Statutory Congress 2025
The XXIII FIT Statutory Congress took place at the headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland, on 2–3 September 2025. Delegates from member associations representing translators, interpreters and terminologists from all corners of the world gathered to review the past mandate, address the challenges ahead, and reflect on the future of the profession and the Federation.
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The Congress warmly thanked the outgoing Council 2022-2025 for its outstanding work over the past three years, particularly for the creation of two regional centres in Africa and Asia. These centres will continue to strengthen FIT’s global presence and provide direct support to member associations across the regions.
After addressing key governance matters, the Congress placed its trust in a newly elected FIT Council for the 2025–2028 mandate. Through their vote, the members entrusted the new Council with the responsibility of setting a clear mission, vision and objectives for the coming years. The mandate is clear: the Federation must adapt to a rapidly changing environment, respond to the urgent priorities expressed by its members, and reaffirm its role as the global voice of the profession. The following Council will serve until the next Statutory Congress in 2028:
Executive Committee
- Guillaume Deneufbourg – CBTI Belgium, President
- Laurinda Cecilia Van Tonder – SATI South Africa, Secretary General
- María Galán Barrera – ASETRAD Spain, Treasurer
- Roula Salam – ATIA Canada, Vice-president
- Alfred Mtawali – EAITA Kenya, Vice-president
- Xu Rong – TAC China, Vice-president
- Mary Ann Elsa Monteagudo Medina – CTP Peru, EC Member
Council members
- Hasuria Che Omar – MTA Malaysia
- Heidi Cazes – NETA United States
- Isabelle Poff-Pencole – NZSTI New Zealand
- Jørgen Christian Wind Nielsen – DACTI Denmark
- Lorena Susana Roqué – CTPCBA Argentina
- Te Tumatakuru O’Connell – TKWh New Zealand
- Tiina Tuominen – SKTL Finland
- Victor Hugo Sajoza Juric – CTPPC Argentina
- Victoria Lai Cheng Lei – FTIM Macao
- Zsuzsanna Lakatos-Báldy – MFTE Hungary
A diverse team facing major challenges
During his speech, incoming FIT President Guillaume Deneufbourg underlined both the diversity and the responsibility of the new governing body: “This Council is among the most diverse in the history of FIT: from New Zealand to Argentina, from South Africa to Finland, and so many more in between. We truly represent the world.” He also highlighted the urgency of the tasks ahead: “Our mission is enormous. We represent a profession that is essential, yet going through difficult times. Balancing fewer resources with greater needs will be our greatest challenge — but one we are ready to take on, together, as a team, with pride and confidence in what we do and who we are.”
The coming three years will be crucial to ensuring that FIT continues to defend the interests of translators, interpreters and terminologists worldwide, while making their vital contribution to multilingual communication and cultural dialogue visible to all.
The Statutory Congress was followed by the XXIII FIT World Congress, which brought together around 400 participants for three days of inspiring sessions. Prestigious speakers from across the globe shared their expertise and perspectives under the theme “Mastering the machine: shaping an intelligent future”, offering a vibrant programme that reflected the richness and diversity of the profession worldwide.
As the new Council embarks on this exciting and demanding road, FIT looks forward to the active engagement and support of its member associations to ensure the Federation grows stronger and continues to serve as the global voice of our profession.
World Congress 2028
The next FIT Statutory and World Congress will be hosted in Lima, Peru, by the Colegio de Traductores del Perú in 2028.
Photo credits: Mr Anming Gao & Ms Reina de Bettendorf
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