Erika Gonzalez Garcia

Dr Erika Gonzalez is an Associate Professor in Translating and Interpreting and a Senior Fellow at Advance HE (SFHEA).

Erika brings over two decades of experience teaching translation and interpreting at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Europe and Australia. Before relocating to Australia, she served as Deputy Dean for National and International Work-Integrated Learning at the University of the Basque Country (Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea/Universidad del País Vasco, Spain). Her academic background and teaching career span institutions across the Americas, Europe, and Australasia.

Her research centres on the professionalisation of community translation and interpreting, with a particular focus on the impact of language barriers on non-English-speaking populations. Erika’s work advocates for the promotion of high-quality, professional language services to ensure equitable access to public systems for individuals who cannot communicate in the dominant language(s) of their host societies.

Erika´s academic expertise and knowledge gained as an active interpreter & translator have allowed her to develop strategies to professionalise translation & interpreting services in Australia. Her involvement in academia, government, the Professional Accreditation Authority (NAATI) and Professional Association (AUSIT) have been paramount in achieving this goal.

Industry Experience:
Erika worked as a legal interpreter in Spain with English-speaking migrants and asylum seekers (mainly with the Sub-Saharan population). Currently she is also an active senior conference interpreter who has worked at high-level diplomatic international meetings such as the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting; the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources; the International Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Leaders Forum and Cochlear Australia among many others. Erika also holds Advanced Translator professional credentials.

She served as the Chair of the Professional Development Committee at the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT) (https://ausit.org/) from 2015-2017, was the Vice-President from 2017 to 2019 and National President from 2019 to 2022. AUSIT is the national professional association for the translating & interpreting profession in Australia. Currently the organisation has 2,000 members approximately.

Erika was the recipient of the Paul Sinclair Excellence Award in 2022, in recognition of her leadership and distinguished contribution to community engagement during the Covid-19 pandemic. Erika played a leading role in the development of the AUSIT-FECCA Recommended Protocols for the Translation of Community Communications.(https://ausit.org/general-guidelines/) She has served as an advisor in industry and government  Committees, such as the Department of Health and Aged Care´s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities Health Advisory Group. (https://www.health.gov.au/committees-and-groups/culturally-and-linguistically-diverse-communities-health-advisory-group) and the Home Affairs Language Sustainability Forum.

Awards:
RMIT Research Award for Engagement and Impact -Team (2023)
Premier´s Sustainability Award Finalist. Social and Economic Justice Category (2021)
Design and Social Context College Learning and Teaching Award -Student experience that supports diversity and inclusive practices (2021)
Europe Endeavour Award. Department of Education Science and Training (2006-2007)