Join us in celebrating 40 years of professional translation and interpreting as we look to the future of our profession. This two-day conference brings together practitioners, academics, and language service providers to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing translators and interpreters today.
The conference offers practical, actionable sessions designed to help you build a more resilient and successful practice. Whether you're a freelancer adapting to changing market conditions, an agency leader navigating new technologies, or a professional seeking to deepen your ethical practice, you'll find content that speaks directly to your needs.
With three core strands running throughout the event, you'll have the opportunity to engage with topics that matter most to you, connect with colleagues facing similar challenges, and leave with concrete strategies you can implement immediately.
Entrepreneurship
For the majority of ITI members working as freelancers, building a sustainable business has become increasingly challenging. Traditional agency relationships have changed dramatically, and many practitioners find themselves needing entrepreneurial skills they were never taught.
This strand offers practical, achievable strategies for building a more resilient freelance practice. Sessions focus on concrete business development tactics including marketing, networking, and using professional platforms like LinkedIn effectively. You'll learn accessible approaches to finding direct clients, understanding who your ideal clients are, and diversifying your client base to reduce dependency on a small number of agencies.
The content is designed to be immediately actionable - not overwhelming "transform your entire business" advice, but realistic steps you can take the day after the conference. Through small-group discussions with experienced practitioners and interactive formats like carousel tables, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions in a comfortable, supportive environment and connect with colleagues who understand the challenges of building a freelance practice in today's market.
Engaging with clients
In a rapidly evolving profession, understanding client expectations and managing professional risk has never been more important. This strand addresses the practical challenges of maintaining professional standards whilst responding to client demands around new technologies and pricing pressures.
Through panel discussions and interactive sessions, you'll explore how to educate clients about the proper use of AI tools, manage the risk of the profession shifting primarily to post-editing work, and respond to client expectations around cost reductions. Language service providers will share case studies and practical approaches to maintaining value whilst adapting to change.
The sessions also address broader professionalism topics, helping you articulate your value proposition and set appropriate pricing for professional work. You'll gain insights into client perspectives and learn strategies for building stronger, more sustainable client relationships that recognise the full value of professional translation and interpreting services.
Ethical practices
Our profession's commitment to ethical practice extends far beyond codes of conduct. This strand offers two highly interactive sessions designed to inspire, challenge, and connect you with others who care deeply about working responsibly.
The strand opens with a Good Practice Showcase, where you'll join small-group conversations with invited guests who exemplify ethical excellence in our community. From translators building sustainable careers to agencies that prioritise translator well-being and responsible business practices, these discussions offer a chance to engage directly with people who are putting ethics into action. The small-group format encourages meaningful dialogue, honest questions, and practical insights into what ethical practice looks like in today's working environment.
The second session takes the form of a Learning Café, continuing the small-group approach but shifting the focus to shared reflection and problem-solving. Guided by experienced facilitators, each table will explore a set of prompts and real-world ethical dilemmas facing our profession in 2026 - including pressing questions such as how to integrate AI tools in ways that are ethical, sustainable, and human-centred. Designed as a safe, inclusive space, this session ensures every voice can be heard. You'll leave not only with fresh perspectives and ideas, but also with new connections and conversations that extend well beyond the conference itself.
We have also put together an outline programme that shows the intended running order and timings.