Elvira Medved

Editor, Journalist and Translator, Public Relations, Business Consulting, Training 

May 2010 – Present

Slovenia

Self-Employed, working freelance for various organisations
- Lovski vestnik – Toronto, Canada: editing and translating articles in Slovene for a Slovene community magazine in Toronto
- Inštitut za razvijanje osebne kakovosti, Self-esteem Development Institute - Ljubljana, Slovenia: translations into English
- Instructional Support Services, Inc., dr. Jane Bluestein - Albuquerque, NM, USA: translations into Slovene

Editor and Journalist 

Oct 2007 – Apr 2010

Slovenia

DELO newspaper, national daily newspaper with the largest circulation in Slovenia
– full-time editor (freelance contract) in the central newsroom of the Delo newspaper: responsible for the last page of the paper, also editing opinion and local pages and writing articles, including articles for the front page (from February 2009 until April 2010)
– full-time journalist and editor (freelance contract) in the Delo internet edition: editing and writing articles on current affairs for the Delo printed and on-line editions, moderating internet forums, involved in managing special projects, e.g. National Elections 2008 (from October 2007 until January 2009)

Experienced translator, acting as Deputy Head of DG Translation, Field Office Ljubljana 

Oct 2004 – Mar 2007

 Slovenia

Towards the end of my appointment also took over the charge of Deputy Head of Directorate General for Translation (DGT), Field Office Ljubljana, translation of Commission's documents from English or Italian into Slovene and from Slovene into English. Revision and evaluation of translations from English or French into Slovene and from Slovene into English, done by internal and external translators. Coaching junior colleagues.

Head of Translation Service, Translator 

Nov 2002 – Oct 2004

Slovenia

Organisation of translation work, managing personnel and office, contacts with clients and freelance translators, quality control of translations, training junior translators, creation of terminology glossaries and databases, translating. Following calls for tenders and preparing bids.
Major clients: Government of the Republic of Slovenia and EU institutions, major institutions and companies.

English Language Teaching (ELT) Consultant 

Mar 1998 – Nov 2002

Slovenia

Promotion and marketing of ELT materials through various channels, including the internet; planning and organising national promotional campaigns, including author tours, presentations, special training seminars and ELT conferences, organisation of the "Bookworms" national reading competition, involving elementary and secondary schools across Slovenia as well as university students of English, editor of the Center Oxford newsletter, writing and editing promotional materials as well as Center Oxford web pages; business correspondence and contacts with major international publishers and speakers; preparing sales reports and plans for business partners; customer relations.
Most important partners: Mary Glasgow Magazines/ Scholastic, Cambridge University Press, Harper Collins, LTP, Penguin, Dorling Kindersley.

Freelance translator, interpreter and teacher 

Oct 1995 – Feb 1998

Slovenia

Running own company and working as:
- Freelance Translator and Interpreter – English, Italian, Croatian
Covered areas: journalism, politics, law, economics, education and lexicography.
Major clients: Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Board of Education of the Republic of Slovenia, Slovene Academy of Arts and Sciences (SAZU), Open Society Fund (Soros), Mercator, Castrol, Gospodarski Vestnik Publishing, DZS Publishing, Euro-Pacific Observer magazine; worked closely with Jane Bluestein, Ph.D., President of Instructional Support Services Inc. – I.S.S. Publications, USA, while touring Slovenia.
- English Language Teacher, Dialog Language School
Teaching business English to adults at all levels.

Translator and Interpreter, STA Project Manager 

Apr 1993 – Sep 1995

Slovenia

Project manager: in charge of Slovene Press Agency (STA) translation team.
Translator and Interpreter for English and Italian.
Major clients: STA, Government of the Republic of Slovenia, major banks, companies and institutions.

Language Monitor/Sub-Editor – Slovene, Serbo-Croat 

Feb 1992 – Mar 1993

United Kingdom

Monitoring the media in all newly formed states in the territory of former Yugoslavia, selecting and deriving items of news and information from them so that these could be used by the media and for further analyses, translating from vernacular languages into English and writing news programme summaries, also providing additional background information to the British media (BBC, Reuters) and government as well as to the Foreign Broadcasting Information Service (FBIS) and the US government.

Holiday Representative in Slovenia, Italy and Croatia 

Apr 1987 – Oct 1991

Slovenia, Italy, Croatia

Representing the tour operator in holiday destinations in Slovenia (Bled, Kranjska Gora), Croatia (Dubrovnik) and Italy (Lido di Jesolo, Venice), and taking care of its clients during summer and winter seasons, promotional presentations and excursion sales, dealing with complaints, interpreting, organisation of events, transfers and office, administration and accounts; received regular on-the-job training in these fields.
Fully running the resort of Lido di Jesolo–Venice in Italy for Yugotours Great Britain for three consecutive summer seasons (1989–1991).

Incoming Manager Assistant 

Oct 1990 – Apr 1991

Italy

Organisation of incentive group tours in Italy, customer services, marketing and accounts, business correspondence in English and Italian. Working the winter season between my appointments as Yugotours holiday representative.

Tourist Guide 

Jul 1986 – Sep 1986

Croatia

Tourist Guide for English, Italian and French groups of tourists, touring former Yugoslavia, Italy and Austria.

English Language Teacher 

Feb 1984 – Mar 1986

Slovenia

Teaching English at primary and secondary levels.

University Degree in English Language and Sociology

Graduated in English literature with degree paper "Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.: His Search for Hero", mentor Prof. Meta Grosman, Phd.
Minored in Sociology
Title obtained: Professor of English and Sociology

Elvira is a rare caring diamond. She spent considerable time helping me improve my profile. Her wise advice on focusing on what I can offer others has resulted in many fine quality connections and doors of opportunity starting to open.

Books

• Disciplina 21. stoletja, dr. Jane Bluestein, Zavod Republike Slovenije za šolstvo - Board of Education at the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Slovenia, 1997
• Vzgoja brez stresa, dr. Jane Bluestein, Pleroma, 1997
• Temelji MBA, various authors, Gospodarski Vestnik Publishing, 1996,
• Kuhanje – nasveti in ideje, Christine France, DZS Publishing, 1998

Publications

• Zgodovinski razvoj in sedanjost ameriške etnologije, mag.Veronica Aplenc, Etnolog, 9/1999, Vol 2
• Parki za življenje – Akcija za zaščitena območja v Evropi, publication of the IUCN - The World Conservation Union

Translations of Legal and Other Documents

• Translations of EU legislation for the Government Office for European Affairs and other Slovene government offices
• Translations for various EU institutions, including the European Commission (2004–2007)
• Translations for major companies, banks and public institutions

Publications

• Regional Innovation strategy of Slovenia as an EU Region – National System of Innovation, Municipality of the City of Ljubljana, 2004
• The Government of the Republic of Slovenia, 1999
• Web Presentation for the Research Centre at the Slovene Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1998
• Annual Report for 1996, the Research Centre at the Slovene Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1997
• Generations of Science, the Research Centre at the Slovene Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1996
• The Archetype of the Mountain God's Palace and the Concept of Mandala, Conference Proceedings by dr. Zmago Šmitek, 1996
• Speech by Janez Kocijančič, Chairman of Associated List of Social Democrats, at 2nd Party Congress, Slovenj Gradec, November 25th, 1995, press release
• News articles for the Euro-Pacific Observer magazine, 1995-96

Translations of Legal and Other Documents

• Statute of Castrol Slovenija d.o.o., 1996
• Contract on Financial Business Cooperation, Castrol Slovenija d.o.o., 1996
• Rules and Regulations on Disciplinary and Material Liability of Employees and on Suspension Order, Castrol Slovenija d.o.o., 1996
• Job Descriptions, Castrol Slovenija d.o.o., 1996
• Rules and Regulations on Labour Relations, Castrol Slovenija d.o.o., 1996
• The Structure of the Slovene Monetary System, Branko Greganovič, 1994
• Mass Emigration and Slovenes, dr. Marjan Drnovšek, 1995
• Bank of Slovenia Annual Report 1993
• Slovene Views on the Partnership for Peace, Vinko Vegič, the Ministry of Defence, the Strategic Studies Centre
• Bosnia-Herzegovina - The End of the Beginning or the Beginning of the End of War?, dr. Anton Žabkar
• The Role of the Population in the System of Protection Against Disaster In Slovenia (activities implemented at the beginning of 1995)
• Introduction of Local Self-Government in the Republic of Slovenia, Stane Vlaj, 1994
• What is the "Slovene model" of health insurance like?, 1995
• Seminar: Organisational Models and Functions of Health Services in the Countries in Socio-Economic Transition: Present State and Prospects in Slovenia
• Technology Policy of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Rado Bohinc, Minister, Adopted at the 119th session of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, on 15 December 1994
• Sustainable Planning in the Slovene Environmental Protection Act, Ministry of the Environment and Physical Planning, Nature Conservation Administration of the Republic of Slovenia
• The Convention on Migration Workers (Additional Provisions) of 1975, 1994
• Working Bodies of the National Assembly
• Law on Pension and Disability Insurance
• Law on the Legal Profession
• Concession Contract - The Gas Pipeline Network
• Privatisation Methods
• Law on Wage Rates in Public Institutions, State Bodies And Local Community Bodies, 1995
• Law on Public Media, 1993
• Questionnaire on the President Officer of National Parliamentary Assembly, 1995
• Agreement on the Policy of Wages and Other Incomes of Employees in the Commercial Sector (Section of the Social Agreement), 1995
• Law on Labour and Social Courts, 1994
• Breaches of Conditions and Terms of Employment, Termination of Employment
• Statute of SKB Banka d.d.
• Risk Loan Management, SKB Banka d.d.
• a number of contracts for various companies (Kompas Hertz Rent a Car d.d , Kompas International d.d.)
• speeches of senior government representatives and diplomatic notes
• news items for the Slovene Press Agency (STA) in 1993–95