Best of 2025

It's that time of year again! Here are my TOP 9, featuring interpreting highlights that made this year truly memorable. I always enjoy doing this review, because with everything else happening in my professional and private life, it gives me the chance to reflect on these standout moments of 2025.

My interpreting year started with a two-day assignment in the beautifully snow-covered town of Wuppertal, at a conference for painters and decorators. In January still, I had the opportunity to interpret the keynote speech by musician and extreme athlete Joey Kelly at a sales conference. In March, it interpreted at a conference about nuts and bolts in the Sauerland – and stayed in a hotel room with a view! I returned to to the clean room during a pharmaceutical audit all dressed up in PPE. I particularly enjoyed the store manager conference held by a clothing company specialising in lingerie, because it was just the right fit: both my booth mate and the participants were highly inspiring and motivating.

After the summer, I waas back at the Ruhrtriennale festival. I particularly remember the consecutive interpreting assignment during the artist talk with choreographer and dancer Mohamed Toukabri after his solo performance ‘Everybody-knows-what-tomorrow-brings-and-we-all-know-what-happened-yesterday’ at PACT Zollverein. Interpreting at the annual youth conference of Kindernothilfe entitled ‘Democracy and the climate crisis – How can young people get involved in the climate crisis?’ was another highlight of mine.

It's no secret that AI is making its mark on the interpreting world, and so I attended the 3-day AI in Translation Summit and took part in a hands-on BDÜ seminar on AI Tools in Cologne.

With this 'best of' list, I am taking a break for the winter. I will be back on 5 January 2026. Thank you to everyone who worked with me in or outside of the (virtual) booth and/or on joint projects.