GALA Board of Directors
The GALA Board of Directors is comprised of volunteer members who are elected by the GALA membership to serve for two-year terms. Their mandate is to drive the strategic direction of the association.
 |
Britta Aagaard (Chairperson) Britta is the Chief Business Officer at Semantix where she is responsible for the total business within localization and advanced language solutions. She is an enthusiastic leader of a passionate team of language professionals, technology experts, and innovative minds. Semantix is the leading player in the Nordics and is constantly expanding its own comfort zone, trying harder and achieving more. Britta thrives on working with great people who firmly believe in communication and technology as an important contribution to our modern world. |
 |
Jose Palomares (Vice Chairperson & Governance Committee Liason) Jose is the Director of Localization at Coupa, the software company leader in the enterprise Business Spend Management category. With a trajectory in our industry spanning more than 25 years as a translator, technologist, business leader, and entrepreneur, Jose brings to the table his combined experience from the vendor and buyer sides, a keen interest in all things technology, and an outspoken attitude toward how to empower our community, do more, and do better. |
 |
Johan Sporre (Secretary) Johan Sporre, Engineering Manager Digital Global Language Services, leader with a great passion in languages, people and technology. In the last three years he has implemented machine translation, tools and processes to increase the capabilities of reuse and workflow automation for translations in IKEA, to better connect developers/content creators and linguists in Ingka group and Inter IKEA. He has acquired over 20 years of achievement formulating and advancing revenue-generating projects and led professional teams to execute innovative and sustainable resolutions. |
 |
Shirley has 30 years experience in the localization industry and has performed nearly every role along the way. She started as an i18N engineer and technical consultant before joining the localization industry where she worked at well-known companies such as LMI, Berlitz GlobalNET, Bowne Global Solutions, and EC Innovations. She also served as program manager, account manager, business development director, and global strategist. Today, she is the Chief Strategy Officer at SuccessGlo, a leading Asia provider with offices in Singapore, China, Vietnam, and Japan. Shirley is an active volunteer in the leadership team of Women in Localization Singapore Chapter as Events Manager and also serves on mission trips to developing countries and teaching Sunday school kids. |
 |
Edith Bendermacher (Governance Committee and Rising Star Scholarship Committee Liaison) Edith is Head of Globalization Strategy and Localization Operations at NetApp, based in San Jose, California. Under a Center of Excellence, her team is responsible for the strategic planning of globalization across all departments, including delivery, innovation, uptake and return of the globalization investments. Edith is a regular speaker on globalization in panels and globalization industry events. Edith is also a member of the Women in Technology Group at NetApp and Program Director of the Women in Localization Marketing Program. Additionally, Edith’s passion is developing and mentoring rising localization professionals through collaboration with MIIS. |
 |
Dave Ruane (Finance Committee Liaison) Dave Ruane started his 28-year localization industry journey in technology and solutions roles, and has run the gamut of roles including: technology management, organizational management, consultancy, sales, account management, marketing, and partnership positions. He currently manages M&A sales, marketing, and operational strategies at growth solutions company, Lion People Global. Dave is a moderator and a regular contributor at industry events and has a passion for bringing on the next localization professionals and anything innovation related - he is the creator of the Process Innovation Challenge (an innovation platform in the industry) and is based in southwestern Spain. |
 |
Paulo Pereira Guimarães (Member Programs Committee Liaison) Paulo began his career in 2006 as an administrative assistant, responsible for collecting paper documents from clients' offices and sending them to translators via fax machine. Over time, he took on additional responsibilities as a project manager, overseeing the translation of more than 15 million words per year. For the past four years, Paulo has served as the Managing Director of Inside Language Solutions, guiding the company through the advancements in machine translation, developing its employees, and planning for the future. Currently, he holds the position of President at the Brazilian Association of the Linguistic Industry - BLISS. |