Translation | Interpretation | Teaching | Proofreading | Editing | Voice-overs | Sub-titling

Born in Vancouver, Canada, I have a Bachelor's Degree in French and Spanish from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC and a Master of Arts in Translation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California. As part of my degree courses, I also studied in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; Valencia and Madrid, Spain; and Geneva, Switzerland.

My professional and linguistic career began in Belgium at the European Union in Brussels and then at the International Encyclopaedia of Laws in Leuven for a combined total of six years. After teaching college-level French for a few months back in Vancouver, I left for Hong Kong where I worked at the headquarters of a multinational timber company for eight years, and gained experience in purchasing and sales, as well as translation and interpretation for business purposes. After returning to Vancouver briefly once again, in order to obtain certification in, among other things, Microsoft Office Suite, Web Publishing, Photography and Small Business Management, I departed again on a new adventure, working in the Caribbean as International Ambassador for an American cruise line, using my languages for tourism purposes.

In September 2005, I opened my own consultancy company in Vancouver, ACFairbank Consulting, and currently provide services to my international clients in translation, interpreting, editing, writing, proofreading, website creation and management, sales and marketing, and photography.

In a constant endeavour to increase my skills and provide better and more complete services to my clients, I actively look for opportunities to continue my professional development. During the past few years, I have completed certificates in Professional Sales and Digital Film Production.

In September 2016, having already studied Dutch, French, German, Italian, Latin, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish over the years, and taught French and Spanish, I decided to use my vast experience in language acquisition by obtaining TESOL/TEFL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages/Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. In a follow up to gaining this latter qualification, I spent an academic year living in Italy, teaching English to Italians, all while continuing my other business activities remotely.

In September 2017, I updated my translation skills at KUL (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) in Antwerp, Belgium by taking an advanced CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools course. I now have experience using MateCAT, SDL Trados Studio 2017, Memsource and memoQ.

In February 2018, I attended a two-day seminar entitled “Understanding Marketing and Negotiating for Interpreters,” presented by the AIIC (International Association for Conference Interpreters) in Washington D.C., USA. At this event, I learned how to improve my self-marketing skills. It was also an excellent opportunity to network with other interpreters from around the world.

In March 2018, I completed my training with the Provincial Health Services Authority LearningHub in the Health Care Interpreter Training Program. Then, in June, I attended a seminar entitled “Do I or Don't I? Moral and Ethical Decision Making in Complex Care” provided by The Interpreter's Lab.

In May 2018, I wrote a certification exam for the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC) in Spanish to English and in August 2018, I was notified that I passed (there was a 17% passing rate this year among those who took translation certification exams in all language combinations across Canada!) and am henceforth eligible to carry the title of Certified Translator.

In June 2018, I attended the AGM of the STIBC and was voted in as a member of the Society's Financial Committee. In September 2018, I co-presented an orientation workshop for new Associate Members and newly Certified Members of the STIBC. I also contributed an article called “Now that I'm a STIBC Associate Member, How do I Get Work?” to the STIBC Voice, a quarterly newsletter of the Association.

In October 2018, I completed two more certificates as part of the Provincial Health Services Authority LearningHub: “IPACE for Interpreters” and “Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for Assessors and Prescribers.”

I am:

These latter two organizations are professional associations for translators and interpreters.

I also donate my time and skills as a voluntary translator for: