The 2nd Conference for Translation & Interpreting Professionals, a landmark event in the Greek language industry, was held on 20–21 October 2023 on the premises of the Journalists’ Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (ESIEA) in the heart of Athens.
Co-hosted by the Panhellenic Association of Translators (PEM), the Department of Foreign Languages, Translation, and Interpreting (DFLTI) of Ionian University, and the Hellenic Society for Translation Studies (HS4TS), and under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and the City of Athens, the conference brought together industry experts and academics to advance the fields of T&I in Greece.
Alongside the conference, PEM hosted FIT Europe’s 2023 Annual General Meeting, adding further significance to the event.
This conference focused on the integration of AI and technology into T&I, coinciding with the European Year of Skills and highlighting the profound changes we’re facing. It began with opening remarks from PEM President Vasiliki Dadavassili, Ionian University Vice Rector of Quality Assurance, Student Welfare, and Lifelong Learning Elias Giarenis, DFLTI Language and Politics Laboratory Director Sotiris Livas, HS4TS President Elpida Loupaki, and ESIEA President Maria Antoniadou.
A highlight was the ‘Translation & interpreting in the age of artificial intelligence and large language models’ panel, which explored current developments and the impact of AI and LLMs. Moderated by Valentini Kalfadopoulou, PEM board member, panellists included AIIC Vice President Harris Ghinos, translation, localisation, and PEMT expert Viveta Gene, audiovisual translation expert Stavroula Sokoli, senior MT researcher and Slator contributor Maria Stasimioti, T&I consultant Kostas Nadalis, and President of the Greek Sign Language Interpreters’ Association (SDEGN) Giorgos Stathis.
Vice Chair of FIT Europe Gabriella Suzanne Vanzan delivered an insightful keynote on ‘Interpretation in the Era of Twin Transition’, shedding light on the profession’s evolving landscape in the context of the digital and green transitions.
The conference also featured sessions on education and training, standards, and ethical, legal, financial, and practical issues in T&I, including a discussion on project-based learning, contemporary terminology challenges, and Trados’s new AI capabilities.
The conference concluded with a recap moderated by Vicky Ghionis, PEM Vice President, and featuring commentary from Vasiliki Dadavassili, Vilemini Sosoni (Ionian University), and Elpida Loupaki.
We extend our deepest gratitude to FIT Europe for its invaluable cooperation and contribution, diverse perspectives, and insights, which were integral to the event’s success. Our discussions have not only fostered deeper understanding within our community, but also highlighted the evolving role of T&I in our modern world.
With over 20 speakers, seven moderators, multiple co-hosts, 140+ participants, and the support of 18 volunteers, the conference was a testament to the strength of Greece’s T&I community. It set the standard for future events, underscoring the need to continuously learn and adapt in our ever-evolving industry.
Valentini Kalfadopoulou & Dimitris Moutafis, PEM