Presenters
Meet our Presenters
We are thrilled to introduce the incredible line-up of presenters for the WASLI Oceania Conference. Each one brings a wealth of knowledge, lived experience, and deep passion for the interpreting profession. From groundbreaking research and innovative practices to powerful community stories and regional insights, our presenters represent the diversity and strength of the Oceania region and beyond.
Whether you’re a seasoned interpreter, a Deaf interpreter, student, or ally, you’ll find their contributions thought-provoking, relevant, and inspiring. We can’t wait for you to learn from, engage with, and be energised by these leaders in our field.
Krishneer Sen
Krishneer Sen is born Deaf and a native Fiji Sign Language user living in Suva, Fiji in the Pacific region. He is currently a Pacific senior advisor- sign language, interpreting and deaf leadership for a deaf education project under Tetra Tech.
He is the Deaf Interpreter representative for the World Association of the Sign Language Interpreter for Oceania (WASLI Oceania). Sen founded Deaf Consultancy Pacific in which he did Ready2Read project with local Deaf and CODA interpreter team on early sign language intervention and sign language e-book in Samoa, PNG and Fiji.
He is the Regional Director of the World Federation of the Deaf Regional Secretariat for Oceania (WFDRSO). He is the co-lead for the Disability Pride Hub – Fiji. Sen has advanced the human rights of deaf people and persons with disability for over 10 years by participating politically, professionally and socially in the diverse communities.
Sen holds Masters degree in Linguistics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong. He also graduated from University College London in the United Kingdom, Gallaudet University in Washington D.C, U.S.A and UNITEC New Zealand in Auckland, New Zealand with Masters degree in Human Rights, Bachelors Science and Certificate in Information Technology respectively.
Sen actively promotes recognition of the Deaf Community by providing awareness to the stakeholders on the importance of linguistic and Deaf culture, interpreting, education etc. Sen contributes a lot to the Deaf Community and disability sector in regards to youth, sign language, sports, interpreting, LGBTIQ and education in the Pacific.
Sainimili Tawake
Sainimili Tawake is the Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Disability Forum. With over 30 years of experience in disability-equity and human rights, she has been instrumental in shaping inclusive policies and strengthening the capacity of OPDs throughout the region.
Prior to her appointment as CEO, Tawake held various roles within PDF, including Manager Inclusive Development and Regional Coordinator for Climate Change. Her work has focused on integrating disability perspectives into climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and gender equality initiatives.
Nicole Clark
Nicole Clark is the manager of Interpreter Engagement at Deaf Connect; she manages many programs that support interpreter growth.
Nicole is a Certified Interpreter and holds a postgraduate Master degree in Translation and Interpreting Studies and a Graduate Diploma of Auslan–English interpreting.
Nicole has been practising interpreting for over 24 years and has worked in the community as well as a designated interpreter. Nicole has taught on the Diploma of Interpreting in Sydney in previous years and in the last 6 months has worked on the WASLI Oceania Training Subcommittee and supported the 26 week training course.
Nicole is passionately committed to the growth of professional camaraderie and collegial support within our industry. When not interpreting, she is an obsessive crocheter.
Peter Bonser
Peter is a native user of Auslan, being the eldest hearing child of Deaf parents. He was the founding President of ASLITA and was awarded Life Membership in December 2016.
Peter studied Social Welfare in the early ‘80s, gained his first interpreting accreditation from NAATI in 1983 and second in 1987. Peter has worked in the Deaf field as a Welfare Worker, Interpreter, Manager, trainer, freelance interpreter and NAATI examiner. His career has spanned more than 45 years.
Mischa Robinson
Mischa was raised in New Zealand and spent eight years living in the United States, where she completed an Interpreter Training Program and earned certification in American Sign Language.
She currently works as a remote medical interpreter, contracting with a U.S-based interpreting agency while living in New Zealand. With four years of experience as an interpreter and two years specialising in medical settings, Mischa brings both linguistic expertise and cultural awareness to her practice.
Alongside her medical interpreting work, Mischa has also worked in a New Zealand primary school setting, supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing students as a communicator.
Mischa is also passionate about mentorship and currently supports recent graduates.
Joneti Rokotuibau
Joneti Rokotuibau is a professional sign language interpreter with over 10 years of experience in Fiji. She has worked across diverse interpreting settings including legal, educational, medical, and community-based domains.
Joneti served as the WASLI Oceania Regional Representative from 2021–2024, playing a vital role in strengthening networks across the Pacific for interpreter training and Deaf community engagement.
She currently works as a counsellor with Empower Pacific, where her work increasingly focuses on the mental health and wellbeing of both Deaf clients and interpreters.
Joneti is passionate about sustainable interpreting practices and advocating for better systems of care within the Pacific region.
Benjamin Gorman
Benjamin is from a deaf family and is heavily involved in the Deaf community in the UK, having held various positions in deaf organisations over the years such as the Chair of Clapham Deaf Club, Chair of Deaf Interpreters Network, on the Board of Association of Sign Language Interpreters amongst others.
He has worked in various domains but specialises in Conference Interpreting, Deafblind Interpreting, Mental Health, and Language Modification.
He is currently undertaking a MSc in Interpreting with EUMASLI. When he has spare time, (what little of it!), he spends it socialising and reading.
George Major
George is Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader of the NZSL programmes at AUT. She coordinates practicum, teaches NZSL interpreting courses, and also teaches ethical decision-making to both spoken and signed language students.
George was a previous WASLI Oceania regional representative (2007-2011).
Susie Ovens
Susie is Senior Lecturer at AUT, where she has been teaching for 23 years. She has extensive experience in NZSL teaching, resource and assessment development, and supporting NZSL learners to engage in the Deaf community.
Rebeccah Curtis
Rebeccah has been a community interpreter in New Zealand for nearly 30 years. She has been on the committee of the Sign Language Interpreters Association of New Zealand and has also held the role of President.
She is currently part of the “Ethics refresh Project” for NZSL Interpreters and presented at the inaugural WASLI Oceania conference in 2018.
Rebeccah is looking forward to co-presenting the panel “Weaving indigenous interpreter perspectives into ethical decision-making: Perspectives from Aotearoa and the Pacific”.
Rebeccah is closely connected to Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) through her husband and children; Te Arawa, Ngati Rongomai.
She looks forward to exploring diverse perspectives with the panel.
“Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi”
“With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive”
Tashā Henneker
Tashā is in their second year of interpreting in New Zealand. They graduated the Bachelor of Arts (NZSL-English Interpreting) after completing a Bachelor of Arts (Māori Development).
They are currently involved in the Sign Language Interpreters Association of New Zealand (SLIANZ) as Secretary, alongside involvement in the ‘Ethics Refresh Project’ and other areas related to promoting indigenous perspectives into the NZSL Interpreter workforce.
Tashā hails from Rakaipaaka (Tribal Affiliation), coming from Nūhaka on the East Coast of New Zealand.
Tashā is looking forward to co-presenting the panel “Weaving indigenous interpreter perspectives into ethical decision-making: Perspectives from Aotearoa and the Pacific”.