GALA 2011: A global gathering of language professionals

GALA 2011 will bring together the community of professionals involved in global content delivery. This community consists of all parties charged with transforming content (software code, website content, product information, technical documentation, marketing materials, and more) into translated and localized content for an international target audience. Attendees will include localization and internationalization project managers, language technology providers, and professionals from multiple and single language service companies.

The program will consist of planned and spontaneous learning sessions and will provide attendees with the opportunity to collectively share, discuss and debate the latest innovations and advancements in localization, internationalization, translation and global content delivery. Highlights include the keynote address by Jochen Hummel, founder of TRADOS, discussing “A Life for TM?”. Andrew Lawless of Dig-IT! Consulting will moderate a buyer-side and vendor-side panel on vendor collaboration.  Don De Palma of Common Sense Advisory will moderate a panel of buyers discussing what really matters to them. There will be original research revealed, presentations on XML/DITA, pricing and mergers/acquisitions, and a technology bonanza.

The association’s famed speed networking will be offered as well as a reception and dinner (included in the registration fee).

Why is an in-person conference important in the age of Twitter and penny pinching? Shelly Priebe, a two-time attendee at GALA Language of Business conferences and a new GALA board member explains: “I have found that the in-person conferences I attend, like GALA 2011, are more relevant today because we do so much online and behind a computer. Maybe because we spend so much time interacting electronically, now at conferences people are very engaged and happy to be together. There is intense talking, listening and learning—it pushes me beyond my comfort zone! It gives me a great leap forward in my business with deeper and lasting connections and knowledge.”

In addition to the conference, GALA is also introducing the first ever localization industry forum exclusively for CEOs and owners of language service providers. The first ever GALA CEO Forum, on March 27th at the Hotel Cascais Miragem, will be a precursor to the GALA 2011 conference. It is designed for a small group of CEOs, presidents or owners of language companies. By channeling the collective knowledge of a small group of leaders, the forum seeks to solve real problems faced by each participant. The program will run for one full day of intense work and will be moderated by Arturo Quintero, owner and founder of Moravia Worldwide.  Space is limited, two spots are currently still available.

For more information on GALA 2011 and on the GALA CEO Forum, please see the conference website.