Today is a landmark day at OLI. As I write this on 5 May 2025 — our official launch — I can honestly say I’ve never been more energised by a project in my entire career.

For me, the perfect professional role is one that lets you bring every facet of your experience to the table. It’s about more than just applying a single skill or fulfilling a job description — it involves weaving together the many threads of your personal and professional journey. In an ideal role, you’re not asked to leave parts of yourself at the door; instead, you’re encouraged to draw on your full range of talents, passions, and insights. In founding the Open Language Initiative, I’ve found exactly that. 

OLI is a truly multifaceted venture. It began with a simple but powerful belief: that volunteer translators can make a world of difference for non-profits serving the most vulnerable, wherever they may be. My time in my previous role as Executive Director of ProZ Pro Bono taught me just how great the need is and how many incredible organisations are working — often against the odds — to support refugees, women escaping abuse, underprivileged children, and farmers battling climate change, to name but a few examples. These non-profits form a vibrant global mosaic, but they’re almost always strapped for cash, making voluntary services like ours absolutely vital.

But translation is just the start. Our close work with these communities revealed a deeper truth: language access isn’t just about words, it’s about inclusion. Without it, people are shut out of healthcare, education, and essential services. That’s why we’ve broadened our vision championing multilingualism, launching schemes to encourage language learning, and celebrating the rich tapestry of world languages. From our upcoming certification scheme for businesses, individuals, and children, to joyful projects like our global cookbook and the International Day of Multilingualism, we’re determined to make language a bridge, not a barrier.

This dual focus — on both humanitarianism and multilingualism — brings together my lifelong passions for social justice and language learning. I’ve been a volunteer myself in many humanitarian organisations such as Britain’s VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), and have devoted my entire life to the subject of language — learning, teaching, translating, writing and now spearheading this Initiative based on an innovative and important mission.

But OLI is so much more than a mission — it’s a brilliant team, a vibrant network of volunteers from every corner of the globe, and a community spirit that’s truly inspiring.

Every day, I get to draw on everything I’ve learned — from teaching and writing to translating and mobilising others. We’re doing purposeful work, building a connected community, and delving deep into subjects that matter profoundly to me. So for me, personally, it ties together so many of the threads that make up who I am, what I do, and what I care about. 

That’s why leading the Open Language Initiative is both an honour and a privilege. I’m convinced we’re poised to do a tremendous amount of good in the world — and I couldn’t be more excited for what lies ahead.