Introducing Our Team
AETS is proud to have one of the largest in-house teams in the translation industry worldwide. Our team is comprised of 35 permanent staff including experienced multilingual project managers, translators, editors, layout specialists, software localisation engineers, all fulfilling important roles in the translation process.
AETS also employs and maintains strong relationships with over 1,000 language specialists all over the world. Our in-country translators provide local expertise to ensure your global content is well suited to any of your export markets.
We are pleased to profile here some of our senior staff.
LIZ SEYMOUR – CEO
Liz Seymour is our Chief Executive Officer and has worked in the translation industry for nearly 10 years. Under her inspirational leadership the company has doubled in size and further cemented its international reputation as a provider of the highest quality translation with unparalleled customer service. The company is now the major supplier of translation services to a number of well known multinational corporations doing business around the world.
Liz holds an MBA and Diploma in Business Studies and has previously worked as National Operations Manager of a large government agency. As well as being CEO Liz is chair of the advisory board for a large communications company, an accredited business mentor and a member of the Institute of Directors. To ensure she stays ahead of the play Liz regularly attends international translation and localisation conferences.
PATRICK KING – Editorial Director
Co-founder of the company almost 25 years ago, Patrick is one of the best known and most respected figures in the Australasian language translation industry. Much of the company success is due to his vision, experience and high quality leadership. Patrick leads the company’s translation and editorial teams and has a particular interest in AETS's "Quality Assurance" programme on which much of our reputation is based. This is on top of his own translation and editorial work across nearly 20 languages, including French, German, Russian, Spanish, New Zealand Maori and other Pacific Island languages.
Patrick holds an MA (hons) degree in German and Russian and regularly travels overseas visiting clients and attending international conferences – in particular the annual international Localisation World Conferences. Patrick always likes to know about and understand new developments in the industry, and especially about new technologies which help improve the ways we work.
LINDA LACOMBE – Regional Business Manager, Australia
Linda heads AETS’s Melbourne office. She came to the company with over 12 years’ experience working in senior roles with some of the world’s largest translation companies based in the USA and Canada. Linda has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of current translation practices as applied to the many different requirements of clients both large and small. She is especially conversant with the latest technological developments which are revolutionising how we work, especially in the all-important field of software localisation. She loves developing centralised translation solutions that run smoothly for her clients operating globally.
Linda holds a BA in International Economics and before she came to the translation industry, worked in IT. She has travelled extensively throughout the world and her knowledge of cultural diversity is helpful to her working in the field of localisation.
HAGEN ISSELL – Marketing Director, New Zealand
Hagen Issell has led the company's energetic marketing team for over 12 years and has been a major contributor to its expanding international success. Highly passionate about his job, Hagen keeps well ahead of the field in his knowledge of the industry and its needs, both locally and internationally. He is particularly knowledgeable about localisation employing the very latest translation tools and is able to satisfy the most complex requirements of our increasingly discerning client base. You will also find him willing to share his knowledge and expertise as part of the friendly personal service AETS is famous for.
Hagen holds a double degree in Marketing and Advertising.
TRISH SAOLELE – Head of Project Management
In the translation business, translators and editors do the actual translation work. But behind the scenes, every translation project needs to be carefully managed through each of its different stages. This entails maintaining smooth workflow keeping client contact, and delivering the work on time and within agreed budgets. Trish manages a team of experienced project managers dedicated to providing the top notch, friendly customer service that the company is famous for.
Trish holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration with majors in Marketing and Commercial Law, along with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Modern Languages. She has worked in the company's Project Management team for nearly nine years.
SAM SAFFERY – Senior Project Manager
Sam is one of AETS's most senior and experienced Project Managers. Apart from his natural passion for languages inherited from his family, Sam brings to his role huge expertise in project scoping, quoting, planning, and coordinating the work of AETS linguistic teams. He particularly enjoys client liaison with the intention of providing exceptional customer service, culminating in the delivery of high quality translation. He is also helped by his excellent communication skills and legal background.
People working in the translation industry often have diverse backgrounds. Sam has lived and worked different occupations in many different countries, including in South America. He holds an LLB law degree and has been admitted to the bar as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court.
DANITH HAM – Localisation Project Manager
Danith has been with AETS for five years and is a key player in the development and implementation of localisation processes. He successfully manages a wide variety of localisation projects requiring high level technical expertise employing a range of translation skills. These include Catalyst, Passolo and other facilities for efficient translation of software graphical user interfaces and strings, XML and HTML and other web markup languages and online help formats.
Danith holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration degree with a major in information systems.
CHRIS PHILLIPS – Information Technology Manager
Chris not only manages AETS's complex day-to-day IT requirements – he also leads the review, design planning and implementation of the company's IT systems with a view to ongoing improvements in all areas of the business. Chris has over 20 years' experience working with computers and information technology.
In recent years the translation industry has become more and more reliant on high quality information technology. While the "human factor" remains the key component, new technologies vastly improve the speed, efficiency and accuracy of translation work. Chris evaluates the latest translation and localisation tools to ensure AETS is using the most advanced language technology in all areas.
PASCAL GUIGOU – Head of French Department
Pascal is head of another one of the most important areas of AETS's translation business. The company offers a comprehensive range of English-French services translating all kinds of documents, including legal, financial, technical, medical, marketing and general business. Localisation has also become an important and growing area of French language translation.
Pascal, who was born in France, holds a Masters Degree in History and Australian translation qualification (NAATI).
BILJANA VIGNJEVIC – Head of German Department
German Language Translation is the one of the largest and fastest growing areas of AETS's international translation business. Head of Department Biljana Vignjevic was born in Yugoslavia but brought up and educated in Germany, where she gained degrees in English and German Literature and Linguistics. She emigrated over 10 years ago and has been a full-time translator with the company ever since. Biljana demands the highest standards of work from both herself and her experienced translation team. AETS's rapid expansion in German Language translation is proof of the company’s expertise and reputation in this field.
MICHAEL ASHDOWN – German-Language Editor
Michael has been with AETS nearly 10 years. He has an important role in the company's "quality assurance" programme. Translations from English into German are always done by native German speakers whose second language is English, then edited by editors whose native language is English, but whose second language is German. Michael is not German, but he spent 13 years working in Germany as a German-English translator and as an editor for specialist technical publications.
Michael has a BSc (hons) degree in Botany and did post-graduate studies in landscape planning and design.
ZHIMIN YU – Head of Chinese Department
Not surprisingly, Chinese Language translation is a substantial part of AETS’s business. Zhimin manages a huge variety of services, including translation from English into both simplified and traditional Chinese of technical, financial, legal and marketing documents; and of course, localisation. These can be delivered in a wide range of fonts and file formats including Microsoft Word, Freehand, E.P.S. and other graphic formats. As with all AETS's translation activities, Zhimin applies the strictest quality control procedures. Because the company is very experienced in Chinese Language translation and employs the latest available translation tools, Zhimin's department is able to match the best of our competitors on both quality and price.
Zhimin is a native of Beijing. He has a degree in Education and before becoming a translator he worked in manufacturing and tourism.
Dr. JOHN JAMIESON – Senior Translator and Editor
How do you begin to describe a man who can translate 27 different languages, always to the highest of standards? John is much admired at home and abroad as a ‘translator extraordinaire’. He translates many of the company’s most challenging projects, where his extensive knowledge and long experience are invaluable assets.
John holds a PhD in French Literature. He regularly attends and contributes to industry conferences, locally and overseas.
NATASHA SIMEONIDIS – Art Director
Natasha is the head of AETS's Art Department, responsible for all design and layout work. Most translation companies don't offer such extensive services in this area. Natasha explains in her own words – "As well as working within a variety of formats of print/digital material, within the same day we can be typesetting Chinese, Arabic, Thai and French! This keeps my work varied and very interesting, as every language is unique and dictates its own rules.”
Natasha's department uses a wide range of the latest available technological resources, which AETS keeps continually updating. The PC and Mac platforms use the latest DTP software, combined with Translation Memory software.
Natasha has a Bachelor of Design and majored in Visual Communications. She had accumulated wide experience as a freelance and in-house designer before she came to AETS.
KEN MURAMATSU – Technical Artist – Japanese Translator
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Ken travelled to New Zealand to do a degree in International Relations, having already completed a degree in International Studies in Japan. His passion for literature drove him into a career in translation, where he has been for nearly ten years.
Ken's other passion is graphic design, with a strong focus on the technical side. He has also become a very important member of the Art Department, where much of the work is of a highly technical nature.
WALTER NG – Finance Manager
Behind the scenes in every successful business is a dedicated, experienced financial and administration manager. Walter Ng has been with AETS for over 15 years and has played an important role in its success. Language translation is a complex kind of business to be in. Dealing every day with both clients and contractors from all over the world requires a high degree of expertise and commitment and this is what Walter provides. He is also a key member of the company's business development team and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration degree.