Meet our team
Allira Hanczakowski, Translation Project Manager
Allira joined the Translation Service in early 2021, after relocating from Australia. She is currently completing a PhD in Italian Studies (Translation) through La Trobe University, Melbourne. Allira holds a BA (Linguistics & Italian) and Master of Translation Studies (Italian) from The University of Western Australia. Her working languages are Italian and English.
Amy Zeng, Translator
Amy immigrated to New Zealand in 1993 from China, where she graduated with a BA and MA from Tsingua University. She has been working at the Translation Service since 1994. Her working languages are Chinese, Korean and English.
Asma Said-Majeed, Translator
Asma immigrated to New Zealand in 1994 from Iraq, where she graduated with a BA in Translation and Interpreting from Mustansyria University in Baghdad. She also tutors language and cultural training at Victoria University of Wellington. Her working languages are Arabic and English.
Bill Ashwell, Translator
Bill first joined the Translation Service in 1978. After leaving to take up a three-year contract as a technical Japanese translator with Fujitsu Australia, he resumed work with the Translation Service in 1988. He holds a BSc and MA (Japanese) as well as NAATI III accreditation for Japanese and Spanish. His working languages are English, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese and Scandinavian languages.
Jing Chen, Translator
Jing immigrated to New Zealand in 2001 from China, where she graduated with a BA from Shanghai Normal University. She also completed a PGDipEd from Victoria University of Wellington. She has been working at the Translation Service since 2005. Her working languages are Chinese and English.
Koleta Kelekolio, Translation Project Manager
Koleta has extensive experience in graphic design and project management as well as a working grasp of the Samoan language. She joined the team in early 2019.
Lisa Martin, Translation Project Manager
Lisa came to New Zealand in 2008 from Northern Ireland, where she graduated with a BA in Business Studies from the University of Ulster. She has been working at the Translation Service since 2010 and has been studying French since 2011.
Quintin Ridgeway, Manager
Quintin worked as a freelance translator in both Germany and New Zealand before joining the Translation Service in 2005. He has a MProfStud in Translation Studies as well as NAATI accreditation for German and is currently the vice-president of the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters. His working languages are English, German, Japanese and Latin.
Roland Idaczyk, Administration Officer
Roland is an experienced German translator and an expert is astrophysics and banking systems.
Saioa Polin, Translation Project Manager
Saioa came to New Zealand in 2014 from the Spain, where she studied Translation and Interpreting in the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She joined the Translation Service in 2021 and her working languages are Basque, Spanish, Catalan, English and German.
Shieva Norusian, Translation Project Manager
Shieva joined the Translation Service in 2009 after working as a writer for a German television show in Berlin and a lifestyle magazine in Bangkok, and also as a freelance translator. She has a Diploma in Fine Arts and takes care of the Translation Service's graphic design work. Her working languages are English and German, and she is currently studying Farsi.
Suming Zhang, Administration Officer
Suming is originally from Shanghai, China. She graduated from the University of Waikato, completing a BA Honours degree majoring in Educational Studies and Japanese in Hamilton. She also holds a NZIM Diploma in Management from WelTec in Wellington. Suming lived and travelled extensively in Asia and Europe. She speaks English and Chinese and understands basic Japanese. Suming joined the Translation Service in August 2016.
Trish Saolele, Translation Project Manager
Trish joined the Translation Service in September 2016 with extensive experience as a translation project manager. She is a New Zealand-born Pacific Islander of Samoan and Niuean descent. Trish holds a BCA from Victoria University majoring in Commercial Law and Marketing, as well as a BA majoring in Modern Languages, including German, Japanese and Samoan.
