As a boy, Joël Sigling was fascinated with the strange tongue that introduced the German children’s programme ‘Die Sendung mit der Maus’. So the seeds for his career as a language enthusiast were sown early. As an advisor of AVB, he focuses on talent development and social enterprise as well as keeping fully up to date with the latest developments in the translation sector.

After graduating from the HIVT (Higher Institute for Translators and Interpreters) in Antwerp, he spent many years working as a freelance translator. The birth of his daughter awakened his entrepreneurial ambitions. In 2010, his translation agency Translation World merged with Amstelveens Vertaalburo to form AVB Translations as we know it today.

He believes that talent development is not only useful for a company, but also for the translation industry in general. “This was also my focus as a board member of GALA, the largest international trade organisation for the translation industry. Furthermore, my international contacts keep me up to date with the latest developments in our field.”

“At the end of the day, you need a team in which everyone can contribute his or her professional skills as effectively as possible to reach your collective goals together. What I’m most proud of is the fantastic group of people we’ve assembled here who give their heart and soul to our clients.”