Cate Avery, Terence Lewis & Ros Schwartz

Panel chair: Chris Durban

         

    

What happens when a customer wants something from us other than translation? Or supposing we realise we have additional skills and services we can offer?

The speakers all began as translators, but over time have developed their careers in different ways. Cate Avery has always seen herself as a technical translator but took up the challenge of a more journalistic role, interviewing and editing for a specialist trade journal; Terence Lewis applied his translation and lexicographical skills to software development and now offers a machine translation service; and Ros Schwartz moved into project management, forming teams of colleagues to meet her growing workload. In addition, she writes and teaches writing and editing skills.

In this session, the speakers will describe the circumstances which led them to take these varying directions, the challenges and rewards of moving outside their comfort zone, and when it is better to say no. Attention will also be paid to how to spot trends in our industry, so we can make the transition to other fields of specialisation within translation. There will be ample time for discussions and questions from the audience.

This panel session will appeal chiefly to experienced practitioners, though relative newcomers may also benefit from it. It is relevant primarily to translators rather than interpreters.