Barbara Żak Email and Phone Number

I graduated with distinction from the Institute of English Studies of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and received a Master of Arts degree in English language and literature. I was also awarded a student exchange scholarship for outstanding academic performance and studied at Alliance College, Pennsylvania, graduating with a B.A. in English. The scholarship gave me an excellent opportunity to live and work in an English language environment, both academic and otherwise. Following graduation I started working at KZE Telpod, a then-leading electronics company in Krakow, as a translator/interpreter and foreign trade assistant. My responsibilities included interpreting during business visits, official meetings, technical talks and business negotiations, drawing up meeting reports, contracts, monitoring the implementation of import and export contracts and organising business visits.In 1998 I started working at Wydawnictwo WAM, a Krakow based publishing company, first as an editorial director's assistant, then foreign rights coordinator, a position I am still holding now. I am responsible for coordinating business relations with foreign publishers, especially regarding possible or existing licencing agreements, and ensuring a proper execution of contractual terms.Besides, since 1992 I have been a freelance translator. I have translated 28 books as well as some minor texts like summaries of academic works.