In this series on the wide variety of roles that AUSIT members take on to help keep the organisation ticking over, we’ve covered eleven roles to date, and there are plenty more to go. In this issue we talk to Jess Shepherd, a translator and currently the PD Coordinator for the VIC Branch.
Hours per week:
around 2
Voluntary?
Yes
AUSIT member for:
2 years
Time in this role:
9 months
Other AUSIT roles (past and/or present): Victorian Branch Committee observer (2023); member of the National Conference Organising Committee 2024 (since Nov 2023), mentor (2024)
Q1: What does the role of PD Coordinator involve?
I attend monthly branch committee meetings – mostly online, but we try to meet in person sometimes too (we recently met over dinner on Degraves St – see photo!), plus bimonthly National PD Committee meetings (with the coordinators from each branch, the VP for Events & PD and the National PD Coordinator). I also organise professional development (topics, presenters, e-Flashes and Zoom links, plus moderating sessions) and social events (including monthly after-work drinks, picnics and coffee catch-ups).
Q2: Why did you take it on?
Within six months of moving back from Paris and starting a graduate role as a project manager for Oncall, Melbourne went into lockdown, and I worked from home full time for over two years. I was lucky that I got to interact with lovely colleagues on various translation projects, but nothing beats catching up in person, and after the lockdowns, I found myself feeling professionally isolated. I attended the VIC Branch’s monthly social drinks in early 2023, joked about volunteering, and … our secretary, Henry Lam, is very good at following up on any such ‘offer’, so I soon found myself attending committee meetings as an observer. I fell in love with the people on the committee, got elected at the last AGM, and the rest is history! I also felt that a lot of the PD I’d attended in the past was geared more towards interpreting than translation, so I decided to volunteer my time to turn my ideas into PD events. I’m a big believer in being a part of the change you’d like to see, rather than waiting for others to do it for you.
Q3: What skills or qualities are needed in this role?
I don’t know if nine months in the role is sufficient to define what’s needed, but I’d say that a desire to learn more about the industry, a passion to improve it, professional connections, fresh ideas, a curious spirit and a collaborative approach all help (I’m very lucky to have other committee members who are happy to help moderate events and scope out onsite venues with me) – oh, and organisational skills definitely don’t hurt!
Q4: Who do you collaborate with, and why?
I collaborate closely with other branch committee members, especially the Communications Officer and Membership Liaison Officer, to promote PD and social events on our branch’s social accounts (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook), as well as the National PD Committee to ensure we don’t overlap dates and PD topics for members throughout the year. I also interact with other AUSIT members presenting or attending events, as well as industry partners like NAATI, who have kindly offered to host one of our upcoming on-site events in Melbourne.
Q5: What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about taking on this role?
Do it, you won’t regret it! If you’ve got ideas for future PD events, then this is the perfect role for you. Even better if you love socialising with colleagues and discussing the latest trends, technology and ethical dilemmas in the T&I industry, or even – as we often do – just how The Simpsons is dubbed in different languages! I have a lot of time and respect for the members who choose to volunteer. AUSIT is lucky to have so many of us … but we always need more!
