elsawakeling.com
elawak@gmail.com


Elizabeth Wakeling
Interpreter 
www.elsawakeling.com
Based in London UK - Nationality: British - elawak@gmail.com
Languages: Bilingual – Polish,English
Fluent: French
Fair: German, Spanish, Russian
Profile
Simultaneous/consecutive freelance interpreter since 1978, specialising in the 
following fields:
• Political/commercial/general business
• Banking and Finance
• Taxation
• Environmental issues
• Tourism and Leisure
• Insurance
• Telecommunication
• Law/Local Government/Health/Community issues

Permanent resident in the UK since 1969. In the years between 1992 – 2006 based in 
Warsaw, Poland, interpreting for various government and foreign institutions, at 
numerous conferences/seminars and for key political figures in Poland and abroad. 

Since 2006, back in the UK interpreting consecutively (face to face / phone ) for 3 

major agencies, as well as for individual clients.
Professional Experience 
2013 - 2015 Moved to NL and established new professional contacts. 
Concurrently interpreting from time to time in UK Courts of 
Justice and for UK agencies

2008 – 2013 Permanent Court of Arbitration / Hague, Netherlands
Bilateral Dutch/Polish governmental negotiation, simultaneous 
interpreting.

Simultaneous and consecutive interpreting at conferences and 
various business events in the UK and abroad.

2009 also working as professional freelance interpreter at UK courts and 
for the UK police services.

2006 – 2008 Consecutive and telephone interpreting for three major US and 
British Agencies

c LLE (Washington,US), LSA (Washington US), 
The Big Word (Leeds, UK) covering both private and public 
sector clients (tax offices, pension services and job centres)
Selected'references'enclosed'(more'available'on'request)

1992 – 2006 Based in Warsaw, Poland. Interpreted for governmental and 
foreign bodies during Poland’s process of entering European 
Union membership. This included various conferences, talks 
and seminars where consecutive and simultaneous 
interpreting was required in Poland and abroad (Brussels Paris, 
Vienna, Budapest, Berlin). 

Interpreted for two polish Presidents – Lech Walesa and 
Aleksander Kwasnewski, The White House during the two visits 
of Presidents Clinton.

OECD training seminars in Vienna and 
Budapest, The US Department of Treasury etc.
References'available'on'request.
1982 – 1992 Freelance interpreting (Polish, English, French) in London for 
guests of the Foreign Office – political/commercial as well as an official Scotland Yard interpreter.
Acted as an official interpreter to Lech Walesa during his visit 
to the UK in 1989 as the leader of the Solidarity movement, 
later President of Poland.

Education
UK: DPSI (Diploma in Public Service Interpreting) –
National Qualifications Framework at Level 6 – BA equivalent
in interpreting (legal option) – Distinction.
NRPSI ( registered on National Register Of Public Service Interpreters 2008 )   
( National Register of Public Service Interpreters )
Pitmans Central College, London: 1 year course – PA Linguist 
Diploma (Languages: French, German)
Open University: Graduate Course – humanities (2 years)
London Tourist Board – Blue Badge Guide Training Course (1 year)
West London College – 2 year English Course (Cambridge Proficiency Certificate)
POLAND: Business/Language College , Warsaw (Gained: 
Business/Language Diploma in commerce, management and 
languages – BA Equivalent, also additional State Certificates in 
English and German language obtained)
Matriculation – French Baccalaureat equivalent.

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