The Evolving Linguist Conference Program

In 2017, an infamous prediction declared that translators would disappear by 2025. Yet, linguists of many definitions remain essential—and are even thriving—in a profoundly transformed language industry. This presentation explores why dire forecasts about technology-driven displacement, specifically by neural machine translation and generative AI, were simultaneously wrong and right. Yes, many traditional translator profiles have faded, but those who have adapted have emerged stronger, leveraging new tools to boost the productivity and quality of their work and increase their income.

The speaker will analyze the present-day threats translators face, from competition with instantaneous, free technology tools to evolving client expectations about quality and speed. Just as importantly, he will spotlight oft overlooked opportunities—emerging new language services, serving clients of the future, specialization strategies, value-based pricing, and working alongside AI rather than against it.

The core takeaway is simple yet critical: adaptability, openness to change, and continuous learning are no longer optional. Linguists who embrace uncertainty will not only survive but can actively shape their future, ensuring that our profession remains vibrant and rewarding long beyond 2025.

Daniel Sebesta brings over 20 years of expertise working at the intersection of language, business, and technology. He holds an MBA with a specialization in pricing and strategy and is a Fellow of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, a sworn translator in Czechia and Germany, and a former Administrator of ATA’s Language Technology Division. In addition to his translation work, he advises LSPs, toolmakers, and localization buyers on questions around pricing, profitability, and language technology. He writes about technology topics for Slator and is a LocLunch Ambassador in Prague, Czechia & Upstate New York.

This session features a conversation and audience Q&A with retired U.S. Army Colonel Myles Caggins III, former spokesman for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, and Mr. Nariman Hawrami, a veteran interpreter and translator based in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. Together, they will reflect on their collaboration during major military operations in Iraq and Syria, and their continued private sector partnership at Words Warriors, a communications and translation firm operating in the United States and Iraq.

Colonel Caggins will discuss leading multilingual public affairs efforts to counter violent extremist messaging and shape international narratives, often under time-sensitive and high-risk conditions. Mr. Hawrami will share perspectives from his work providing simultaneous interpretation during live television interviews and translating content for Kurdish audiences, emphasizing how cultural and linguistic fluency supports mission success and public trust.

The session will also explore the practical aspects of building cross-border language services businesses, and the evolving role of interpreters in political, security, and media contexts. Topics include: engaging foreign media, managing linguist teams, navigating the nuances of Kurdish and Arabic-language platforms, and adapting messaging for cross-cultural impact.

This presentation is relevant to professionals in translation, international communication, media relations, and conflict studies.

Colonel (Ret.) Myles B. Caggins III is a CEO of Words Warriors, a NY-based firm specializing in translation and public relations, with operations in New York City and Erbil, Iraq.  Words Warriors provides over-the-phone interpreting for the NYC Department of Transportation, as well as 13 Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals.  They have provided document translations for business and government clients.  Words Warriors was awarded the 2024 New York City Mayor’s BossUp grant for high-potential veteran-owned businesses.

Caggins served over 26 years in the U.S. Army—including three combat tours in Iraq. He notably served as the senior spokesperson for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria, leading a multinational communications team representing 78 nations.  He also held key strategic communication roles at the Pentagon, the White House National Security Council, and various U.S. Army commands.

Caggins holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Hampton University and a master’s degree in public relations from Georgetown University. He also completed the National Security Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including the New York Kurdish Cultural Center.

Words Warriors is a corporate member of the New York Circle of Translators and the Association of Language Companies.

Iraq Country Manager

Nariman is a seasoned linguist and media professional with 17 years of experience across translation, news editing, and air traffic control, combining language expertise with high-stakes communication. As a freelance translator and interpreter since 2006, Nariman has honed skills in simultaneous, consecutive, and written translation, coordinating services in Kurdish, English, Persian, and Arabic. Since 2015, Nariman has been a news editor and interpreter for the international desk at Kurdistan24 tv. 

In addition to his language proficiency, Nariman has served as an air traffic controller at Erbil International Airport since 2009, a mixed-use commercial and military airport. Previously, he was head of office and interpreter for the South Korean Consulate. He has led simultaneous interpreting at dozens of geopolitical, academic, and business conferences in Iraq. 

Nariman holds several key certifications, including Simultaneous Translation Skills, News Editing and Translation Techniques, and English Proficiency. In the aviation field, he is certified in Air Traffic Control (ATC) through ICAO courses 052, 053, and 054. Holding a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Salahaddin University, and he is a candidate for Master’s in Translation at University of Kurdistan Hewler in 2026. He resides with his family in Pirmam City, in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.

By now, most of us have come to terms with the new reality: AI is here to stay, and ignoring it is no longer an option for language professionals. “Embrace it,” we’re told. But how? Doesn’t it run contrary to everything we were taught about professionalism, accuracy, and responsibility? Wouldn’t using AI be cheating? Unethical? Illegal? Plain wrong?

In this session, a self-described old-school translator explores how to approach AI without compromising our values and our standards. We’ll discuss ethical concerns like confidentiality and quality control, consider what remains uniquely human about translation, and look at ways to experiment with AI that enhance, rather than erode, our practice. Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or just plain tired of being told to “adapt or die,” this session offers a grounded, practical take on surviving—and thriving—in an AI-saturated world.

We’ll also share concrete examples, do’s and don’ts, and key questions to ask yourself when deciding whether—and how—to bring AI into your workflow.

Please note: This session will be presented in Spanish.

Izaskun Orkwis, CT has been a translator for more than 20 years, working mainly for international organizations. She works now as a court interpreter, but still does freelance translation for direct and institutional clients. She holds a BA in Romance languages and MAs in Institutional Translation and Communication. She is an ATA-certified English <> Spanish translator, a federally certified court interpreter, and a sworn translator in Spain, as well as a certified healthcare interpreter (CCHI).

Without sugarcoating it, my job is to take your job with language AI. In fact, making even more progress on this initiative is a key metric for my team this year (sorry, not sorry). That puts me in a unique position to show you how linguists can adapt, and even thrive, in an AI-obsessed corporate world.

In this session, I’ll walk you through the exact methods, techniques, and workflows that veteran language technology specialists like myself are using to sidestep traditional linguistic roles: where we’re winning, where we’re flopping, and why. I’ll spotlight the language tasks where machines still stumble, as well as those where language AI is already more than capable.

By the end, you’ll leave with practical takeaways, including large language model (LLM) prompts, to help you leverage language AI effectively in your own work. You’ll also gain a clearer understanding of where your greatest value lies, especially in a world where the value of language expertise is rapidly evolving and becoming harder to explain.

Jon Ritzdorf is a seasoned language industry expert with over 20 years of experience in translation technology, solutions engineering, and global strategy. He holds an M.A. in Chinese Translation from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) and began his career as a freelance translator before moving into language technology and localization. Currently, Jon is Senior Manager of Globalization Content Infrastructure at Procore Technologies, leading Procore’s technical language strategy for global expansion.

Since 2003, Jon has served as an adjunct professor in translation technology, localization, and language industry business practices at institutions including MIIS, NYU, U. of Maryland, and U. of Chicago. Recognized for his expertise and engaging teaching style, he received NYU’s ‘Award for Teaching Excellence’. Jon is known for bringing a unique combination of practical experience and colorful commentary to his presentations.

In court interpreting, precision isn’t just a matter of professionalism—it’s a safeguard for due process. When a single mistranslated term can sway a legal outcome, interpreters must be more than fluent; they must be legally literate across jurisdictions. This workshop offers a comparative exploration of Brazilian and American legal terminology, empowering interpreters to navigate two distinct systems with greater clarity and confidence.

Participants will critically examine high-impact terminology and deceptive false cognates—such as sentence vs. sentença — that can easily derail an interpretation. We’ll unpack system-specific legal concepts like plea bargain,  and the polysemous nature of court, as well as clarify the often-confused differences between probation and parole. These terms will be analyzed in context, highlighting legal philosophies that shape their usage.

To support ongoing professional growth, the workshop introduces concrete research methods for validating legal terminology using credible and system-specific resources. It blends theoretical insight with practical strategies, ensuring participants leave with tools they can immediately apply.

Whether you are a new interpreter seeking a strong foundation or a seasoned practitioner looking to refine your legal vocabulary, this workshop invites you to sharpen your tools, deepen your expertise, and elevate the standard of linguistic access in legal settings.

Please note: This session is 120 minutes long and will be presented in English and Portuguese. Attendance is limited to 25 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Brazilian-born Dr. Nattalia Paterson brings extensive expertise to the field of interpretation and translation through her diverse professional qualifications. She holds a court interpreter certification in multiple U.S. states and is professionally qualified to serve in the U.S. federal courts. She also maintains professional credentials as a healthcare interpreter, conference interpreter, and translator, including her service as a contract seminar interpreter for the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Paterson’s academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics, Translation and Conference Interpretation from PUC-Rio. Beyond her interpreting work, she actively shapes the profession through her contributions to NAJIT’s advocacy, position papers, conference, and forensic transcription and translation committees, after serving as the organization’s Board chair for two years. Nattalia also dedicates time to training Portuguese court interpreters as they prepare for state certification examinations, helping to develop the next generation of qualified professionals in the field.

The UN is one of the largest global employers of language professionals, with several hundred staff working in different locations around the world. Within the UN system of organizations, the term “language professional” includes a broad spectrum of specialized roles. These include translators, interpreters, editors, verbatim reporters, terminologists, reference assistants and copy preparers, proofreaders or production editors. From the very beginning, these language-related professions have continuously adapted to meet evolving demands. However, the pace and scale of recent technological advancements have introduced unprecedented challenges and reshaped the landscape of language professions.

This presentation will describe the evolution of UN language professions over the years in terms of workflows, job roles, technological tools and training approaches. It will also examine the challenges and opportunities that have accompanied these transformations and highlight the strategies implemented both by professionals and management to navigate the evolving landscape of today and prepare for the demands of tomorrow.

María Barros has degrees in classical and English philology and a PhD in translation studies. After teaching linguistics and translation in two Spanish universities for several years, she joined the United Nations Spanish Translation Service in New York, where she currently works as a senior reviser and terminologist.

In courtroom proceedings, objections—ranging from “hearsay” and “leading” to “relevance” and “speculation”—serve as pivotal procedural tools. For court interpreters, these interruptions present unique challenges that require swift judgment, contextual understanding, and role clarity. The interpreter’s task becomes especially complex while interpreting at the witness stand.

At the witness stand, however, the interpreter must navigate real-time exchanges involving judges, attorneys, and witnesses, often under pressure to pause, resume, or withhold interpretation based on courtroom protocol.

The session will examine the ethical boundaries and decision-making process interpreters face in these moments and invite participants to think critically about their intervention while fostering dialogue on a frequently overlooked but critical aspect of court interpretation.

Carola Lehmacher is a multi-lingual freelance translator and interpreter with over fifteen years of experience working with government and industry at executive and operational levels. She holds two university degrees in Translation Studies and a master’s degree in Conference Interpreting. She is a Federally Certified Court Interpreter (FCCI) and a Master Licensed Court Interpreter in Georgia. Carola works as a conference interpreter for various local and international clients and is one of the voices of a major news network. Moreover, she is a licensed trainer of The Community Interpreter® International and dedicates many hours to volunteer as Chair of the AAITE Ethics and Standards Committee, as Advisory Member to the Georgia Commission on Court Interpreters, and as President of AAIT, the Georgia chapter of ATA.

In an age when the practice of translation seems to be changing, how can you set up a program to acquire or improve your own translation skills and expertise? What makes a “translation expert” and how do you become one of them? For decades, the notions of “translation competence” and “translation expertise” have been the foundation to establish translation programs, learning goals, and to evaluate progress. This presentation presents an overview of these two concepts in the age of AI for both translation trainers and translation professionals. Participants will understand how to optimize the process of translation acquisition in the age of AI, aimed at both translation trainers and practicing translators.   Professional translators will understand how to further improve their levels of expertise through “deliberate practice” and “systematic training”.

Miguel A. Jiménez-Crespo is a professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Rutgers University, where he directs the MA program in Spanish translation and interpreting. He has a PhD in translation and interpreting studies from the University of Granada, Spain. His research focuses on the intersection of translation theory, translation technology, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, corpus-based translation studies, and translation training. He is the author of Localization in Translation, Crowdsourcing and Online Collaborative Translations: Expanding the Limits of Translation Studies, and Translation and Web Localization.

Angélica Ramírez holds a degree in English Language and Modern Literatures from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She completed the Translator Training Program at El Colegio de México and earned a Ph.D. in Translation and Interpretation from Alicante University, Spain. 

With over three decades of experience, Angélica has worked as a translator from English and French into Spanish. Her expertise includes translation for dubbing, voice-over, and subtitling of series, films, and documentaries for Mexican television and Latin American pay-TV networks. As a literary translator, she has translated books for children and teenagers, biographies, popular science texts, and academic articles.

Currently, she specializes in subtitling for universities, non-profit organizations, cultural institutions, and private companies. She also serves as an instructor in several online translation diploma programs. 

Angélica is a member of the Mexican Association of Literary Translators (AMETLI), the American Translators Association (ATA), and the Mexican Organization of Translators (OMT).

Whether you realize it or not, you’re always communicating something about who you are—before you even begin interpreting. Your tone, timing, energy, and even your silence shape the way others experience working with you. That experience becomes your professional signature.

This session isn’t about building a brand in the traditional sense. It’s about becoming more aware of the presence you already bring—and learning how to design it with intention.

Together, we’ll explore presence as a soft skill, a quiet form of influence, and a tool for building trust. Through guided reflection and creative prompts, you’ll begin identifying the qualities that define your interpreting presence—and how to align them with how you want to be known.

You’ll also create a personal Interpreter Presence Moodboard—a visual, intuitive way to translate your values into something you can see, feel, and carry with you. By the end, you’ll walk away with a clearer sense of how to show up with authenticity, consistency, and confidence—so what others see truly reflects who you are.

Mireya Pérez is an interpreter, speaker, and creative strategist passionate about redefining what it means to be a professional in the language industry. With over a decade of experience in community and educational interpreting, she brings a fresh perspective to interpreter development—one that blends practical expertise with storytelling, creative thinking, and identity work.

She is the creator and host of Brand the Interpreter, a podcast that highlights the personal journeys and professional insights of interpreters around the world. Her work focuses on elevating the human side of interpreting and encouraging language professionals to embrace their presence, voice, and value in the field.

Through workshops, podcasting, and content creation, Mireya has helped shift how interpreters view their role—not just as skilled linguists, but as professionals with insight, creativity, and presence. Her work invites interpreters to explore their identity beyond the mechanics of the job and to take ownership of how they show up in the spaces they serve.

People who speak no English benefit from working with interpreters when seeking health care in the US. For people who speak English a little or well, however, working with interpreters is more complex and may not always be beneficial. This is a blind spot for many interpreters, administrators, and educators. Interpreters need to use different strategies to achieve their goals when parties speak each other’s language but not very well.

Learning Objectives:

1. List at least 4 reasons why people who speak some English may not want to work with an interpreter.
2. Describe the role of trust in interpreter-mediated communication
3. Create effective strategies for interpreters when there is partial language concordance
4. Clearly prioritize medical interpreters’ goals 

Andy Schwieter leads healthcare language access at Cincinnati Children’s and nationally as Vice President of the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) and Chair of NCIHC’s Policy, Education, and Research Committee.

Since 2006, Andy has practiced Spanish interpretation with certifications from the Supreme Court of Ohio (2013) and National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (2015). He co-authored research published in Hospital Pediatrics on discharge instruction improvements for families who use languages other than English.

Andy’s leadership combines national policy development with practical implementation, ensuring healthcare interpreting and translation standards evolve to meet clinical needs so that excellent care can be provided to all patients.

Some people change careers entirely. Others, like me, change industries, and discover how much they bring with them. How does one move from Localization to Tech? The answer: transferable skills.

Managing localization projects made me a highly adaptable professional. The complexity of global content workflows and the diversity of cross-functional collaboration prepared me for broader challenges. When generative AI entered the scene, I knew I needed to accept that challenge.

While Localization remains a dynamic and ever-evolving field, I felt the pull to dive deeper into the heart of technology. As an ambitious program manager, I wanted to expand my impact, apply my leadership experience in new ways, and drive innovation at a different scale.

In this session, I’ll share my journey: how I made the leap, what I’ve learned so far, and what I wish I’d known earlier. We’ll explore the practical steps, mindset shifts, and lessons from Tech that align surprisingly well with the LSP world. Whether you’re exploring new challenges or simply curious about what’s out there, this session is for you.

Louise Mira is a NYC-based Program Manager, PMP, and trained linguist with deep roots in the localization industry. Over the years, she has worked at three top global LSPs, developing broad expertise in people management (her true passion) as well as key industry areas like machine translation, transcreation, and the evolving impact of large language models (LLMs).

Her curiosity and creativity led her to Gen AI, where she earned second place in a company-wide prompt engineering contest. Inspired by the potential of this technology, she made the leap into the Tech world, bringing her highly transferable leadership and operations skills to AI data collection programs for major tech companies.

Louise thrives at the intersection of language, people, and emerging technology. She’s especially interested in how AI is reshaping global content workflows and the human skills that remain essential in the loop.

Are you concerned that artificial intelligence might replace human subtitlers? Or do you believe that AI alone can produce flawless subtitles for educational videos? Well, neither option is entirely true. AI is a powerful tool that enhances efficiency, but the human touch remains essential for crafting subtitles that truly support learning and comprehension.

In this workshop, we’ll delve into professional subtitling conventions and translation strategies tailored for educational content. Using Sonix.ai, we’ll streamline segmentation and timing, then refine subtitles with Aegisub, ensuring clarity and accuracy. Finally, we’ll use Handbrake to embed the subtitles into the video, creating a fully subtitled MP4 file.

Participants will need to create an account on Sonix.ai and have a laptop equipped with Aegisub and Handbrake.

Please note: This session is 120 minutes long and attendance is limited to 25 participants. You must have pre-registered in Part 1 to attend.

Angélica Ramírez holds a degree in English Language and Modern Literatures from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She completed the Translator Training Program at El Colegio de México and earned a Ph.D. in Translation and Interpretation from Alicante University, Spain. 

With over three decades of experience, Angélica has worked as a translator from English and French into Spanish. Her expertise includes translation for dubbing, voice-over, and subtitling of series, films, and documentaries for Mexican television and Latin American pay-TV networks. As a literary translator, she has translated books for children and teenagers, biographies, popular science texts, and academic articles.

Currently, she specializes in subtitling for universities, non-profit organizations, cultural institutions, and private companies. She also serves as an instructor in several online translation diploma programs. 

Angélica is a member of the Mexican Association of Literary Translators (AMETLI), the American Translators Association (ATA), and the Mexican Organization of Translators (OMT).

As our profession faces rapid change—from the evolution of RSI to the rise of AI—many of us are feeling a growing sense of uncertainty. But is resisting or burying our heads in the sand really the answer?

In this keynote, Nathalie Greff-Santamaria draws on her hands-on experience in RSI innovation, the development of cutting-edge language services management tools, and leading multicultural teams to offer a hopeful, strategic perspective on the future of interpreting and language services.

Rooted in the metaphor of the ostrich—not as a creature that looks away, but one that runs with purpose—this talk challenges the narrative of professional decline. Instead, it explores how interpreters can adapt with intention: through specialization, expanding their skill sets, and engaging with professional associations.

Interactive, honest, and energizing—with just the right amount of feather-ruffling—this keynote invites interpreters at every stage of their careers to face the pace of progress head-on, and learn not just to keep up, but to play and thrive within it.

Nathalie Greff-Santamaria is a conference interpreter (FR A, ES B, EN C) and literary translator. She trained at La Sorbonne Paris-IV and in Buenos Aires, where she lived for nearly 20 years. Since late 2018, she has specialized in organizing large-scale events, serving as Language Services Operations Manager for KUDO until 2022, and shortly after as Head of Language Services for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Deeply engaged in the world of conference interpreting, Nathalie recently rejoined the AmeriVox organization after a brief pause, and actively contributes to several committees within the Société française des traducteurs (SFT), including those on Standards, Interpreting, and Mentoring. She also volunteers as an interpreter for various organizations and co-organizes the quarterly gatherings of Le Truc des interprètes in Paris.