Sue Fortescue, Volunteer Manager, Translators Without Borders

I came to translation quite late in life, after spending the first part of my career as an English Language teacher (in Italy, Nepal and the UK) and the second part as an IT Manager (in Belgium and the US).   My first degree was in Italian & French, and I also have an MA in Applied Linguistics and an MSc in Knowledge-Based Systems.

I retired to the UK in 2011 and spent some time re-familiarising myself with the land of my birth.  Then I began to miss the international atmosphere in which I had spent most of my life so, as a retirement project, I registered on the MA in AudioVisual Translation Studies at the University of Leeds.  I am following the course part-time, over two years, and am thoroughly enjoying learning new skills and meeting really interesting people.

We have Professionalisation Talks once a week, when language industry professionals come and talk to us about their careers.  Towards the end of 2014, the talk was given by Andrew Bredenkamp, Chair of TWB – and I was hooked!  I emailed to ask if I could help, was interviewed early in 2015, and was invited to take up the position of Volunteer Manager.  I spend approximately two days a week replying to the volunteers who fill in the ‘Other Volunteer’ application form (i.e. not Translators) – and I LOVE it!

My job involves emailing and skyping people all over the world who want to help TWB.  They have a huge range of skills and very interesting backgrounds.  If you think you would like to volunteer, head over to the TWB Exhibitor page.

I will be on the TWB stand throughout the ITI Conference and look forward to meeting you all!