19
Feb 2026
Together 2026
19-20 February
Porto, Portugal

About Together 2026

We’re excited to invite you to ELIA Together 2026, on February 19-20 in the lively city of Porto. Join us for the 10th edition of this prestigious event, where industry experts, language service companies, and freelancers will gather to explore the future of language services.

PROGRAMME

Join us at Together 2026 as we explore how meaningful collaboration between freelance linguists and language service providers (LSPs) shapes the future of our industry. Тhis year’s theme highlights The Power of Co-CreationCollaboration on Focus where combined expertise, clear communication, and mutual respect lead to shared long-term success.

Expect insightful presentations, interactive workshops, and opportunities for engaging conversations that inspire forward-thinking solutions and support the industry’s human touch. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, collaborate, and shape the future of our industry, together!

The programme will be built around two main tracks:

  • 19 Feb
  • 20 Feb
  • Track A – It Takes Two to Tango
  • Track B – Mastering the Moves Together
08:30 – 09:00  
Open Registration

09:00 – 09:15  
Event Opening

09:15 – 09:30  
Networking Session / Ice Breaker

09:30 – 10:50  
Keynote Session

Sophie Solomon photo
Sophie Solomon
Executive Advisor | Strategy & Change | AQ Leadership
10:50 – 11:20  
Coffee Break

11:20 – 12:05  
Partners in Evolution: Co-Creating Future Workflows between LSPs and Freelancers

How can language service providers and freelance linguists thrive Show more...together in a rapidly changing industry? This session explores practical strategies to strengthen LSP–freelancer collaboration under today’s workflows and tomorrow’s challenges. SMARTIDIOM’s Operations Director, Tiago Cruz, will share how human-centered communication, smart use of technology, and sustainable partnership practices can turn freelancers into true partners. Backed by real case studies and 15+ years of industry insight, the talk offers an inspiring blueprint for co-creating success – from building trust and efficiency now to innovating collaboration frameworks for the future.

Tiago Cruz photo
Tiago Cruz
SMARTIDIOM
Production Director
12:10 – 12:55  
The Neuroscience of Strategic Networking: A Science-based Framework to Connect with Purpose and Grow your Business

Oleg Semerikov is the founder of Translators Family and 7R Marketing, Show more...with over a decade of experience building international business relationships. He has created a practical framework for networking that blends science, psychology, and real-world practice. As an introvert who has built most of his clients through referrals and word of mouth, Oleg speaks with authenticity about turning conversations into long-term partnerships. He now shares insights from the marketing industry, which he has recently entered, with language professionals on how to boost confidence, build trust, and make networking easier, more authentic, and more memorable.

Oleg Semerikov photo
Oleg Semerikov
Translators Family, 7R Marketing
CEO
12:55 – 14:25  
Lunch

14:25 – 15:10  
Two Steps, One Rhythm: Mastering the Vendor–LSP Dance

With the rapid increase in vendor supply through tech advancements, Show more...specialisation is key to standing out and becoming a desirable partner for both vendors and LSPs.

Whether it’s mastering rare skills or developing strong review capabilities, the goal is to be the one “on the dance floor” — ready to be asked to dance or confidently asking a partner to join.

Drawing from past experiences with technological changes, this talk explores how vendors and LSPs can work together effectively for shared success.

Dana Brown photo
Dana Brown
Chestnut
Senior Director of Quality and Vendor Management
Gavin Brown photo
Gavin Brown
Chestnut
Digital Transformation Director
15:15 – 16:00  
From Enemies to Dance Partners - Why Perspective Matters in Localisation Collaboration

Nertila Konda is a localisation expert with 16 years of experience Show more...across freelance and LSP roles. Having worked both as a freelancer and as a Project Manager in an LSP (with most clients being international translation agencies) she has seen firsthand the challenges and opportunities in freelancer-LSP collaboration. Today, she runs her own freelance business while supporting other professionals through her mentoring work with Women in Localization. Giving back is something she is strongly committed to and approaches intentionally, and, drawing on her dual perspective, she focuses on bridging divides, fostering trust, and sharing practical strategies to improve PM-freelancer relationships.

Nertila Konda photo
Nertila Konda
Localisation Expert
16:00 – 16:30  
Coffee Break

16:30 – 17:15  
Find your People

Technology is changing the work we do and the way we do it more Show more...dramatically and quickly than ever before. As we navigate these turbulent times, strong professional relationships and genuine human connection are absolutely essential. This presentation will explore relationships between freelancers in professional communities and associations as well as between freelancers and LSPs. How do you find your people? And what benefits can you unlock for your business, your well-being and your job satisfaction? No matter how much technology is involved in our work and lives, at the end of the day it’s all about the people.

Fiona Gray photo
Fiona Gray
Creative Translator & Copywriter at Fiona Gray Creative Ltd
Chair at ITI
20:00 – 00:00  
Networking Dinner at Casa da Música Restaurant

08:30 – 09:00  
Open Registration

09:00 – 09:15  
Event Opening

09:15 – 09:30  
Networking Session / Ice Breaker

09:30 – 10:50  
Keynote Session

Sophie Solomon photo
Sophie Solomon
Executive Advisor | Strategy & Change | AQ Leadership
10:50 – 11:20  
Coffee Break

11:20 – 12:05  
Stronger Together: How Freelancers Work, Grow, and Thrive in Partnership

Collaboration in our industry is often framed around the relationship Show more...between freelancers and LSPs. But what about collaboration between freelancers themselves? Presented by four experienced linguists specialising in the medical, marketing, and technical/scientific fields, this session will show how working together has strengthened our businesses, improved client outcomes, and eased the challenges of freelancing. From teaming up on projects and solving tricky terminology to sharing business and marketing ideas, attending events, and supporting each other, you’ll explore the practical and informal sides of collaboration – fostering stronger results, happier clients, and, above all, professional growth and personal resilience.

Ana Catarina Lopes photo
Ana Catarina Lopes
Translator, Transcreator & Cultural Consultant
Ana Sofia Correia photo
Ana Sofia Correia
Medical Translator & Writer
Mariana Teixeira photo
Mariana Teixeira
Portuguese Medical Translator & Linguistic Validation Consultant
Patrícia Paes de Sousa photo
Patrícia Paes de Sousa
Scientific, Technical Translator & Writer
12:10 – 12:55  
The People Behind the Voices: How Recognition Turns LSPs and Interpreters into Partners

Interpreters meet in virtual booths while software companies build the platforms. Show more... But these connections can go into professional networks, and genuine collaboration. This presentation explores how interpreters and LSPs can move beyond transactions into trust. Using the Interpreter (Lead) Badge recognition program & Intro to AI TOOL webinars as a case study, we’ll look at how visibility and appreciation transformed freelance interpreters into brand ambassadors and processes & innovation co-creators. Along the way, we’ll reflect on the lessons learned from inviting interpreters into company conversations about tools, clients, and innovation. Because when cooperation works, it builds bridges across an entire industry.

Aleksandra Smoczyńska photo
Aleksandra Smoczyńska
Interpreting Services Manager & PhD candidate
12:55 – 14:25  
Lunch

14:25 – 15:10  
Cultivate your Creativity

Being able to adapt to rapid industry changes and recognize the Show more...right opportunities calls for a huge amount of creativity. This session will explore how to nurture a creative mindset and how to grow the seeds of ideas into practical applications for business. It will also provide tips that participants can take with them for not only a more successful business but also a more fulfilling life.

Anikó Pető-Mordovski photo
Anikó Pető-Mordovski
Paprika Translations
Freelance Hungarian Translator
15:15 – 16:00  
Collaborative Change in Language Services: Building Resilience

In the fast-changing language services industry, evolving requires Show more...collaboration, clear communication, and mutual respect. This talk focuses on collaborative change management, where inclusive dialogue and co-creation are key to long-term success. Through a series of workshops — first internal, later broadened with external input — expect to explore how open communication fosters resilience, improves workflows, and safeguards well-being during technological and organisational change. Participant feedback, coupled with ongoing academic research on translators’ well-being in the AI era, provides a rich backdrop for reflection. This is the story of a change management journey still in progress. Are you ready?

Chloe Barton photo
Chloe Barton
Version internationale
PM Team Lead
Anna Fayolle photo
Anna Fayolle
Version Internationale
Translator/Editor - Translation Team Lead
16:00 – 16:30  
Coffee Break

16:30 – 17:15  
Cognitive Sedentarism: The Hidden Risk of AI

AI was supposed to free us from tedious tasks so we could focus on the meaningful ones. Show more... Yet, the more we use it, the easier it becomes to stop thinking at all. This talk introduces “cognitive sedentarism”—the mental inertness caused by an excessive cognitive offloading and over-reliance on AI, which erodes creativity, empathy, and critical judgment. In the translation industry, where speed and efficiency are of the essence, this risk is real. Rather than preaching fear, the session offers practical strategies to stay mentally active, safeguard our human advantage, and ensure that AI empowers rather than weakens us.

Andrea Chetti photo
Andrea Chetti
Baquero Translations
Project Manager Coordinator
20:00 – 00:00  
Networking Dinner at Casa da Música Restaurant

  • Track A – It Takes Two to Tango
  • Track B – Mastering the Moves Together
09:30 – 11:45  
Job Fair

09:35 – 10:35  
A Healthy Dose of AI: Smart, Balanced Ways to Boost Your Localisation Workflows

Workshop
AI is flooding into localisation from every direction, Show more...bringing big promises, constant pressure, and plenty of pilot projects. But shiny tools don’t always lead to better results.

In the chaos of AI experimentation, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters: client expectations and end-user experience. This workshop offers a practical, consultant-style approach to adding AI into your localization workflows, without losing human touch. We’ll explore where AI adds value: from pre-translation and glossary creation to QA, market research, file prep, and image localisation.

You’ll get a guided tour of useful tools and learn how Agentic AI can support smarter pre-translation and QA processes. You will also walk away with a simple framework for choosing the right AI tools: applicable both for teams and freelancers. Expect handy tips, actionable strategies, and real-world examples.

Participants are encouraged to bring their free/trial/pro licenses to:
ChatGPT (pro – to use CustomGPTs)
Genspark
Crowdin
Gemini

Dorota Pawlak photo
Dorota Pawlak
Localize Like A Pro
Localisation Consultant
10:45 – 11:45  
From Service Provider to Trusted Partner: How to Communicate your Value

Workshop
This practical session is for language service providers Show more...—freelancers and agencies alike— who want to strengthen how they communicate with clients and position their services. You’ll cover how to communicate clearly and professionally, how to present yourself as a specialist and trusted partner rather than a commodity or AI replacement, and how to use key visibility channels —such as your website, LinkedIn, newsletters, and industry events— to attract the right clients. The focus is on realistic, actionable strategies without aggressive sales tactics. You’ll leave with approaches you can put into practice right away.

Ana Sofia Correia photo
Ana Sofia Correia
Medical Translator & Writer
11:45 – 12:15  
Coffee Break

12:15 – 13:00  
Mastering Social Media Moves

Social media can feel like a fast-paced dance: trends change, Show more...AI tools emerge, and it’s easy to misstep. This session will help freelancers and LSPs navigate digital marketing with confidence, avoiding hype and AI fatigue while maximizing engagement and visibility. Luísa is a freelance social media manager with a background in project management for translation agencies. She helps LSPs align their “dance steps” through strategic communication and digital presence, improving collaboration, visibility, and client engagement.

Luísa Jacinto photo
Luísa Jacinto
Agência Amigus
Social Media Manager
13:00 – 14:15  
Lunch

14:15 – 15:00  
Thriving Together: Navigating Change Through Communities and Knowledge Sharing

Both as language services companies and freelancers, we are facing Show more...radical shifts in the industry. We need to rethink our service offer, our value propositions and how we communicate with our customers. We may feel we’re competing against technology, other providers and, oftentimes, our own fear of not keeping up. Throughout Mafalda's presentation, we’ll discuss how communities and networks may provide an answer through the value of peer support, visibility and knowledge sharing. We’ll look into success stories and practical ideas to getting involved and leveraging the power of professional communities.

Mafalda Cortes Pereira photo
Mafalda Cortes Pereira
MULTIvertentes
Founder and CEO
15:00 – 15:30  
Coffee Break

15:30 – 16:30  
Panel Discussion

16:30 – 17:00  
Closing Remarks

09:30 – 11:45  
Job Fair

09:35 – 10:35  
A Healthy Dose of AI: Smart, Balanced Ways to Boost Your Localisation Workflows

Workshop
AI is flooding into localisation from every direction, Show more...bringing big promises, constant pressure, and plenty of pilot projects. But shiny tools don’t always lead to better results.

In the chaos of AI experimentation, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters: client expectations and end-user experience. This workshop offers a practical, consultant-style approach to adding AI into your localization workflows, without losing human touch. We’ll explore where AI adds value: from pre-translation and glossary creation to QA, market research, file prep, and image localisation.

You’ll get a guided tour of useful tools and learn how Agentic AI can support smarter pre-translation and QA processes. You will also walk away with a simple framework for choosing the right AI tools: applicable both for teams and freelancers. Expect handy tips, actionable strategies, and real-world
examples.

Participants are encouraged to bring their free/trial/pro licenses to:
ChatGPT (pro – to use CustomGPTs)
Genspark
Crowdin
Gemini

Dorota Pawlak photo
Dorota Pawlak
Localize Like A Pro
Localisation Consultant
10:45 – 11:45  
From Service Provider to Trusted Partner: How to Communicate your Value

Workshop
This practical session is for language service providers Show more...—freelancers and agencies alike— who want to strengthen how they communicate with clients and position their services. You’ll cover how to communicate clearly and professionally, how to present yourself as a specialist and trusted partner rather than a commodity or AI replacement, and how to use key visibility channels —such as your website, LinkedIn, newsletters, and industry events— to attract the right clients. The focus is on realistic, actionable strategies without aggressive sales tactics. You’ll leave with approaches you can put into practice right away.

Ana Sofia Correia photo
Ana Sofia Correia
Medical Translator & Writer
11:45 – 12:15  
Coffee Break

12:15 – 13:00  
Tee Up Your Interpreter: How LSPs Can Earn Their Cut by Having Their Freelancer’s Back

Freelance interpreters often see LSPs as just a middleman taking a cut. Show more... This talk challenges LSPs to redefine their value by providing truly insightful assignment briefings—beyond basic logistics to "why, what's at stake, and the specific environment." By proactively gathering crucial details, project managers can "tee up" interpreters for success, transforming the LSP from a basic broker into a trusted collaborator. This meticulous preparation ensures interpreters arrive confident, prepared, and able to deliver their best, making the LSP's cut feel earned. Attendees will learn how this comprehensive approach builds loyalty, elevates service quality, and fosters genuine shared success.

Philip Thinggaard photo
Philip Thinggaard
Ordforsyningen
Interpreter
13:00 – 14:15  
Lunch

14:15 – 15:00  
Stronger Together: Collaborative Innovation in Translation Service

In a sector where no one can be an expert in all languages, industries Show more...and technologies, the competitive advantage lies not in knowing everything, but in building collaborative frameworks that combine expertise, capability and technology (including AI).

Practical tools for deciding whether to establish a collaboration: what common problem do we want to solve, what is the competitive advantage, what is the decision-making mechanism, who makes the decisions and how is performance measured.

Nuria Castro photo
Nuria Castro
Globalingua
CEO
Susana Peixoto photo
Susana Peixoto
expressão
Business Development Manager and Country Head
15:00 – 15:30  
Coffee Break

15:30 – 16:30  
Panel Discussion

16:30 – 17:00  
Closing Remarks

Together Job Fair

This year, the Together Job Fair is free for all attendees — creating more opportunities for translators and LSPs to connect, exchange ideas, and build lasting collaborations in a structured setting. Both translators and LSPs will also be able to use the event app to arrange 1:1 meetings directly.

If you are an LSP and wish to host a table at the Together Job Fair, please submit your interest on the registration form. Participation is free of charge; however, spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

SPEAKERS

Sophie Solomon - Keynote
Executive Advisor | Strategy & Change | AQ Leadership
Sophie Solomon - Keynote
Chloe Barton
Version internationale
PM Team Lead
Chloe Barton
Dana Brown
Chestnut
Senior Director of Quality and Vendor Management
Dana Brown
Gavin Brown
Chestnut
Digital Transformation Director
Gavin Brown
Andrea Chetti
Baquero Translations
Project Manager Coordinator
Andrea Chetti
Ana Sofia Correia
Medical Translator & Writer
Ana Sofia Correia
Mafalda Cortes Pereira
MULTIvertentes
Founder and CEO
Mafalda Cortes Pereira
Tiago Cruz
SMARTIDIOM
Production Director
Tiago Cruz
Nuria Castro
Globalingua
CEO
Nuria Castro
Anna Fayolle
Version Internationale
Translator/Editor - Translation Team Lead
Anna Fayolle
Fiona Gray
Creative Translator & Copywriter at Fiona Gray Creative Ltd
Chair at ITI
Fiona Gray
Luísa Jacinto
Agência Amigus
Social Media Manager
Luísa Jacinto
Nertila Konda
Localization Expert
Nertila Konda
Dorota Pawlak
Localize Like A Pro
Localization Consultant
Dorota Pawlak
Susana Peixoto
expressão
Business Development Manager and Country Head
Susana Peixoto
Anikó Pető-Mordovski
Paprika Translations
Freelance Hungarian Translator
Anikó Pető-Mordovski
Ana Catarina Lopes
Translator, Transcreator & Cultural Consultant
Ana Catarina Lopes
Patrícia Paes de Sousa
Scientific, Technical Translator & Writer
Patrícia Paes de Sousa
Oleg Semerikov
Translators Family, 7R Marketing
CEO
Oleg Semerikov
Aleksandra Smoczyńska
Head of Interpretation Service & PhD candidate
Aleksandra Smoczyńska
Mariana Teixeira
Portuguese Medical Translator & Linguistic Validation Consultant
Mariana Teixeira
Philip Thinggaard
Ordforsyningen
Interpreter
Philip Thinggaard

Who should attend?

Anyone committed to developing their business relationships should attend, so if you are a translator, interpreter, post-editor, proofreader, vendor, quality or project manager, this event will be for you!

Benefits of the programme

For you

  • Learn new skills and best practice in a hands-on setting
  • Expand and enhance your business relationships
  • Share experiences and catch up with your peers
  • Get a new perspective on the future of the industry

For your business

  • Develop a stronger and more profitable network
  • Maximise productivity with new tools and approaches
  • Prepare for the challenges and opportunities on the horizon
  • Contribute towards a stronger industry

REGISTER

Cancellation Policy

All requests for cancellation and refunds must be received in writing; this also applies to registration substitutions. Please contact us via email. To view the full cancellation policy and for more information about ELIA’s Event Terms & Conditions, please click here.

Venue

Crowne Plaza Porto Hotel offers special rates for ELIA’s attendees. We recommend that you book your room as early as possible by 15/01/2026 to secure availability.

To book your room, please use the following booking link.

Bookings can be cancelled up until two (2) weeks prior to arrival without charge. After that period the rate would be non-refundable.

€135 – Single Room / €150 – Double Room

All rates include wifi use, access to the gym, VAT tax and breakfast,
excluding city tax €3 per person, per night.

Crowne Plaza
Avenida da Boavista, 1466 Porto, 4100-114 Portugal
Tel: 00800 161 2203 0036 opocp.reservations@ihg.com Visit Website

Social Events

Don’t miss our networking events at Together 2026, where you can mix & mingle with fellow attendees, in inimitable ELIA style.

Copyright Casa da Música

Networking Dinner

Thursday, 19 February / 20:00-24:00

Casa da Música Restaurant

The cost for the dinner is €45 per person and you can sign up during registration.

COMMITTEE

Aleksandrina Karabasheva
Arte.Doc
Event Chair
Aleksandrina Karabasheva
Diego Cresceri
Creative Words
Programme Committee
Diego Cresceri
Indrė Lelevičienė
Freelancer
Programme Committee
Indrė Lelevičienė
Carlos la Orden Tovar
InsideLoc
Programme Committee
Carlos la Orden Tovar

SPONSORS

Interested in sponsoring Together 2026?
Contact us!

PARTNERS

Looking to Become a Member of ELIA?
For additional information contact us by email