ISSUE 41

JULY 2024

THE DIGEST

IN THIS ISSUE
2 Message from the President

14. Assembly News

3 AIIC Interview

15. Training

5. AB Newcomers

16 News from the Groups

8 Executive Committee

19 Impressions from PRIMS in Lisbon

9 CACL19 Regional Meetings

11 AIIC Awards

23 Event Calendar

12. ABMESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
As we move into the home straight in the
run-up to the Lima Assembly, ‘succession
planning’ is a term you’re going to hear a
lot about, starting here! As an Associationof volunteers, we depend on members
who, Assembly after Assembly, step up
to the plate, having decided that theirtime has come to give something back tothis Association of ours. Will Lima be yourtime? If so, congratulations and a very big
thank you, but… before you do so, why
not reach out to someone who is alreadyin the role to which you are aspiring?
Incumbent office-holders are, after all,better placed than anyone to tell you
how it REALLY is, and what you REALLY
need to know.
Under AIIC rules I am not allowed to run again as I am already serving my second term on ExCo.
Having worked hard these past years to make AIIC a more welcoming, more inclusive, friendlier
place, which acts as an organic whole with interaction between its various constituencies andwhich lives up to the ‘international’ in its name, there is nothing I would like more than to see thenext President keeping that movement going. Because movement there certainly is, in the right
direction, and it deserves to be maintained. Interested? Give me a call, I’d be delighted to give
you the full story, warts an’ all, to make sure you are fully prepared for the challenges as well as
the fun bits!
But succession planning doesn’t stop at AIIC office-holders or involve stepping into a sometimes
time-consuming volunteering role. It’s also about looking to the future of the Association overall.
And to have a future, we need new members. All of us who are full members have been throughthe joining process and know that it is not always plain sailing. If you haven’t already done so, holdout a hand to our colleagues going through that process right now by going to your portal andsigning up to AIIC’s Buddying Scheme. It takes so little to make a difference. And it brings rewards
to both ‘buddied’ and ‘buddier’- I was delighted when Elena wrote and asked me to be her buddy,
and even more delighted when I was able to meet her in person at the recent PriMS event in
Lisbon. We’re not from the same region, we work on very different markets, but I still believe that I
can support her through my contacts and, if nothing else, by offering a friendly, listening ear
should she ever need it.
Go on, do it right now, before it slips your mind…

Photo: Jenny in Rome with AIIC Vice Presidents Paco Garcia Hurtado and Damien Fan, andTreasurer, Micky Friedman

THE AIIC INTERVIEW
With meetings in Rome and Lisbon, it’s been a busy month for Advisory Board (AB) members. We
caught up with the representatives for Portugal (Benjamin Thornton Barclay) and Brazil (Fernanda
Mathias) as they finally arrived home, to learn more about how they perceive the work of AIIC’s
Advisory Board.

The Advisory Board (AB) is intended to be a consultative body, what does that mean inpractice?
The AB was set up as part of the Buenos Aires reform in 2012. It’s a place where all AIIC’s groups,
committees, sectors, networks and regions are represented, giving all the different interests in the
Association a voice. This helps the AB’s 34 Representatives keep abreast of what happens in the
3,000+ member Association and advise, i.e. it is consulted by ExCo on transversal matters.

That’s more than 30 representatives! Isn’t that an awful lot of opinions?
Yes, but it actually works really well. There’s a lot of camaraderie and everyone shares the goal ofworking for the good of the Association.
These in-person meetings are important, not only for the work we do together, but also for theconnections we make and the plans that develop on the sidelines.
Getting together is so important that wehave started regular online meetings
throughout the year. Before the pandemic,
the AB worked mostly via email, but now
we meet between 3 and 4 times a year forwhat we call KIT (Keep in Touch) meetings.
In the past, if the AB composition
happened to change - partially orcompletely - the first year for new
members proved to be somewhat slow, oreven confusing, until the AB in-person
meeting in June. New members werereserved at the beginning and didn’t knowwhat to expect. Being able to meet online
has changed this and helped us become
productive from the get-go.

Left: The AB at work in RomeOf course, we don’t always agree with each other - we agree to disagree, and the AB works andmakes decisions by consensus. AB representatives need to be good at listening, asking questions
and be ready to change their minds. In the end, we are all here for the same goal.

What happens as the result of AB meetings?
We get reports from all the groups and regions and we are responsible for sharing thisinformation with our members and ExCo. There are constant changes in AIIC these days and weare able to keep members informed about the latest developments.
Regions find inspiration in events or activities that have proved successful in other regions.
Regional bureaus are often just 3 people doing an awful lot of work; having a connection withother regions prevents isolation and inspires regions to get more active.
On a more serious note, these are turbulent times we are living through as interpreters, and it’s
never been more important to stand together and communicate constantly to ensure that ourinterests are represented. That communication starts with the AB.
After we discuss issues together, it’s our job to take those discussions back to our regions and tohear what our members say. At this point, members can get involved by attending their regional
meeting, joining the discussions and voting. In the coming months, many regions will be meeting
to decide if there are resolutions and amendments they want to bring to the Assembly. If there
are things you want to change in AIIC, this is the moment to do it by contacting your Bureau’s AB
member.

What kind of projects does the AB work on?
Our ultimate role is to advise: we provide ExCo with our input when asked and when the AB
deems it necessary in light of important matters for the entire Association. As the AB is not an
executive body, not all of its projects or input see the light of day.

AB members relaxing in RomeThe most visible AB projects include the recent update of the Code of Ethics and Code ofProfessional Standards, a project spearheaded by Christiane Driesen and Myriam Nahon; drawing
up a shortlist for the AIIC Special Recognition Award, now in its second edition; and canvassing
membership for the IAB (Independent Assembly Board). We also have working groups on
different issues, including volunteering, communications and AIIC4000 that developed from theRethink AIIC project of the last AB.
How does the AB prepare for the Assembly?
Based on the input from the members we represent - or if a topic garners support by consensus
among AB Representatives -, the AB can submit a resolution and/or amendment, provided it isbacked by the necessary number of signatures pursuant to the Assembly Rules of Procedure. Inthat same vein, AB Representatives work with their regions to put forward the resolutions andamendments that their members want. They will also provide background information to otherproposals even if their region as a whole does not support it. Ideally, the Representatives also
want to discuss other proposals with regions, but many regional meetings are planned before thepublication of the Assembly Bulletin in the portal and there isn’t time for us to discuss them indetail. This means that we have to be ready to submit oral amendments or sub-amendments
during the Assembly provided they are deemed admissible by the IAB. In that same vein, AB
Representatives will encourage members to attend the Assembly in the spirit of collegiality andrepresentative participation.

OUR FIRST AB MEETING...
In some regions, the new bureaus have already taken charge and their representatives wereattending their first AB meeting. What were their impressions?

Having joined the AB mid-term, I had spent my first year as Rep for Switzerland doing my best to
play catch up in a role that relies a great deal on making connections, both in your own region
and globally. Despite the wonders of remote meetings, this is not easy when you have not met
colleagues face to face. It was therefore all the more appreciated to finally walk into the Casa
Internazionale Delle Donne, a converted convent now dedicated to women's rights advocacy, on
the banks of the Tiber in Rome that was set aside for the four days of 2024's Advisory Board
meeting. Notwithstanding the soaring temperatures and midday cannon (which made us jumpout of our skin 3 times), we shared an extremely positive meeting, with exchanges and inputs
related to topics such as AI, Sign Language, Bureau and Regional initiatives, Governance, theDigest, the Vega network and much more. It was a great pleasure to exchange notes withcolleagues working in such diverse contexts. I learned more about AIIC and the profession andwas reminded of the great value of an association which can bridge the wide variety of settings inwhich we work, particularly in such a dynamic age. But, more than this, I was reminded of theirreplaceable value of meeting colleagues, and now friends, in-person rather than over a
webcam. And of course, it's far harder to share a well-earned aperol spritz over the internet.

This was my first AB meeting as representative for Italy, so as you might imagine I was not surewhat to expect. AIIC’s mission is “to promote and protect the interests and well-being of ourmembers and to negotiate safe and decent working conditions for professional conference
interpreters worldwide,” but how does AIIC do this? It’s such a daunting task! I’m glad to say thatfor me, the AB meeting in Rome shed much light on that: there are so many issues affecting
interpreters worldwide, so much about our profession in flux, so many aspects to take into
account. Together, we discussed many issues, constructively and respectfully, we raisedquestions and arrived at answers that, at times, raised even more questions. What I found deeply
inspiring and energizing was the palpable commitment - the eagerness to contribute knowledge
and expertise for the common good and the passion that all of us who volunteer for theadvancement of the profession put into what we do. And we had loads of fun too! I look forward
to the next meeting!

I wish I had started my Advisory Board (AB) role with a meeting like the one in Rome! It is therethat I met everybody properly, rather than through emails and faces on Zoom the size of sugar
cubes, and it is there that I started to really grasp the many things that our outgoing AB member
had been telling me about, but that I couldn’t fully wrap my head around.
I enjoyed the collegiality and friendly atmosphere and appreciated the well-organized agenda.
Here are my main takeaways from Rome:
I left full of admiration for all those individuals around the table who dedicate so much timeand energy to our profession and our colleagues through AIIC.
The more members get involved, the more they learn, the more engaged they become in theassociation’s activities. Regions need to kindle that spark of interest first, and then a sense of
belonging to a community will be cultivated.
I realised just how much work is being carried out within the association and how beautiful it iswhen it all comes together to benefit its members and the profession at large.
Infighting and an ineffective governance structure use up precious energy that is desperately
needed to bolster efforts to interest more volunteers in contributing to AIIC’s many laudable
initiatives such as research, attracting new members, ISO standards and continuing
professional development to name but a few.
I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to travel to Rome, which was a real treat that served
as a small reward for all the volunteer hours we put into AIIC. And the cherry on the sundae wassharing an abundance of laughter and gelato!

AB newcomers Lauren Michaels, Daniel Jones, Jean-Fleury Sindayigaya and Sarah Cuminetti, with AIIC Belgium
rep, Katia Pemberton (centre)

As I set out for Rome for my first Advisory Board (AB) meeting, I was not quite sure what toexpect. However, upon arriving at Casa Internazionale delle Donne and finally meeting mycolleagues on the AB, I was struck by an immediate sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.
And while the learning curve on the AB can be rather steep, engaging with the outstanding
members of our Steering Committee and fellow AB Representatives gave me invaluable insights
into the diverse challenges faced by interpreters worldwide.
Despite the sweltering temperatures and the ever-present threat of Rome's pigeons invading
our workspace if we dared open the windows on one side of the room, we had highly fruitful
discussions.
The collaborative spirit and respectful dialogue throughout the meeting exemplified AIIC’scommitment to its members and I felt a deep sense of pride and honour representing the Africa
Region. I keenly look forward to our 2025 Assembly in Lima and I urge my colleagues from Africa
to come along for what I trust will be another memorable experience!

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Traditionally, ExCo, the AB and CACL have always met in Geneva, with the convenience of having
the Secretariat at hand, but with the cost that meeting in Switzerland entails. Starting with
Brussels last year, ExCo decided to explore the idea of trying different locations with a “giveback” element, to bring the governing bodies closer to the members in the most cost effective
and responsible way possible. As the adage goes, “nothing ventured, nothing gained”.
From where ExCo is standing, this is a winning formula, and one with the potential to grow. In
future, maybe individual regions could volunteer to host the meetings, taking advantage of thefact that 50+ members will be “in town” to plan special events for their own members?
With two of us based in Rome and therefore well placed to deal with the organisational aspects,
the Eternal City was the obvious choice for the latest iteration, and we were delighted when theAdvisory Board (AB) and Committee on Admissions and Language Classification (CACL) agreed tojoin us. Our chosen venue, the Casa Internazionale delle Donne (CDD), ticked all the right boxes
on cost as well as social awareness.
The same went for our choice of social
venue. Over our term, we have clearly seen
the benefit of organising social events forand with our members, fostering a sense of
belonging and providing an opportunity togrow the social networks that can only be ofadvantage to our Association. Here again,
we opted for a more ‘alternative’ approach,choosing to meet al fresco and in almost
picnic style against the beautiful back dropof Rome’s Botanical Gardens, thereby
supporting their upkeep, rather than on one
of Rome’s admittedly stunning but much
more expensive (and business-oriented)
hotel rooftops.
Admittedly, air conditioning might have been a useful addition at the CDD, but we arenonetheless convinced of the choice we made, showing responsibility towards the dues paid by
our members as well as towards society, and hope that the same line will also be embraced by
future ExCos. Would you agree?
But back to the actual business side of what ExCo got up to in Rome…It always brings a smile toour faces when we see the short document (make sure you’re logged in!) that supposedly sums
up our meetings. Obviously, though, a Record of Decisions can be only that- a reflection of thoseissues on which a specific decision was taken. Many of our discussions and their outcomes are
confidential or simply not yet ripe either for decision or for wider distribution, much as we know
you’d love to hear about them. Want to be on the inside? Run for ExCo at the Lima Assembly!

CACL
CACL met from 28-30 June 2024 for its 5th meeting to review and decide on the applications ofmembership and reclassification. The lists are published on 15 July 2024 for review by members.

RemindersSponsorships are essential for membership applications. CACL is very cautious about
granting waivers. Applicants must exhaust all eligible sponsors before requesting a waiver.
Members should refrain from sponsoring their family members as a common sense
understanding of conflict of interest.
While RSI meetings are admissible for sponsorship, members are urged to pay particularattention to professional behaviour in the RSI setting. Please enter the exact date of asponsored meeting, instead of the whole duration of the meeting.
Applicants who provide institutional certificates are kindly requested to make sure thecertificates indicate language combination, language pairs and the number of days worked
for each pair, with mention of the time period.

Office Hours:

CACL members, left to right: Francesca Lo Truglio Lombardo (Spain), Anna Vianna(Brazil), Marjolaine Escande-Wadike (Africa), Nazan Kiziltan Süzer (France), Hong
Jiang (Asia Pacific), Eva Gilmore (Italy)

To help members, applicants, pre-candidates and the larger interpreter community better
conduct the application and sponsoring process, CACL is considering setting up online “Office
Hours”, to answer questions and respond to concerns relating to membership and reclassification
issues. Details will be announced in due course.

A
ON THE WALL OF THE
CACL MEETING
Rome, 29th June
6 members of CACL are sitting round a table covered with computers, paper files and a tray ofsweets, while the 7th member, who couldn’t make the trip, watches from the screen on the wall.
This is day 2 of the biannual meeting to review all the applications for pre-candidacy, membershipand language reclassification, and to prepare the list of proclamations. There’s still an hour to go
until lunch, and they are nearing the end of a list of 142 names.
As each candidate’s name is read out, a member picks up a file and presents the application. Howlong this takes, depends on the number of language pairs a candidate is applying with and onwhether the application has been pre-screened.
In recent years, CACL members have been involved in outreach events with the regions and havestressed the importance of pre-screening. This is where early applications (at least 6 weeks
before the deadline) are assigned to a member of the committee who checks that a candidate
has enough sponsors, whether a waiver can be requested and, if necessary, picks up the phoneand speaks to the applicant about how they could improve their application. This session roughly
50% of the applications have been pre-screened.
The CACL members read out the files they are responsible for, explaining their recommendations
during pre-screening and which members have signed for which languages. If everything is inorder, the file is declared ‘Good to go!’ and Nazan, the current chair of CACL, adds the sponsors
and the languages they are covering to to the fiche bleue, a spreadsheet for the Secretariat, andit’s onto the next application.

‘This candidate is applying with a new
language combination’.
The file goes much slower as the groupmakes sure that each language in the newpair has sufficient A sponsors. The
candidate has applied with more than theminimum number of sponsors. Finally, the‘at least’ that CACL stresses when
discussing sponsors makes sense, as they
are able to select the sponsors that bestsuit
thelanguageandregional
requirements. In the end, AIIC’s newest
candidate is deemed ‘good to go’ and thenext file is called.

15
Reclassification
Requests53
Pre-candidate
Applications

74
Membership
Applications

The files CACL reviewed in June 2024

AIIC AWARDS
Each year, AIIC recognises the regions that have had the highest percentage increase in newmembers and pre-candidates.

In 2023, AIIC Spain had the highest increase in new members, and AIIC Brazil welcomed the most
pre-candidates for the second year running.
During the meetings in Rome, AIIC President, Jenny Fearnside, recognised the hard work of theregions and awarded AIIC Spain representative, Aurélie Pinzon and AIIC Brazil’s outgoing
representative, Fernanda Mathias, ably assisted by Kallia, daughter of former AB member
Nikoletta Pagoni

DID YOU KNOW...?
ExCo created the AIIC Awards in 2023 as part of AIIC’s 70th Anniversary celebrations, As well as
the annual recognition for the regions with the highest percentage increase in members and precandidates, there is also a ‘Special Recognition Award’ that will be awarded once every 3 years.
This is intended to recognise the work of a member who doesn’t hold a position in AIIC, but who
makes a significant contribution to the Association.

THE ADVISORY BOARD
The AB was tasked with 2 selection processes in the run up to its June annual meeting: selecting
the candidates for the IAB and proposing a shortlist for the Special Recognition Award in view of
the Lima Assembly.
Both processes were an opportunity to showcase talents within the Association.
The Independent Assembly Bureau comprises 3 members and 3 deputies. The 3 members
selected by ExCo will run the Assembly in Lima, ensuring smooth deliberations. The candidates
were from 6 AIIC regions, Belgium, USA, Africa, SAM, Brazil and MCAC, representing theinternational nature of the Association.
As for the Special recognition award launched last year at the 70th anniversary celebrations inBrussels, the AB shortlisted 5 members of AIIC: Jane Streetly and Odile Bertin-Faull from the
UK&I region, Nathalie Bédard from Canada, Clare Donovan from France and Elke LimbergerKatsumi from Germany. Read more about why the AB wishes to celebrate these 5 outstanding
AIIC members : link to pdf. The award will be handed out at the Lima Assembly.
The AB held its annual meeting in Rome late June, where it also held its joint meeting with ExCoand a meeting with one of the UNND coordinators.

During four packed days, AB members talked about current AIIC affairs and elaborated proposals
for the Assembly, which will be fine-tuned throughout the summer.
As always, the in-person meeting is the perfect opportunity to brainstorm and for representativesof Regions, Groups, Committees, and Sectors to collaborate. More informal collaboration andnetworking took place during the shared coffee breaks with ExCo and CACL, hard at work in thesame building.
Good company and great home cooked meals at the Casa Internazionale delle Donne’s
restaurant made for a pleasant working environment – and being the only room in the building
with A/C, offering respite from the sweltering Rome heat, also had its perks. A bit of light relief
was provided in the garden party set in the splendid botanical gardens around the corner fromthe meeting venue.
The minutes will be available soon.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
For the second consecutive year, the AB was tasked with shortlisting AIIC members or groups for
the AIIC Special Recognition award.
The AB points out that the following shortlist fails to acknowledge the many talents anddedicated members out there who make AIIC what it is. Many other individuals and groups areworthy of the prize.
1. Nathalie Bédard (Canada)
2. Odile Bertin-Faull (UK & Ireland)
3. Clare Donovan (France)
4. Elke Limberger-Katsumi (Germany)
5. Jane Streetly (UK & Ireland)
The award will be given to Elke Limberger-Katsumi during the Lima Assembly. Elke owns the
Nuremberg exhibition which is regularly hosted by AIIC regions.

ASSEMBLY NEWSThe IABYou may remember the first Independent Assembly Bureau (IAB) from the last Assembly in
Geneva. Their job is to run the show, make sure the rules are respected and wield the stopwatchthat keeps the Assembly on schedule.
During their last meeting, ExCo selected the members of the 2025 IAB from a shortlist drawn up
by the AB. The three volunteers, who must be long-standing members of AIIC and have attended
at least 2 assemblies, will begin preparing for their role in Lima with the help of the Basic Texts
Group (BTG) and the Executive Secretary.
The members of the 2025 IAB are:Nina Okagbue
Nina is a member of AIIC Africa and served as Chairof CACL from 2015 to 2022.

Claus Ritter
Claus is based in Belgium and is the only returning
member of the previous IAB.

Cristina del Castillo
Cristina is from Mexico and currently serves as
Treasurer for AIIC Mexico, Central America andCaribbean.

TRAINING

Interpreting the U.S. Presidential Electoral
Process: The Mystery of the Electoral College
7 September - ONLINEAI Powered Interpreting
20 September - BARCELONA
Trainer: Josh Goldsmith

Trainer: Tony Rosado

How to use technology to prepare forinterpreting assignments
21 September - BARCELONA
Trainer: Josh Goldsmith

Managing vicarious trauma in interpreters
4 -5 October - ONLINE
Trainers: Carmen Delgado Luchner & Justine
Ndongo-Keller

Consecutive note-taking refresher
26, 27, 28 September - ONLINE
Trainer: Helen Campbell

Bridging teaching and research in interpretingstudies
16 November - ONLINE
Trainer: Chao Han

Peruvian Spanish - ¡Qué bacán!

The art of good feedback

11-12 January - Lima
Trainers: Luisa Portocarrero and Ma. Isabel Gómez

11-12 January - Lima
Trainer: Amanda Forsythe

ICZ
The Interpreters in Conflict Zones group is looking
for contact points in each region to help them stay
up-to-date on what is happening at a local level.
This might include sharing news stories aboutcolleagues in perilous situations, national armed
forces pulling out of conflict zones and leaving
interpreters behind in dangerous conditions or
projects by the army to recruit and train interpreters.
The group would also be interested in hearing about
MPs or political representatives who are particularlyinterested in helping interpreters in conflict zones
and who could be in a position to back us at the UN
or at national level.
If you would be interested in being the eyes andears for your region (or sub-region), please contact
interpretersconflictareas-group@aiic.net/
a.debenedictis@aiic.net

THE STATISTICS GROUP
Track and Triumph: Don't Forget to Log Your Work Year-Round!
As we finish processing the results of this year's survey, we want to remind everyone of theimportance of tracking your work year-round. Keeping records in one place as you go along not
only aids AIIC statistical collection but also helps you monitor your own work, working conditions
and income.
Our spreadsheet tool, available for logged-in members, makes this easier. We plan to improve
the tool as we streamline the questions that we ask, but collecting most information in one place
is a good starting point. By logging your activities regularly, you'll contribute to our collective
business intelligence and may also gain valuable insights into your own work.
We're also happy to announce that the results from this year's exercise will be posted shortly.
Stay tuned to see the collective impact of our efforts and celebrate our shared successes.
Thank you for your ongoing dedication and cooperation!

LIC
In cooperation with the AIIC Africa Region, the AIIC Legal Interpreting Committee (LIC) organised
an online forum highlighting the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS).
This was one of the most successful online events in our series, the second event in the Africa
Region, attended by around 120 participants.
We are extremely grateful for the support of Dr Yaouza OURO-SAMA, Chief Registrar of theCommunity Court of Justice. The keynote speaker was Dr Athanase ATANNON, Deputy Chief
Registrar of the Court who gave a detailed insight into the role, the jurisdiction and the functionsof the institution in West Africa in his introduction.
This was followed by a presentation by Illiasso ISSA, an AIIC colleague, long-standing staff
member and currently the Head of Language Services Division of the Community Court ofJustice, ECOWAS. He addressed the role of the Language Services Division and the capacity toprovide the services essential to the smooth running of the Court.
On a more informal note, AIIC colleagues, Saidina DOURAZA and Francis EKE-METOHO, took
part in an interview describing their beginnings in the profession, their recruitment to the Court
and the challenges they face in working as court interpreters. They concluded on a positive noteof encouragement to young people entering the profession who need training and a global
vision to succeed.
The online forum has been recorded and will be available shortly.

AI WORK STREAM
The members of the newly-formed AI Work.Stream have hit the ground running and have a lot toshare with members. Check out their articles below on recent events and developments in AI
and don’t forget to follow them on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on all their news.
On Artificial Intelligence and Noah Caldwell's TAALS Webinar
Navigating Innovation in AI and Interpreting
CAI Tools

UPCOMING AI WEBINAR
July 27th, 16.00 - 19.00 CEST
Free to AIIC members
Click to see the programme

IMPRESSIONS FROM LISBONAIIC PRIMS held its summer session in beautiful Lisbon this July. On Friday, the Portuguese
region treated us to a cocktail dinner on a rooftop terrace with amazing sights over Lisbon.
On Saturday, the PRIMS committee had prepared an outstanding line-up of speakers: Jeromel’Host, UNITAR trainer, covered soft skills in negotiation, Antonio Guadagnoli gave us an overview
of the MICE industry, Dr Giovanna Graziosi spoke about generational changes that eventuallypervade every industry, and Hannah Riley Bowles shared thoughtful, research-based insights ongender perspectives and how they guide our behaviours.
With all those lessons in mind, PRIMS organised a panel of interpreters on Sunday morningwhere we applied all those learnings to our industry and professional experience. Simona
Randazzo from Belgium, Larissa Benevides from Brazil, Tony Rosado from the USA, Bertold
Schmitt from Australia and myself, from Spain, offered examples and shared our experience.
Some of the highlights will stay with me for years to come: Larissa explained her very thoroughpreparation for technical interpretations as an interpreter, dentist and lawyer; Bertold offered an
insight on how his work over the years has shaped the market, and how interpreters can go theextra mile in a team (I think the WWF anecdote is becoming legend as I write!);Tony shared hisvery proactive approach to tenders and PR in business —a great example for all— and Simonashared her conscientious approach to every new assignment and team composition. I sharedsome examples of how you can get new clients—no magic tricks involved, it is hard work— byengaging in conversations with them (something machines cannot do) and keeping an eye open
in the market.
The event was very well attended, including a huge and enthusiastic contingent from Spain. I
met AIIC members from the world over, and it was a great example of what we can achieve
together. The PRIMS standing committee, made up of Veronica Perez Guarneri (ESPaiic), Leire
Carbonell (AIIC USA), Ana Pleite (ESPaiic), Federica Mamini (AIIC Belgium) and Livia Cais (AIIC
Brazil) had worked so hard to deliver an extremely well organised event. Congratulations!
Paula Manrique (panellist, member and treasurer, ESPaiic)

This was my first PRIMS meeting, and I have to say that it was absolutely memorable: from theamazing views from the rooftop on the first evening to the enriching conversations we held andthe inspiring presentations we heard. I had the opportunity to meet some fellow precandidates
and seasoned members from different regions, and even colleagues I had already worked with
online!
I also got to meet my ‘buddy’, Jenny, who gave me some marvellous advice and encouragement
to become an active member. The PRIMS Standing Committee did an excellent job in pulling thisevent together. I’ve come back to Spain with a head full of ideas and a heart full of excitement!
Elena Sánchez (precandidate, ESPaiic – Spain Region)

My experience at the latest PRIMs event was a (positive) surprise. I didn’t know what to expectfrom attending the meeting, but after becoming an AIIC member not long ago, it seemed theperfect occasion to find out.
I met colleagues who were eager to talk about the profession, to learn and to listen. Interpreterswith many years of experience behind them, colleagues who had come into the interpretingworld from very diverse backgrounds, as well as many colleagues who are now pre-candidates.
We all had something in common: we were delighted to be in Lisbon attending the event, and
we all wanted to keep learning and growing in a profession we love.
There was time to touch upon a number of different topics: entrepreneurship, gender equality,
AI, client relations, the relationship with our colleagues… The discussions were all about topics
that are part of our daily lives as interpreters. And feeling that you are part of a bigger picture,and that all the elements seem to fit together —that’s when you know you are in the right place!
A few days ago, I shared a thought that was discussed during PRIMS: sometimes we feel we areentrepreneurs by accident. While that may be partly true, it is also true that this only makes ourjob more interesting and forces us to focus on what’s important: offering the right solutions to ourclients so that communication works. We can and must offer the human touch, something thatcannot be replaced by machines nor any AIs. And that human element, together with our
flexibility and the trust we can build and develop, is what makes us special. We should neverforget that.
Also, together with my colleague Laura Millán, we represented part of the Communications teamin ESPaiic (Spain Region) and were lucky enough to meet colleagues also in charge ofcommunications in other AIIC regions. It was wonderful to have the chance to meet them, andwe very much look forward to having fruitful exchanges with them once the summer is over.
And last (but not least, of course!), I can only thank the PRIMS Standing Committee; five women
who did an amazing job in putting together such a wonderful event, and also the local hosts, AIIC
Portugal, who made us all feel at home.
Carmen Villalba Ruiz (member, ESPaiic – Spain Region)

Thank you to the PRIMS Steering Committee for providing us with a thought-provoking,educational, and insightful weekend in Lisbon. We honed our skills for negotiating with clients inan ever-evolving context and were encouraged to view the profession from diverse andcomplementary perspectives. The program was well-designed and comprehensive, featuring
ample opportunities for dialogue, discussion, and interaction. As always, it was a pleasure toreconnect with old friends and meet new colleagues. See you in Lima!
Paulina Baez - AIIC Canada

with Jenny
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ESPaiic rep

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IC SAM)
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Jenny
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ESPaiic representatives and other Spa
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REGIONAL MEETINGS
This pre-Assembly season is full of regional meetings where you’ll have the chance to discuss
topics that will be put before the Assembly, decide how you’re going to vote and learn what elseis going on inside AIIC:
30 August - 1 September
Members and pre-candidates in the Nordic and Baltic Countries will bemixing business with networking at their regional meeting. When they
aren’t working, they’ll be enjoying dinner in Stockholm, a river cruise to
Royal Castle of Drottningholm and other social events yet to beannounced.

September 8th

has organised a 2-day training workshop on
consecutive note-taking ahead of its regional meeting in Hong Kong. The
meeting will include the election of the new regional bureau.
AIIC Asia PacificSeptember 17th 19.15
After the hard work that went into the AI conference at the weekend,
members in Switzerland will keep things casual with an evening
meeting in Geneva.

Sunday September 22, 9:30-15:30
The AIIC Canada Regional Bureau will be bringing forth a number ofresolutions, one of which will concern regional dues, and elections will
held for the positions of AB member, Secretary, and Treasurer. In lieu ofa special activity, there will be an explanation/discussion of the new AIIC
governance proposal, as well as what to expect in the lead-up to Lima.
Come one, come all!

BRAZILAIIC Brasil has already elected its new regional
bureau. The outgoing bureau is proud to welcome
their successors with their final video. Click on theicon to meet their new team.

EVENT CALENDAR
30 August 1 September
7 September

AIIC Nordic & Baltic Countries Regional Meeting
StockholmInterpreting the U.S. Presidential Electoral Process: The Mystery of
the Electoral College
ATPD Workshop
Online14 September

The Impact of AI on Conference Interpreting
1-day conference hosted by AIIC Switzerland
Geneva17 September

AIIC Switzerland Regional Meeting
Geneva20

AI Powered Interpreting

September

ATPD workshop with Josh Goldsmith
Barcelona

21 September

How to use technology to prepare for interpreting assignments
ATPD workshop with Josh Goldsmith
Barcelona

22 September

AIIC Canada Statutory Meeting
Montreal (Hybrid)

26, 27, 28

Online consecutive note-taking refresher

September

ATPD Workshop
Online