There are some coincidences that feel like fate. As I write my first message as president of FIT, it is 30 September, International Translation Day, which was officially declared by the United Nations in 2017. It’s an annual invitation to honour our fellow professionals, who give a voice to the peoples of the world and foster mutual understanding. I would like to send you all my belated but heartfelt greetings this ITD, a unique day when our professions are given the visibility they deserve.
This issue of Translatio is a special one: it follows on from a Congress that, I believe it is safe to say, was a success. A success due to the richness of the speeches and discussions that stimulated and inspired all who attended. And it was a success on a human level, too, thanks to the quality of our conversations, reaffirming how vibrant, engaged, and supportive our community is. I want to express my gratitude to the outgoing Council for their incredible work over the past three years, and in particular to the Congress Organising Team, which orchestrated such a large event so adeptly and with unwavering dedication.
This Congress was not just a forum for sharing ideas: it also marked a major statutory milestone with the election of a new Council. It is now my task to lead that Council and coordinate our new team. This Council is one of the most diverse in FIT’s history, truly representing the entire world – from the islands of New Zealand to Argentina, from South Africa to Finland, and from China to Canada, to name a few. This diversity is not merely symbolic, it is the very essence of our global perspective and will give our joint actions deeper meaning.
We all know that our working environment is particularly challenging right now. Our professions are experiencing extreme turbulence. University departments are closing or struggling to bring in new students. A lack of recognition and prospects is discouraging, and some colleagues are leaving the profession. At the same time, society is placing trust (sometimes blind) in tools that are perceived as revolutionary without weighing up the consequences, which could prove devastating. More broadly, multilateralism itself – and with it the idea that nations gain more from cooperation than from isolation – is being called into question.
It is precisely at times like these that our role becomes even more vital. We have always built bridges where there are walls. Amid the confusion of our era, our voice is important: a voice that brings people together, a voice that shines a light, a voice that is truly rooted in humanity. Congress is behind us now, and it’s time to get to work. My colleagues and I on the new Council understand the scale of the challenges, and we share the conviction that our Federation has the resources, energy, and collective intelligence required to overcome them. Together, we are setting out on this path with confidence and pride.
Guillaume Deneufbourg, FIT President