Speakers
Below are the confirmed speakers for the 2024 conference.
Rory McKenzie
Keynote Speaker
Rory McKenzie (PhD, Literary Translation Studies, Victoria University of Wellington) is the Principal Adviser, Inter-Cultural Capability and Language at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities. In this role, he is responsible for supporting public servants and ethnic communities to better communicate and work with each other, particularly across linguistic and cultural barriers.
Agustina Marianacci
Presenter
Agustina Marianacci is an English-Spanish freelance translator and interpreter from Córdoba, Argentina. She is currently based in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), where she works as a linguist, researcher and educator in various settings. She has been a community and conference interpreter since 2018, working on-site and remotely. Her passion for community building intertwines with her commitment to social justice, leading to her interest in a holistic approach to language service provision.
Alejandra González Campanella
Presenter
Dr. Alejandra González Campanella, an NZSTI member for translation and interpreting, brings expertise from Aotearoa and abroad. Her doctoral research on trauma-informed interpreting in refugee contexts has garnered attention through publications and conference presentations. Beyond academia, she works in the humanitarian sector supporting refugee-background communities.
Alison Rodriguez
Presenter
Alison is President of the Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs (FIT). A linguist and translator in legal, human rights and technical fields, she has diverse experience in strategy, policy and promotion of the arts. She is known for her strong advocacy of multilingualism, multilateralism, and cultural and linguistic diversity and, with particular focus on indigenous language revitalisation, association development and building a sustainable profession. Alison also has an interest in the ethics of AI.
Aurélie Sheehan
Presenter
Aurélie Sheehan joined NAATI in 2018 to support and enable the rollout of NAATI’s Certification system. Since January 2020, in her role as Manager, Certification Policy and Development, Aurélie has been focussing on NAATI’s Certification development strategy and Continuous Improvement Program while overseeing examiner training, certification test materials creation and test design for both specialist and non-specialist certification tests. She is an AUSIT member and has been a NAATI-Certified English to French translator since 2010.
Byron Gibbons
Presenter
Byron Gibbons (BA NZSL-English Interpreting, AUT) is a Board Member of SLIANZ. A Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) and NZSL interpreter working in Wellington, alongside his role in SLIANZ Byron works as a video relay and community interpreter, with experience in diverse settings including education, medical, government, workplace and theatre.
Candela Malizia
Presenter
Candela Malizia (she) is an EN-ES conference and community interpreter specialised in gender, communication and human rights, originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and currently based on Yugambeh land (Gold Coast, Australia). She has been collaborating on a number of LGBTQIA+ awareness projects and workshops across Australia, and loves breaking down complex concepts into straightforward messages.
Chao Guan
Presenter
Chao GUAN is a full member translator (English > Mandarin Chinese) of NZSTI, and a PhD student in Literary Translation Studies at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. His research explores the translation of indigenous/ethnic minority languages and cultural products from Māori and Evenki perspectives.
Christof Schneider
Presenter
Christof Schneider taught students about tools for translators at the University of Auckland until 2022, had significant input in the development of two CAT tools and spent 16 years as a technology consultant to staff and customers of a large Language Service Provider. He is currently working as a consultant and full-time translator for English and German, based in Ngamotou/New Plymouth.
Despina Amanatidou
Presenter
Despina Amanatidou leads the 2M Interpreting Department and is a NAATI-certified Interpreter and Translator with 11+ years’ experience in the public health sector. Having also served many years organising AUSIT conferences/PD events, Despina has an in-depth understanding of the existing barriers and interpreting solutions needed to support CALD populations.
Erika Gonzalez
Presenter
Dr Erika Gonzalez is an Associate Professor in translating and interpreting studies at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. She is also the Acting National President of the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT) and is a Senior Fellow of Advanced HE. Her research interests focus on the professionalisation of community interpreting & translation. In 2022 Erika received the Paul Sinclair Award for her contribution to community engagement during the Covid-19 pandemic. Alongside her colleagues in the translating and interpreting Department, she received the 2023 RMIT University Research Award for Engagement and Impact.
Francesca Benocci
Presenter
Dr. Francesca Benocci works as a learning designer, literary translator, and interpreter. Her research interests include translation studies, transnationalism, postcolonial literature, postcolonial studies, Indigenous literature, and intersectional theory. Her latest curated and co-translated anthology of poems by author Janet Frame - Parleranno le tempeste, poesie scelte di Janet Frame - received wonderful reviews.
George Major
Presenter
George Major is Programme Leader of the NZSL-English Interpreting degree at AUT. As well as NZSL-specific courses, George also teaches interpreter role and ethical decision-making to both spoken and signed language interpreting students. Her research interests lie in healthcare accessibility, interpreting pedagogy, and interpreter role.
Ghassan Emmanuel
Presenter
Ghassan Emmanuel is a NAATI certified English-Arabic interpreter currently working as a freelance translator in the medical sector. Up until late 2022, he had been working as a software engineer for almost 40 years and holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering.
Hiep Hoa Pham
Presenter
Dr Hiep Hoa Pham has worked as a translator, editor and language consultant in New Zealand, the US, Australia, and Vietnam for over 15 years. He has also taught courses on translation and interpreting at various universities. Dr Pham holds an EdD in Language Education from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Arts in Bilingual/ESL Studies from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and has published widely in the fields of translation, linguistics, and English language teaching.
Ineke Crezee
Presenter
Ineke Crezee, ONZM, Aotearoa New Zealand’s first full Professor of Translation and Interpreting, studied at the University of Amsterdam and holds four separate degrees in translation and English language and literature. She authored Introduction to Healthcare for Interpreters and Translators (2013), adapted for multiple languages, and was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2020 for services to interpreter and translator education.
Isabelle Midderham Wannenburg
Presenter
Isabelle is an experienced FR-EN conference interpreter with a career spanning 17 years in Africa, where she collaborated with international conferences and government officials from various countries, including clients such as the United Nations, WHO, World Bank, Mining Indaba, SADC, Sanofi Pasteur, FIFA, and World Rugby. Her passion for facilitating community exchange and empowering others to achieve their objectives drives her dedication. Now based in Christchurch, Isabelle sees SiNZ as an excellent opportunity to provide interpreters in Aotearoa with a platform for communication and growth.
Jenn Gilbert
Presenter
Jenn is the current President of the Sign Language Interpreters Association of New Zealand (SLIANZ). Jenn has worked as a NZSL interpreter for over 15 years. She has conducted research into trends around Sign Language interpreting, as well as looking into the shift to screens and use of zoom for interpreters and the Deaf community. Jenn works in many settings such as government, education and media.
John Jamieson
Presenter
John Jamieson is a founding member of NZSTI, and now a semi-retired freelance translator, working from numerous languages into English. As well as striving to be a professional translator, he is an enthusiastic amateur thinker on how languages and translation work.
Kumiko Sato Jacolin
Presenter
Dr. Kumiko Sato Jacolin, a versatile professional, is a translator, interpreter, ceramic artist and scholar. Originally from Japan, she has honed her skills in Tokyo, Brussels and Luxembourg, enriching her multicultural background. Committed to professional development, she excels in intricate projects, exhibits language proficiency, and adeptly navigates global relationship contexts.
Lan Hoang
Presenter
Lan Hoang is currently a PhD student of translation at the Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. He has been involved in providing community translation and quality assurance for Vietnamese communities around the world for many years. He is also a Chartered Linguist and ATA Standards Committee Member and NZSTI Full Member - Translation (English to Vietnamese).
Liam Ennis
Presenter
Liam Ennis is the Managing Director of Congress Rental New Zealand Ltd. He brings over a decade of global experience in simultaneous interpretation and audio visual systems to conferences and events. Having honed his skills in multilingual technologies for events with a passion about integrating innovative solutions and maintaining high-quality standards, he continually pushes the boundaries of technology to enhance interpretation deliveries for everyone involved in languages.
Malayka Yoseph
Presenter
Health coach + qualified translator and freelance writer
With a background in freelance writing and translating, Malayka is all too familiar with the challenges that come with being self-employed and working from home. This path led her to make a career pivot to becoming a health coach and helping others bring their wellness into balance.
Miranda Lai
Presenter
Miranda Lai has been a translating and interpreting trainer and educator for 20 years and is one of the rare academics who have deep knowledge and experience in both vocational training and higher education sectors. Her research interests include police interpreting, public service interpreting, and ethics for translators and interpreters. Miranda received 2018 RMIT Award for Research Impacts – Early Career Researcher (Enterprise) and is the current National Secretary of the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT).
Peter McLellan
Presenter
Peter McLellan, CEO of Interpreting New Zealand since February 2023, previously served as Service Delivery Manager. With 12 years of senior management experience, he is dedicated to fostering communication and community. Peter is committed to inclusivity and strives to provide top-tier interpreting services, ensuring all individuals can engage and thrive.
Ricardo Menéndez March
Presenter
MP Ricardo Menéndez March has led successful campaigns to end benefit sanctions, lift incomes, and better protect migrant workers. Growing up in Tijuana, Mexico, Ricardo saw first-hand how the climate crisis shapes your local environment, with his hometown now experiencing regular water shortages on top of the politics of hate and division from the other side of the border. Since entering Parliament in 2020, he has shepherded the Human Rights (Disability Assist Dogs Non-Discrimination) Amendment Bill into law, had amendments passed to better support rainbow athletes and worked with Government ministers to protect whistleblowers on migrant exploitation. Through working with people at the frontlines he led successful campaigns securing record increases to benefits, granting residency to tens of thousands of migrants and changing the Government’s position on issues of welfare, dental care and immigration.
Thalia Green
Presenter
Osteopath
Thalia is an experienced, Auckland-based osteopath who strongly believes that movement and strength are a big factor in keeping our bodies feeling optimum. Although she treats patients of all ages with various ailments, she often educates people on workspace ergonomics to naturally improve their wellbeing.
Tineke Jannink
Presenter
Tineke Jannink is a doctoral student at Victoria University of Wellington. As an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand with experience in legal practice, the area of court interpreting was one she naturally gravitated towards in her language focused Master’s and Doctoral studies.
Vanina Schembari
Presenter
Vanina Schembari, NAATI Certified Interpreter and NZSTI Interpreter and Translator, has over a decade of international experience in Conference and Public Services Interpreting. With a Masters from Universidad de La Laguna (EMCI) and a BA from Universidad del Salvador, she is currently working on conference and simultaneous interpreting training and professional development initiatives with SiNZ.
Wei Teng
Presenter
Wei Teng, a NAATI certified interpreter, is a lecturer of translation/interpreting studies and Chinese language at the University of Canterbury. His research focuses primarily on the area of Community Translation/Interpreting, with particular interests in pragmatic equivalence, pragmalinguistic failures, and contrastive analysis (English and Mandarin) within the framework of systemic functional linguistics.
Wladimir Padilla Silva
Presenter
Wladimir Padilla Silva is a lecturer in Spanish and Translation & Interpreting Studies at the University of Canterbury. Wladimir is a language professional with over 15 years of progressive experience in translation, consecutive (healthcare and legal) and conference interpreting (simultaneous and chuchotage) and cross-cultural advisory across Chile, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. He is dedicated to breaking language barriers and facilitating effective communication in various settings. After years of working at the University of Brasilia, Wladimir's main focus is currently on paralinguistics, prosodic features, ethical decision-making in community interpreting and the ethical use of AI tools for training purposes.
Xiaohan (Christal) Guo
Presenter
Xiaohan (Christal) Guo is currently pursuing her PhD at Victoria University of Wellington, under the supervision of Dr. Rachel McKee and Dr. Peter Gu. She holds a Master’s Degree in Translation and Interpreting Studies, and has been teaching English language and translation in China since 2013.