Outstanding Contribution to Translating
Mecia Freire
One of the first accredited Portuguese translators in Australia, Mecia remains highly respected in the sector. Noted, among other things, for her generosity and availability to advise and support those new to the profession, as well as for her engaging workshop presentations, she is described as the ‘matriarch’ of Portuguese translators. This industry respect is reflected in Mecia receiving more nominations than any other candidate in any category for these Excellence Awards.
Outstanding Contribution to Interpreting
Xiaoxing (Amy) Wang
Amy is a conference interpreter, a consummate professional and an excellent role model. She has demonstrated her commitment to the profession over many years, serving on AUSIT’s NSW Branch Committee in various capacities. At the national level Amy has been a hard-working PD coordinator and National Vice President for PD & Events, sourcing quality professional development initiatives that continue to benefit practitioners across Australia.
runner-up:
Liying Geng
Outstanding Contribution in Languages of Limited Diffusion (LLDs)
Aboriginal Interpreter Service (AIS)
There were several worthy nominees in this category, but the AIS was chosen in particular for its work with Northern Territory health professionals on the Plain English Health Dictionary, developed over two years and launched in June 2023. The aim of the dictionary is to facilitate better communication between First Nations people and health service providers, and it could potentially serve as a model for resources in other languages, especially LLDs.
runner-up:
Janet Lor
Outstanding Leadership in the Profession and/or Raising the Profile of T/Is in the Community
Cintia Lee
Cintia is a Spanish translator and conference interpreter who has been a leading figure in the profession for many years, with a passion for helping others. She has contributed significantly to AUSIT’s Professional Development Committee, and is currently serving on the NSW Branch Committee. Cintia works tirelessly to improve the working conditions of court interpreters in particular, including the implementation of the Recommended National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals.
joint runners-up:
Silvia Martinez, Patricia Avila
Outstanding Contribution to Capacity Building
Fatih Karakas
Fatih has been evaluating and preparing for current and future needs of the profession since 2020, developing and producing PD in the form of Conversations, the only podcast dealing specifically with Australian T&I content. His interviews with lecturers, practitioners and industry personalities, including legal practitioners and health professionals, are informative and inspiring. These podcasts also contribute to documenting the history of translation and interpreting in Australia.
runner-up:
Rema Nazha
