ALCA Annual Conference 2025 Speakers

Ady Namaran Coulibaly

Founding Board Member of ALCA | Language Industry Advocate

Ady Namaran Coulibaly is a Founding Board Member of ALCA who is inspired and driven by the desire to see the language service industry in Africa thrive and become recognised within the global language sector. She leads the operations of Bolingo Consult, a language services company currently based in Ghana and Rwanda.

Ady considers herself an advocate for African languages and is the co-founder of the African Languages Conference (AFLC). She has been featured in the Nimdzi 2021 Localization Influencers Watchlist and was featured in Multilingual’s list of 52 Women Driving the Language Services Industry in 2022.

Ami Dovene Christelle ZAMI

Theme: Strengthening Africa’s Linguistic Workforce: Development and Collaboration for Sustainable Careers

• Identification of challenges and opportunities in workforce development for African linguists
• Recommendations for enhancing the sector: specialization, certification, digital tools, collaboration, advocacy, and sustainable career strategies
• Next steps for linguists to build a strong, competitive, and globally recognized workforce

Brenda Baquerizo

Certified Translator & Interpreter | Language Specialist and Project Manager

Peruvian Certified Translator & Interpreter CTP No. 0750
Services: Translation | Interpretation | Transcription | Editing
Languages: English | French | Italian | Spanish
Email: brendabaquerizo@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +51 996000246 / EU Phone: +34 643104891
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brenda-baquerizo/

Brenda Baquerizo Lopez is a certified translator and experienced project manager with over a decade in the translation and localization industry. A graduate of Universidad Femenina del Sagrado Corazón and member of the Peruvian Translators Association, Brenda began her career as a translator and quickly rose to manage large-scale multilingual projects for global companies.

As Lead Project Manager at LUNA360 (now GLOBO Language Solutions), she led cross-functional teams, optimized workflows, and ensured timely delivery of high-quality content, while mentoring junior PMs, assisting in-house translators, and supporting clients across sectors.

Her linguistic expertise spans English, Spanish, Italian, and French, and she has taught language acquisition for six years at the Peruvian North American Cultural Institute. Brenda also holds a diploma in language education and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Project Management specializing in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning at EAE Business School in Barcelona.

Known for her collaborative spirit, humor, and commitment to excellence, she thrives at the intersection of language and operations, bringing together people, processes, and purpose to deliver meaningful results.

Mentorship for Next-Gen Language Professionals in an AI-Driven Localization Future

• How AI and automation are reshaping localization workflows and the role of human expertise
• Essential skills for emerging linguists: post-editing, QC, and tech fluency in AI-enhanced settings
• Mentorship and training strategies for sustainable career growth in remote workspaces
• Adopting Agile practices to improve collaboration and consistency in global teams
• Inclusive mentorship approaches to empower emerging professionals and African linguists

Charles Campbell

Founder & President, tbo

Charles Campbell is the founder, president and sole owner of tbo, a leading provider of talent, translation and localization services with offices in Argentina, Peru, Ukraine, Vietnam and Mexico.

Originally from New Zealand, Charles has traveled widely over 4 continents and has lived for the last 26 years in South America.

Charles has been a frequent speaker at public events and conferences, having made presentations in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Las Vegas, Lima, London, New York, Rhode Island, Rio de Janeiro, Riyadh, San Antonio, San Francisco, Wiesbaden, Zanzibar, and Córdoba (Argentina), among other locations.

He is a founding board member of JUNTOS and a board member of AASL.

Charles Campbell holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, where he graduated top of his class in 1997. He has also completed postgraduate courses at Harvard University and Universidad Austral (Buenos Aires).

Charles has four children.

Specialties: Talent Services, Localization, Translation, Multilingual Communication, Emerging Markets.

Christian Elongué

Managing Director, Kabod Localisation Services (KLS)

Christian Elongué is the managing director of Kabod Localisation Services (KLS), an ISO-certified Language services provider based in Accra (Ghana). He has 11 years of experience as a translator in the tech, nonprofit and video game industries. He founded the network of African Languages Translators and Teachers (ALATT) and the Marketplace of African Translators & Interpreters (MATI), both about 4,030 translators, interpreters, linguists from Africa. He is also a board member of the Association of Language Companies in Africa (ALCA) and the host of a podcast spotlighting localization and language technology initiatives in Africa.

In Feb. 2024, he was the only one from Africa in MultiLingual’s list of 34 Influencers driving the language service industry. In Sept 2024, he launched Afrolinguals, the first magazine with insights and resources for Africa’s language services industry. In Dec 2024, he also launched the first conference on the business of languages in Africa (Next Billion Conference – 2nd ed in Nov 2025). He is actively working towards increasing awareness of the economic potential of the language services industry in Africa so that it could grow in visibility and attract investments like other sectors (edtech, fintech, agritech, etc.). He is a member of ALCA, ITI, CIOL, ILA, ATSA etc.

Title: Accelerating Growth through Strategic Collaboration in Africa’s Language Service Industry

• Structuring successful partnership models, from revenue-sharing agreements to joint ventures
• Leveraging digital networks, communities, and platforms to establish international credibility
• Navigating cross-border challenges: payment systems, quality standards, and compliance
• Case studies of African LSPs expanding globally via strategic partnerships

Emmanuel Clifford Gyetuah

Growth Manager at Bolingo Consult

Emmanuel has 10+ years of experience spanning non-profits, business development, and finance. Emmanuel is the Growth Manager at Bolingo Consult and leads growth strategies, manages finances, and drives client acquisition and retention. He holds an MSc in Accounting and Finance from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.

Title: The Impact of Language Policies on the West African Language Services Market

• The state of language policies in selected West African countries
• Language service companies can shape language policies through funding for language-related projects
• Language policies significantly impact the language services market, balancing colonial and indigenous languages in translation, localization, and language training

Johan Botha

African Language Solutions Expert | Co-founder of ALCA | 2025 Language Industry Influencer

With over 20 years of experience in the language services industry, Johan Botha is an experienced manager, translator, and specialist in African language solutions. He leads operations and strategic initiatives at Folio Online and Folio InterTel, two of Africa’s leading reputable language service providers delivering high-quality solutions to major global brands and organisations.

As Co-founder of the Association of Language Companies in Africa (ALCA), Johan established the continent’s first umbrella organisation for localisation providers, focused on uniting and strengthening African language service companies. Recognised as a 2025 Language Industry Influencer by MultiLingual magazine, he contributes actively to the global and African localisation communities as a member, speaker, and organiser of industry associations and initiatives.

Johan is passionate about applying technology to improve quality, efficiency, and scalability in language services while advocating for ethical leadership and elevating African voices in the global localisation field.

“Nick in Your Language”: Transforming Children’s TV in South Africa

This case study examines the successful launch of Paramount Pictures’ “Nick in Your Language” initiative on the Nick Toons Channel via DStv in 2024 and how strategic localization can dramatically increase audience engagement in the children’s media market.

Through a detailed analysis of the project rollout, audience metrics, and cultural adaptation strategies, this presentation demonstrates why providing content in children’s native languages is not merely a nice-to-have, but a critical success factor for market penetration in Africa’s multilingual landscape.

The case study explores how this initiative overcame traditional broadcasting barriers by prioritizing linguistic accessibility and the exponential increase in viewership and engagement across key demographics.

Main discussion points include:

• The unique challenges of translating animated content for diverse age groups
• Technical and creative solutions for maintaining character authenticity while adapting cultural references
• The collaborative workflow between Paramount Pictures, local language experts, and broadcast partners

The presentation will also address broader implications for the translation industry, including:

• Emerging opportunities in children’s content localization
• Quality control methodologies specific to children’s programming
• Financial and operational models that support sustainable multilingual content initiatives

Luke Liebzie

Manager of the Transbureau, University of Ghana

Luke Liebzie is currently the Manager of the Transbureau of the University of Ghana where he also teaches Translation courses at Undergraduate and Graduate levels. Professionally, he has been working on projects for companies and individuals, including the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Luke is the first member of the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI) from Ghana and is the Head of the Association’s Ghana Chapter. Also, he serves on the Editorial Team of the Contemporary Journal of African Studies (CJAS) as Translator/Editor as well as the Editorial Board of the Afrolinguals Magazine and served as Guest Editor for the Special Edition of the Journal for Translation Studies in Africa (JTSA) published in 2023 by the University of the Free State.

Luke has spoken at various events, including the 7th International Conference of the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI) held in Bursa, Türkiye, 28-29 September 2024. Also, he delivered a special lecture on Ethics for Translators at the Bursa Technical University (Türkiye) on 01 October 2024, and, on 7 May 2025, he was a Speaker on the Ethics Panel at ELEVATE organized by RWS.

Helga Walker

Global Language Services Leader | Women in Localization Advocate

Helga Walker is a global leader in the language services industry, dedicated to fostering collaboration and driving innovation in localization. As a committed representative of Women in Localization, she plays a pivotal role in expanding the organization’s global footprint by leading the initiative to establish African chapters—starting with South Africa in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. Her vision is to create a strong, inclusive platform that supports the professional growth of women in the language industry across the African continent.

Through Women in Localization, Helga champions programs that empower localization professionals, build cross-cultural bridges, and promote equitable access to global opportunities. Her work is driven by a belief in the transformative power of community, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing.

With extensive experience in enterprise translation solutions, Helga specializes in helping organizations navigate the complexities of global market entry. She has led strategic initiatives across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, focusing on forming impactful alliances that drive sustainable growth. Her expertise lies in building strategic partnerships, leveraging networks, and integrating technology with human expertise to elevate the role of language in international business.

Title: Building Bridges: The Power of Strategic Partnerships in Global Market Expansion

• The Role of Africa in the Global Language Industry
• The Power of Partnerships in Market Entry
• Best Practices for Building Global Alliances

Paola Diaz Uribe

Paola Diaz Uribe works at the intersection of artificial intelligence and language services, currently serving as a Language Annotator Specialist at Amazon where she contributes to AI language model development. Her work focuses on bridging traditional translation expertise with emerging technologies.

Drawing from her experience as a SATI-registered translator and certified language instructor, she has provided translation and interpretation services across technical and scientific domains. Her global perspective was shaped by seven years with Médecins Sans Frontières, managing multilingual projects across Africa and the Middle East.

With a Master’s in Public Health from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp and specialized training in AI/ML, Paola brings practical insights into the evolving relationship between human expertise and artificial intelligence in translation. Her current work explores how technology can enhance rather than replace human capabilities in language services.

She continues to advocate for balanced integration of AI tools while maintaining the irreplaceable human element in cross-cultural communication.

Topic: AI & Human Translation: A Hate and Love Relationship

• The Symbiotic Relationship: How AI relies on human expertise for improvement while offering efficiency tools for translators – real examples from current AI model development
• Quality Control Challenges: Understanding how human input shapes AI translation quality – common pitfalls and solutions in maintaining linguistic accuracy
• Ethical Boundaries: Establishing clear guidelines for AI usage while preserving authenticity and human creativity
• Professional Responsibility: Developing personal guidelines and standards to prevent misuse and over-reliance
• Future Integration: Balancing AI capabilities with human cultural and contextual understanding

Salomé van Niekerk

Quality Manager and Lead Afrikaans Linguist at RWS Africa

Salomé van Niekerk is Quality Manager and Lead Afrikaans Linguist at RWS Africa, RWS’s youngest language office, based in Cape Town, although she herself lives and works remotely in Pretoria. She progressed from a freelance translator and text editor to working for the former ST Communications and getting the opportunity to become part of the RWS family. She loves both doing Afrikaans linguistic work and managing projects for other languages. Her fields of interest include source optimisation, training and supporting translators in low-resource African languages, terminology development for these languages, and of course translation review.

Salomé is accredited for English-Afrikaans translation by the South African Translators’ Institute and was recently appointed to the SATI Council. She is also an accredited text editor with the Professional Editors’ Guild. In her free time, she mainly reads, walks every day and spends time with her young daughters. She also loves learning about any new tools that can make quality checks on translations even more refined and efficient, and keeping abreast of developments in the industry.

Working session title: Why pro reviewers will lead the translation industry

• Where does review fit into the translation lifecycle?
• Why is it important to become a skillful reviewer?
• My journey to mastering translation review
• How to become a great reviewer

Renato Beninatto

Author | Consultant | Language Services Strategist

The author of The General Theory of the Translation Company, Renato Beninatto is recognized as the most experienced and accomplished expert in the translation, localization, interpretation, and language services industry. Renato has served on the executive teams for some of the industry’s most prominent companies and founded two of the leading market research and consulting firms in the space.

He brings extensive experience in sales, marketing, automation, and operations to his consulting work—offering clarity on buyer behavior, pricing, industry trends, technology, growth strategies, and mergers and acquisitions.

Renato has held leadership roles as President of ELIA (European Language Industry Association), Ambassador for Translators without Borders, and Vice-President of ABRATES, the Brazilian Translators Association. He has also served as an advisor to TAUS – Translation Automation User Society.

He is a sought-after speaker on globalization and localization at global conferences and universities and has been widely quoted on global business topics. A native Brazilian living in Seattle, Renato speaks five languages and has lived in seven countries.

He is the author of three books on global business and the founder of Nimdzi, a research and consulting company providing insights to investors, buyers, and suppliers in the language services industry.