Zane Hema
Secretary
Zane Hema originates from New Zealand, but started his career in London initially supporting Deaf students in Education before going on to train as a sign language interpreter 1996/7 at the City Lit in London. He then went on to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting in 2000 at the University of Central Lancashire.
Since 2007 Zane has worked part-time as an Interpreter Teacher, teaching selected modules on both vocational and academic programmes. His also has experience teaching on overseas programmes (US, Finland, Thailand, Panama) and in countries that do not yet have any formal training programmes (Gambia, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Fiji). He has given many presentations at a range of conferences and other events
He is the former ASLI National Chair (2001-2005), former efsli Vice President (2002-2010) and former WASLI Secretary (2005-2011). Zane trained as a Mentor through the ASLI Mentoring Programme and has been an actively mentoring since 2007. He is now an WASLI Ambassador remains a member of the efsli Committee of Experts and in 2013 joined the ASLIA (Australian Sign Language Interpreter Association) Interpreter Trainer’s Network.
In 2007 ASLI awarded him a FASLI (Fellow of the Association of Sign Language Interpreters) for his outstanding contribution to the Associaiton. He was awarded Life Membership by efsli in 2010 and Honorary Life Membership by WASLI in 2011. In 2012 he was awarded Communication Professional of the Year and the prestigious Joseph Maitland award, by Signature (the national body that promotes communication between Deaf and hearing people)
In 2012 Zane moved to live in Australia and in 2016 earned NAATI certification as a Certified Interpreter. He has been the ASLIAQ Secretary since 2016, continues to work as an interpreter and interpreter trainer and mentor.