Meet the Committee

Sheena Walters - President

Sheena Walters - I was born and raised in Adelaide in a Deaf family.  I have been working professionally as a sign language interpreter for over eight years and I am accredited at Interpreter level with NAATI.  

I have worked in London in the UK as a freelance interpreter and as an in-house interpreter in a media company run by Deaf people.  Following this, I began working in the Balkan region for the Finnish Association of the Deaf.  I was working as an Interpreter/Interpreter Trainer in Kosovo and also acted as Survey Assistant in three Balkan countries looking at the standard of living for Deaf people in those countries. 

I am currently employed as Manager, Interpreting and Advocacy at the Deaf Society of New South Wales.

Stephen Nicholson - Vice President

My name is Stephen Nicholson.  I have Deaf Relay Interpreting certificate from Petersham TAFE in 2003, and always enjoy working as relay interpreter with clients.  I work full time as Senior Community Services Worker at the Deaf Society of NSW, both at Sydney and Newcastle Offices.  I also teach Auslan classes at Deaf Education Network and TAFE. I am currently studying BA of Teaching (Primary) at Macquarie University and Certificate IV in Community Services Work at Meadowbank TAFE.  My passion is continuing to improve my International Sign skills as I travelled extensively in the last 6 years around the world.

I am currently employed as Manager, Client and Community Services at The Deaf Society of New South Wales.

Kathy Wright - Treasurer

Biog to be provided

Judy Jacobs - E-Secretary and representative to ASLIA National

My name is Judy Jacobs and I was accredited at Para-Professional level in 1998.  Since then I have worked as a Freelance Interpreter as well as for various organisations.  I have been a member of ASLIA NSW since 1998.  I have been on the ASLIA Executive Committee since 2004 and it's been a great learning experience for me.  I recently became NSW Rep for National. My favourite interpreting settings are 1:1's with some "challenging" jobs thrown in every so often to stretch and develop my skills as an interpreter and as a person.  In my spare time I love socialising with family and friends.  I enjoy hand crafts (eg knitting and cross-stitch) and my husband and I intend touring our great country for some time to come.

Paula Bun - Secretary

Hi my name is Paula Bun. I am a CODA, both of my parents are Deaf. I have been Interpreting for the past 6 years and accredited as a paraprofessional in 2003. I still feel fairly new to interpreting but have a passion for the Deaf and life.

In previous years I have mostly been working for TAFE, but in the past year I have been a contract interpreter for the Deaf Society of NSW and doing more freelance. Currently I am one of 2 interpreters who are part of a pilot program at Westpac which have 6 Deaf staff members on site.

I am looking forward to being part of ASLIA and work along with interpreters to better our profession and make a consistent standard Australia (NSW) wide.

Nicole Clark - Committee Member

Biog to be provided

Roslyn Barnes - Committee Member

Hi, I am Roslyn Barnes. I began signing in 1998, and then worked signing with young hearing cerebral palsy children unable to speak. I was accredited in 2002, and enjoy working with Deaf and Deafblind, particularly in TAFE and University settings, social settings or practical courses. In 2006 I began the Postgraduate course at Macquarie Uni. Out of hours, I am usually exploring the outdoors from all different angles....

Chevoy Sweeney - Committee Member

I grew up in sunny Qld – and still miss home every day.  I am married to a CODA and between us we have four kids, one of whom is Deaf. We also look after two Deaf kids from Darwin. I have been interpreting for 14 years and am accredited at professional level. I enjoy interpreting very much – it is the career of choice for me. I hope that the contributions that I make as part of the ASLIA committee, enable interpreting to be seen as a professional, significant and essential role in society, which facilitates access to information for the Deaf community.

Susannah Macready - Committee Member and representative to ASLIA National

I'm quite new to the interpreting field, having completed the Diploma of Interpreting at Petersham TAFE in 2005. I'm delighted to be on the ASLIA (NSW) committee and keen to work together with other interpreters to improve the quality, amount and recognition of the work we do in this emerging profession. I work at the Deaf Society of NSW supervising our Deaf learner accredited courses and writing funding submissions.