OMAR BABBAR AMIGHETTI
Conference Interpreter & Translator
Phone : Tel: (506) 296-8158 Fax: 296-3094
E-mail : linguistlink@yahoo.com
Cel: (506) 385-3167
DATE AND PLACE
OF BIRTH:
12 February 1958, San Jose, Costa Rica
QUALIFICATIONS: Twenty years experience as a conference interpreter and translator on
both sides of the Atlantic, working mostly into English and Spanish.
Sales person, marketing manager and consultant to language and travel
industry organizations. Has worked in very busy and highly demanding
environments involving people oriented services, public relations, sales
and marketing skills.
SPECIALIZATION:
Appointed Official Translator for the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in 1981, worked as an interpreter for high level missions visiting
Costa Rica. Chosen to accompany the former president of the United
States, Jimmy Carter - also interpreted for the vice-president of the
United States, Walter Mondale and other high-ranking political figures
and delegations. Valuable experience acquired in the political, diplomatic
and business spheres working in highly demanding meetings, press
conferences and other events including conference work for international
organizations.
Has combined interpreting on a freelance basis with business
occupations involving sales, marketing and managerial skills.
EDUCATION:
University Studies in Languages and Philosophy: University of Costa
Rica.
Secondary: International School of Lusaka, Zambia. March-1973Dec.1975. Colegio Metodista – San José, Costa Rica. March 1971-Dec
1972
LANGUAGES:
Spanish mother tongue, fluent both spoken and written. English, fluent,
both spoken and written. Portuguese: fluent spoken. Italian: fluent
spoken. Intermediate level of French.
WORK EXPERIENCE
2001
Interpreter for Mitchell International, Seminar for INS / Training Course
Interpreter for the C.C.S.S. at Hotel Herradura –C.R. –2 events
Interpreter for Mitchell Systems at INS – Insurance Company of Costa
Rica regarding Automatization of the Vehicle Estimation Process.
Interpreter for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, for the General
Assembly of OAS held in Hotel Herradura, San José. Parallel sessions and bilateral negotiations with the Head of Foreign Policy of Costa Rica.
2000
Various Conferences and Seminars in San José, Costa Rica
1999
Freelance Interpreter for ICE (The Costa Rican Power Company)
1998
Interpreter for the visit to Costa Rica of the President of the United States
William Clinton – Channel 7 TV
Interpreter at Presidential House - Negotiations Seminar at Ministerial level.
Seminar for KVAERNER and ABB, Norway, conducted in Costa Rica for
Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (Power Co.)
Other.
1995-1996
Marketing representative for Columbus Press attending as sole representative
such events like ITB-Berlin, FITUR-Madrid, BIT-Milan, Arab Mart-Dubai and
other international tourism trade shows.
1990-1996
Representative of Tourism Organizations based in Latin America particularly at
tourism fairs.
1990-1996
U.K. based Interpreter and Translator, worked in a variety of fields for Business,
Industry and International Organizations including the E.C.-Trevi Meetings in
London, The Home Office, The British Medical Association, EURADA meeting
of the European Parliament, visit of candidate for the Spanish Conservative Party
and current Prime Minister of Spain to the U.K. , José Aznar.
1995-1996
Managing Director of Multimedia Translation Services U.K.
1992-1993
Managing Director of Linguistlink Limited, continuing to work actively as an
interpreter and independent consultant during this period.
1991-1992
Appointed Conference Interpreting Manager, Language Centre, University of
Glasgow. It involved the design, implementation, promotion and management of
the Conference Interpreting Department of the Language Centre and the
supervision of a busy translations department.
1981-1990
Freelance Simultaneous Interpreter and Translator based in Costa Rica.
1986-1989
Managing Director of “Grupo Internacional de Trueque” Exchange and Barter
organization achieving a membership of 500 companies ranging from television
stations, airlines, high street shops, industry, to professional services. Was in
charge of recruitment, training, motivating and supervising a sales team of 25
account executives, handling affiliations and commercial transactions. Was in
charge of complex exchange negotiations between member companies.
During this period was also partner of Babbar and Bremner Translation Services,
San José- Costa Rica providing services to a select clientele.
1982-1986
Founding Director and Proprietor of “Instituto Universal de Idiomas” (Language
School) San José, Costa Rica. During this period the language center developed
to an organization with 4 admin and 16 teaching staff occupying a building in
San Jose.
1980-1987
Cooperated in various capacities with OTEC (Travel Agency) mostly in sales,
training of personnel and international trade show representation.
1980-1981
Teacher of English at ITAN Technical Business Administration Institute, (University Level)
1981-Current
Appointed Official Translator by the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
MAIN ORGANIZATIONS FOR WHICH INTERPRETED WITH REGULARITY WHILE
BASED IN COSTA RICA, FROM 1981 TO 1990:
Inter-American Court of Human Rights * Supreme Court of Justice, Costa Rica * United Nations
Development Program * United Nations High Commission for Refugees * Costa Rican National
Assembly * Presidential House * ICT (Costa Rican Tourism Board) * Ministry of Education *
Ministry of Foreign Affairs * Ministry of Science and Technology * CONICIT (Council of
Science and Technology) * American Embassy * British Embassy * Embassy of India *
Organization of American States * University of Costa Rica * FLACSO (Latin American Faculty
of Social Sciences) Postgraduate seminars on Foreign Affairs and International Negotiation *
Canadian Scholarships Foundation * Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation *
CENPRO (Center for the Promotion of Exports) * ICE (Costa Rican Power Company) * UNED
(National University of Distance Education) * INCAE (Central American Public Administration
Institute) * INS (National Insurance Company) * CCTD (Costa Rican Confederation of
Democratic Workers) * CGT (General Union of Workers) * OTEC (Youth and Student Travel
Organization) * Illinois State University/CICAP * The Smithsonian Institute – Gold Museum of
Costa Rica *
SELECTED LISTS OF EVENTS/ORGANIZATIONS FOR WHICH INTERPRETED
WHILE BASED IN THE U.K.
Home Office conferences of TREVI-EUROPOL * Customs and Excise Conferences * Wellcome
Pharmaceutical * Glaxo Holdings * Spanish Doctors Medical Visits- FISONS * EEC conferences
U.K. Brussels * EURADA-European Parliament * Worker Councils and Trade Unions Meetings,
sponsored by the European Commission * City Bank * Lloyds Bank Asset Promotional
Presentations * Ford European Representatives Conferences and Product Launches. * First Bank
of Boston State Visits * Centrale Nuclaire de Flammanville-France * General Union of Workers
U.K. British Medical Association Conferences * Institute of Mechanical Engineers * I.B.M.
Bruxelles * I.B.M. World Users Association * British Petroleum PLC, Price Waterhouse, Avon
New York * World Post Office Association – Berlin * Second World Forum on the environmentManchester * Argentinian Mining Seminar-Arg. Embassy, U.K. * The Wheat Council U.K. *
University of Glasgow Conferences and Seminars * World Rugby Association Meetings – Wales,
Tokyo, Paris * Linguisltink Conferences * Eurosis Conferences and a variety of events, seminars,
conferences, press conferences, trade delegations and business meetings covering a broad range
of specialized fields across industry, commerce government, including work conducted for
international organizations, charities and trade associations world-wide.
SHOW-BIZ EVENTS: Interview to Elton John – Mexicana de Televisión-London. Coproduction of Costa Rica as an International Destination for 53 U.S T. V. Stations. Ritmo Latino
in Costa Rica. The culture, natural attractions and people presented in a musical format for
international audiences.
PRINCIPAL INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS AND DELEGATIONS:
ODCA- Organización Demócrata Cristiana de América with the attendance of the ex-president of
Costa Rica, Rafael Angel Calderón Fournier. * Democratic Party of the United States: Central
American visit of Jimmy Carter, (former president of the United States.) * The Inter-American
Democratic Institute: (Visit of Vice President Walter Mondale to Costa Rica and various
seminars) * Governor General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (Nassau, Bahamas) * DEA
(Drug Enforcement Agency) private meetings, Press and Political Sections, American Embassy.
Interviews of Indian Ambassador to Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua with the minister of
Foreign Affairs. Visit of Baroness Young (UK) to Costa Rica. Presentation of credentials of
newly appointed ambassadors to the country before the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Other High
Ranking delegations including the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Jean
Kirkpatrick. Interpreter for the President of the United States, William Clinton during his recent
visit to Costa Rica – C.7-Televisión.
COUNTRIES VISITED AS AN INTERPRETER: Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama,
Bahamas, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Spain, Malta, Ireland, Belgium, Finland, Sweden,
Denmark, Netherlands, United States, Germany and the City of Leningrad (on the day it changed
its name to become St.Petersburg again) Full list of conferences attended is available upon
request.
HAS ALSO TRAVELLED EXTENSIVELY AND LIVED IN: Mexico, Venezuela, India,
Costa Rica, Zambia, Italy, Scotland and England.
HAS ORGANISED TRADE FAIR AND COMMERCIAL MISSION REPRESENTATION
FOR COMPANIES IN THE CENTRAL AMERICAN REGION TO : FITUR-Madrid, Spain.
World Travel Market – London ,U.K. BIT-Milan, Italy. ITB-Berlin, Germany. TUR-Gotenburg,
Sweden. Trade Mission to Houston, Texas with the attendance as main speaker of former
president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Carazo Odio.
OTHER SKILLS: Computer literate: Handles Windows, Word Perfect, Word for Windows,
Internet, ACT and other.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES: Writing, practicing Judo (black belt) having participated
at international competitions. Playing Chess.