoyed the networking. In fact I’m still in touch with many of those I met. Not only do we pass on work to each other, it also gives me a boost to know that I’m not alone, that there are others out there experiencing the same problems and who are ready to help out with questions. Having met some of these others in person sometimes also makes it easier to ask for help.

Now that I’m less of a newbie than I was in 2011, I have come to realise how important networking is to my business. While it doesn’t come naturally to all, it really is worthwhile: most of my work comes in from word of mouth, both from my personal and professional networks.

So I’m looking forward to meeting up with many of you at the conference, whether at the conference sessions, at lunch or dinner, at the singing translators, during the run along the river or at a meeting of one of the networks (medical, Dutch, international, or STEP).

See you soon!