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.