Introducing additions to the Translators without Borders team
TWB recently appointed two new senior staff positions, Executive Director and Director of External Affairs, making this an exciting and important year for realizing the growth potential of the organization.
Over the past four years, TWB has become stronger and stronger, developed partnerships and continues to steadily expand, and elevating the message that communications in the right language is vital for humanitarian development. Today, more than 3,200 professional translators support the organization, offering their skills pro bono, to spread knowledge worldwide. In early February, TWB reached a major milestone of 30 million words translated for over 500 humanitarian organizations using its web-based Translators without Borders Workspace (check out the map below showing some of the work that kept us busy in 2015). To build on this work and to reach new heights, TWB now has two more staff members to make this happen.
New Executive Director Aimee Ansari said, “I’m very excited to be leading such an innovative organization with so much potential. There is an ever present need to provide lifesaving information to people in languages they can understand. But seemingly less urgent needs sometimes go unnoticed, such as the need for mothers to understand baby formula instructions or a HIV patient’s need to understand their doctors instructions on how to take their medicine correctly. Translators without Borders will continue to respond to both emergency and longer term needs associated with language and communication barriers.”
“Our volunteer base is the foundation of the organization; we couldn’t provide the services we do, without them. I look forward to leveraging their valuable work to help the organization grow and to have even greater impact. Our workspace, donated by ProZ.com, is one example of how I hope TWB can use technology to help people in crises to live with dignity,” said Amy Rose Mc Govern, new Director of External Affairs.
Translators without Borders welcomes our new staff
Aimee Ansari, Executive Director
Aimee brings 20 years of experience in leadership positions in large humanitarian and development organizations. She has worked in several humanitarian crises from the Tajik civil war to the earthquake in Haiti, the conflicts in the Balkans to the Syrian refugee crisis and the conflict in South Sudan. Her passion is listening to people and helping them create a future for themselves that allows them to thrive. She believes in developing and implementing strategies that apply creative approaches to seemingly intractable problems. Aimee speaks English and French and is conversant in Russian and Arabic.
Amy Rose Mc Govern, Director of External Affairs
Amy Rose has a background in international relations and joins Translators without Borders with over ten years experience in program management and communications in the international development cooperation sector. She has worked with NGOs, governments and institutional donors in Africa, Asia and Europe. Amy Rose is a qualified translator and interpreter (French and Spanish) and holds a degree in International Relations.