The ANC2026 Keynote Presenters:

We are pleased to announce the Keynote presenters and JW Flynn Orator for the upcoming 2026 ASLITA National Conference.

International Keynote Presenter:

Johnathan Webb

Jonathan Webb, facilitator, writer, activist, educator, first began coaching and mentoring in the mid-90’s. Raised in St. Louis, MO in the heart of Jennings and Ferguson, he has worked primarily with marginalized populations seeking liberation and autonomy. Consequently, and in order to work via liberatory ideology, Jonathan has engaged directly with individuals who hold exceptional privilege within our societal systems to unpack identity, power, privilege, and the ways in which they experience confusion and pain tied to unconsciously upholding oppressive systems.

Moving from theory into applied practice, Jonathan utilizes dialogic practices. Of note, Jonathan works through an accomplice framework that supports individuals utilizing their gifts and talents in conjunction with their privilege to make the world a better place for all of us. Academically, he holds degrees in ASL/English Interpretation, Liberal Arts, Deaf Education, and Theology, with post-doc work in Clinical Psychology.

Currently, he is working on an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology and Curriculum & Instruction. He has served at varying levels and in multiple capacities within non-profit organizations. Currently, Jonathan presides over YourVolution & Sign Enhancers Inc., serves as a consultant, interpreter, curriculum developer, and teaches at CSU-Northridge in Deaf Studies where he coordinates and leads the interpreter education program. Hobbies include ocean and beach time with family.

National (and Internationa) Keynote Presenter:

Jemina Napier

Born in the UK, Jemina is an internationally recognised sign language interpreter, researcher, and educator who has practised since 1989 across English, BSL, Auslan, International Sign, and occasionally ASL.
After completing her PhD in Linguistics at Macquarie University in Australia, she authored and co-authored seminal texts in interpreter education and established the Postgraduate Diploma/Masters programme in Auslan/English Interpreting.

She later held senior leadership roles at Macquarie before returning to the UK as Chair and Professor of Intercultural Communication at Heriot-Watt University.

With over 150 publications, her research focuses on mediated communication, access to public services, child language brokering in deaf-hearing families, and deaf women’s experiences of reporting domestic abuse.
She has received multiple prestigious fellowships in the UK and Australia and remains closely connected to the Auslan interpreting profession.

As a dual citizen of the UK and Australia, the Auslan interpreting profession has a special place in Jemina’s heart and she is delighted to have been invited to deliver a keynote at the 2026 ASLITA conference.

JW Flynn Orator:

Julie Judd

Throughout Julie’s career of over 35 years, she has defined herself as a staunch ally of the Deaf community, and a consistent advocate for not only the visibility and recognition of interpreting work, but also the provision of training and professional development. She has worked across a vast array of settings: grassroots, live theatre, media and emergency services, and has represented the country internationally at UN ESCAP events.

Julie has achieved CCI level from NAATI, worked as a NAATI test examiner, and more recently, become a CCI test creator herself. She was part of the ASLIA VicTas executive committee as both VP and President, and was the Chair of the National Board 2016 – 2021.