Marking language sector success: Winners crowned in annual ATC industry awards

Designed to recognise and celebrate success in the language services industry, the annual awards covering a range of categories were handed out during at gala dinner at the ATC’s 2017 Language Industry Summit in London.

Among the winners was Lori Thicke, who was honoured for her ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Language Industry’ for being an industry inspiration after setting up her own translation company more than 30 years ago and later founding Translators without Borders (TWB), a global not-for-profit organisation aiming to close language gaps hindering humanitarian and international development efforts worldwide.

Canadian Lori founded translation company Lexcelera in Paris in 1986 and it has since grown to a global organisation with offices in London, Paris, Vancouver, Buenos Aires and Singapore. She founded TWB in 1993 expanding it considerably after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and it has donated nearly 50 million translated words in just the last six years to humanitarian organisations around the world.

She said: “I was proud to receive such an honour from the ATC, but it isn’t just for me as it’s recognition of the voluntary work that so many people have done for TWB – the translators, project managers, interpreters, editors and the language service providers who support us.

“Those who have worked to carry TWB forward have helped put the language industry on much more of a global stage. Our profession is hugely important, and it really matters that we have made an impact on the world through our use of languages.”

The awards ceremony also saw the ATC’s prestigious Eichner Distinguished Service Award, recognising a lifetime’s contribution to the language industry, given to Liz Robertson, Chair of the ATC’s National Council from 2006-2010.

Liz’s influential work in the industry has included being a founding member of the European Union of Associations of Translation Companies and she was also its first President. A founding member of the group which developed the European standard for translation, she currently participates in the development of ISO standards for the industry. She’s an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, awarded for her work on translation standards.

Liz, whose special interests are in translation, inter-cultural issues, quality standards in the translation industry, process improvement and problem solving, also co-founded Twyford-based Robertson Languages in 1989.

This year’s award judging was undertaken by Liz Pryke, Secretary of the ATC, Rudy Tirry, President of the European Union of Associations of Translation Companies, Sarah Griffin-Mason, Chair of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting and Laura Brandon, Executive Director of the Globalization and Localization Association.

Winners in the other categories were:

Project Manager of the Year
Winner: Tatiana Poliakova, Intonation Ltd
Runner-up: Maya Golemanova, Asian Absolute

Project Management Team of the Year
Winner: Surrey Translation Bureau, PM Team
Runner up: Intonation Ltd, PM Team

Freelance Supplier of the Year
Winner: Lydia Marquardt
Runner up: Ute Wietfeld

Sales Person of the Year
Winner: Elliot Nedas, Wolfestone Translations.

Liz Pryke said: “The gala dinner and awards were a real celebration of success in the language sector. There are many talented people in our industry and these awards recognise their commitment to excellence. We congratulate all the winners on their awards and we’re confident they will continue to provide outstanding services to ensure the language sector carries on growing.”

Representatives from the language service providers gathered at the gala dinner also showed their support for TWB – the ATC’s official charity – by raising £1,000 on the evening with a fund-raising raffle and photo booth photos.

For further details on the awards please visit https://atc.org.uk/2017-award-results.html.