Chartered Institute
of Linguists

Interpreting Division

Forthcoming events are currently being planned and will be publicised here soon.

Role Bio
Mrs Diana SINGUREANU



MCIL CL

Coordinator

Diana Singureanu is a Lecturer in Interpreting Studies at London Metropolitan University and she is also working in the private market as a Conference Interpreter (Romanian A, English B and French C) and as a translator. She holds a Masters in Translation Studies and a second Masters in Conference Interpreting from London Metropolitan University. As a researcher, Diana is interested in the impact of emotional intelligence on interpreters’ performance and its implication for end-users. Diana is a Chartered Linguist for Romanian. She joined the management committee of CIOL's Interpreting Division in the summer of 2014.

Dr Eleni MARKOU



BA MPhil PhD DipTrans FCIL CL

Steering group member

Eleni Markou was born in Greece. She obtained her BA from the University of Athens, and both her MPhil on “The Development and regulation of the Greek pharmaceutical industry” and PhD on “Television broadcasting in single European market” were obtained in the UK.
She has been working as a freelance translator and interpreter for over 30 years whilst also teaching Greek as a foreign language in multiple organisations and institutions. In 2000, she started her own business, which has now collaborated with over 150 different clients in both the private and public sector, ranging from SMEs to multinational corporations.
She has also worked for higher education institutions such as UCL, University of Surrey and University of Birmingham. She is currently the Chief Moderator for the Diploma in Translation of the Chartered Institute
of Linguists and has served three terms as a Member of the Council of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. Additionally, Eleni is cooperating with several other higher education institutions throughout the country as external examiner and linguistic advisor.
Eleni Markou became a Chartered Linguist and Fellow of CIOL in 2020 and holds an ISO 17100:2015. She was co-opted to the ID Steering Group in December 2019.

Ms Sue LESCHEN



Solicitor (non-practising) BA LLB FITI DPSI FCIL CL

Steering group member

Sue Leschen is a lawyer-linguist based in Manchester, UK, and a holder of Chartered Linguist (Interpreter) status. She is Director of Avocate Legal and Business French Interpreting and Translation Services Ltd. She is also an independent trainer of language professionals (legal terminology and professional interest subjects such as confidentiality and negotiating terms and conditions) and a one to one business mentor for just about everything you need to know and do to set up and run a successful freelance business.
Sue is a member of the Professional Conduct Committees of both CIOL and of the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deaf-Blind people. She is also a steering group member of Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) Interpreting Division Committee. She is an ordinary member of the Association of Interpreters and Translators (AIT) and of the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI). Sue supports the need for properly qualified, experienced, security vetted and insured professional interpreters and translators. First and foremost Sue is an "interpreters’ interpreter".

If you are interested in joining the steering group, we should be delighted to hear from you. Simply fill in our Online Eligibility Check form and a member of the steering group will contact you for a no obligation discussion.

What's involved?

The ID Steering group currently holds approximately three meetings, which are all online. 

A typical meeting agenda would include an:

  • planning status of forthcoming CPD events
  • review of InterpNet (our dedicated e-group), the ID Facebook page and other social media platforms
  • discussion or consultation in respect of any matters raised by CIOL membership team

In addition the Steering group might:

  • from time to time survey ID members to ensure that its activities and support continues to meet with members’ professional development needs
  • respond to member queries raised via InterpNet, the ID Facebook page, direct email or forwarded to the committee by the CIOL membership team
  • refer members to appropriate staff in respect of enquiries which would best be dealt with by the CIOL membership team
  • provide guidance as and when required
  • act as a source of specialist advice to support the CIOL membership team, Senior Management Team and Council