PSI Legacy, State of Play and Future
Several important developments have taken place in the Public Service Interpreting sector recently, in particular with regards to court interpreting. Such developments have the potential to have a considerable impact on the work interpreters do - namely, the House of Lords Enquiry into Translation and Interpreting Services in the courts and the changes implemented by the main LSPs providing interpreting services to the courts.
With this in mind, the Interpreters’ Development Network (IDN) of the ITI and the Association of Interpreters and Translators (AIT) have put their heads together and have organised a joint panel webinar featuring important stakeholders. The panel will discuss what can be learnt from the past, where we stand right now and what the future may hold for interpreters.
The aim of this webinar is to raise awareness within the translation and interpreting community and to hear from those on the front line. With this in mind, there will be plenty of time for Q&A after the speakers’ presentations.
Programme:
Background and history of PSI in the UK
Rebecca Tipton - The beginnings of PSI until the 1970s: “Who were the interpreters and how was interpreting organised 1940s-1980s” (15-20 min.)
Irina Sanders - "History of public service interpreting in the UK" (15-20 min.)
Madeleine Lee - "Grassroots activism and changing times: 2005 to 2012" (15-20 min.)
Status quo and potential future outcomes
Sara Robertson - The House of Lords Enquiry (15 min.)
Mike Orlov - "Casting Forward" (10-15 min.)
Q&A session (up to 30 minutes)
Dr Rebecca Tipton is a Senior Lecturer in Interpreting and Translation Studies at the University of Manchester. She is also a qualified translator, conference and public service interpreter. Her research focuses on spoken language interpreting in state and voluntary sector services, from both contemporary and historical perspectives, with specific reference to social work, asylum procedure, police interviews, and mental health. Her most recent publication is The Routledge Guide to Teaching Ethics in Translation and Interpreting Education (2024, Routledge).
Irina Sanders is a Conference and Public Service Interpreter, Business Consultant, and a qualified Professional Supervisor. Practicing since 2004, she holds an MA in Interpreting, a DPI, and an MSc in Geology – Hydrogeology. A National Registered Interpreter (NRPSI), demonstrating her commitment to professional standards and ethics, she is also an Incorporation Director and Chairman of the AIT, actively advocating for excellence and professional development in the interpreting and translation sector.
Madeleine Lee is a Dutch interpreter. She had a bilingual upbringing in The Netherlands. She read French and Dutch Studies at Hull University followed by a master’s degree in Modern European Cultures and Societies and the DPSI in Dutch/English Law.
Her professional contributions include serving two terms on the Council of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL), participating in the Professional Interpreters for Justice (PI4J) campaign, and being a panel member on the NRPSI’s Disciplinary Committee for eight years. Currently, she is one of the non-executive directors of NRPSI.
She is a Fellow of the CIOL, a Member of the Association of Police and Court Interpreters (APCI), and an Honorary Member of the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI). She has been a Registered Public Service Interpreter with NRPSI since 2005.
Sara Robertson FRSA FIIC is the Chief Executive of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI). Sara trained as an architect at Edinburgh College of Art where she specialised in historic building conservation. She arrived at the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) in 2023 having spent 20 years working in various training, policy and leadership roles in the historic environment sector. Although not a linguist herself, Sara is a skilled communicator and a passionate advocate for professionalism. She is committed to championing the value of professional translators and interpreters and supporting the ITI community.
Mike Orlov is the Chief Executive and Registrar of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI).
Mike has had a diverse career spanning over several decades. Before joining NRPSI in May 2019, Mike was a partner at SteppingStone Global, a boutique consulting firm based in Bahrain, Prior to this, Mike spent 35 years in publishing, working with magazines at Haymarket, Turret, and Reed Elsevier. He held senior positions at The Mail on Sunday, Northern and Shell, and the London Evening Standard. He has completed an executive MBA with Distinction and is a consultant, facilitator, mentor, business coach, trainer, public speaker, and published business writer. Mike is passionate about professional public service interpreting and translating, advocating for public protection, upholding standards, and increasing recognition and appreciation for language-service professionals in the UK.
ITI Interpreters' Development Network member fee: £0
ITI member fee: £0
Non-member fee: £0
Location: Zoom - link to be shared
Contact name: Trinidad Clares
Contact email: m[email protected]
Booking closes: 9th June 2025
CPD hours: 2