Fringe Events: Where Value Meets Pleasure
The best conversations don't happen in conference rooms—they happen over good food, unexpected moments, and the kind of relaxed atmosphere where ideas flow as freely as the wine. That's why our fringe events aren't just add-ons; they're an essential part of the TranslateCluj experience.
Traditional Transylvanian Dinner
On Thursday evening, 19 March, we're bringing you something truly special: an authentic Transylvanian feast prepared by renowned chef Mircea Groza, who will guide us through the stories, traditions, and techniques behind each dish. This isn't just dinner—it's a culinary journey through Transylvania's rich gastronomic heritage.
This is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow translators, swap stories from the conference floor, and build the kind of friendships that last well beyond Cluj. Because let's be honest—some of the best professional relationships start over a shared meal and a good laugh.
Mystery Event
We're keeping one event under wraps for now... but trust us, it's going to be worth the wait. Let's just say it involves books and literature and the kind of surprise that makes you think, "Only at TranslateCluj!"
More details will be revealed soon. Keep your eyes on our social channels—you won't want to miss this one!
Speakers & Topics
Kenneth Perez Nielsen
Ken operates from Copenhagen, Denmark, and he has been in the industry since Trados was a dongle, and Google was not invented yet. Ever since he was a small viking in shorts and only had tiny horns on his helmet, he has heard that the translation industry had no future, and he might as well find something else to do sooner rather than later.
But here we are in 2025, and unlike the real dinosaurs he has adapted and survived the various disruptive trends and hypes that have always been a part of our industry, and we are excited to have him on our concluding panel to share his experiences and outlook for the future.
This is the must-attend session for every worried translator navigating the AI hype.
In a world obsessed with automation, your human knowledge, cultural insight, and professional judgment are rare commodities, so join me in Cluj for a look at how we, as translators, linguists and businesspeople, cannot only survive but also lead the way and add value as human experts in the future of language services.
During this session, we will take an optimistic look at three different areas/job types, where your expertise cannot and will not be replaced, because you are human, and your human voice and skills are more crucial than ever in order to keep AI and MT on a leash.
Let’s tame that beast together.
Mihaela Buruiană
Mihaela Buruiană holds a BA in English and French from Al. I. Cuza University in Iași, Romania. She has been in the business for over 20 years, doing translation, revision, subtitling, interpreting, localization, and transcreation. While she has specialized in financial, economic, and marketing content, she is also a dedicated literary translator, with over 60 books to her name. In 2023, she published her debut short story collection, Pe cine iubești mai mult? (Whom Do You Love More?, n’autor, Nemira), and is currently working on her first novel.
Passionate about languages and books, Mihaela spent years treating the former as her job and the latter as her hobby. Over time, though, she found ways to weave literature into her daily work and build it into her career. At this year’s TranslateCluj, she will reflect on her journey – from in-house translator and interpreter to freelancer – and on what two decades in the industry have taught her about specialization, diversification, and, ultimately, doing what you love.
What do reading, translating, and writing fiction have in common and how can each add value to the others? In this reflective and personal talk, Mihaela explores how seemingly separate roles can shape and strengthen one another over time. From early encounters with literature to a career in translation and the leap into fiction, she shares insights about identity, creativity, and the quiet power of doing what brings you joy.
Rather than offering fixed answers, the presentation invites listeners to reflect on their own paths, creative impulses, and the spaces in between professional roles, where value often grows in unexpected ways.
Kyle Wohlmut
Kyle Wohlmut has been a full-time professional legal and literary translator (Dutch-English and German-English) since 1999. He has spoken at several international translation conferences in Europe on various topics, and his book translations include two novels (one from Dutch and one from German) and a book-length expose of the 2008 financial crisis. He is also one of the founding members of the translation & editing cooperative The Language Collective in the Netherlands. He now divides his time between Switzerland and Italy.
What’s a translator’s added value in a world in which the very foundation of our skill set is being devalued by the day? To try to answer this question, I will offer some insights by presenting a macro look at the process of the collapse in the value of our bread and butter, the written word. Though definitely not something that began with the dawn of the age of AI, that has certainly accelerated the process, and with it we find ourselves at a pivotal point in history. We’ll trace a line from where it started, to where it’s going, to where we can take our stand in what seems to be on the way to becoming a post-literate world.
Ciprian Dumea
Ciprian Dumea is an intercultural and language professional at the European Parliament. He holds an MA in translation and terminology from the Department Applied Modern Languages of Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca (UBB). For the past 22 years, he has specialised in legal and technical translations, terminology and clear language. He has a special interest in terminology, a field in which he has given various courses and presentations at UBB Cluj, the University of Luxembourg and the Savoie Mont Blanc University.
Adela Preda
Adela Preda holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Bucharest, enriched by a scholarship year in Dijon, France. With a professional journey spanning over 15 years in communication and marketing, Adela has built an impressive career, progressing from Junior PR roles to senior positions such as Creative Strategist, Head of Digital and Communication Director. Their international experience includes working in Malta, where they managed substantial digital communication budgets, and Lisbon, where she co-founded an online B2B digital advertising agency.
In recent years, Adela has shifted focus towards business consulting, creative workshops, occasional freelancing, and mentoring, with an emphasis on neutral communication, emotional resilience, organizational harmony and sustainability. Known for their flexibility and ability to navigate life’s challenges, Adela brings a profound understanding of how to manage moments of change and transformation, both professionally and personally.
Can creativity exist without imagination? And what is imagination? Something we cultivate, discover, or finally set free?
As we look toward the vast unknown we call the future, questions emerge: What will it look like? Will I still belong there? Which parts of what I know today will remain relevant tomorrow? And how can the value of a translator evolve in a world increasingly shaped by automation?
This opening workshop invites participants to explore the value power of imagination, the rare, transformative force that may well become tomorrow’s true currency.
Through a guided, hands-on journey across three dimensions (technological, human and creative), participants will activate their imaginative mindset and identify a personal reflection anchor to carry throughout the two days of the conference.
Curious? Step into the “imagination lab”, it may surprise you in the most inspiring ways.
Simona Vlad
Psychotherapist
Secretary on the Board of the Federation of European Psychodrama Training Organizations
Simona Vlad leads experiential groups on a variety of themes, including professional training, self-awareness, personal support, and psychotherapy. Her main field of expertise is psychodrama, an active and creative method that brings insight through action, role exploration, and group interaction. She currently serves as Secretary on the Board of the Federation of European Psychodrama Training Organizations. Simona teaches psychodrama at psychotherapy institutes in Cluj and Iași, Romania, and in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Simona’s first academic background is in Philology, after which she worked for several years as a project manager in the banking and corporate sectors. For the past two decades, her professional path has been dedicated to psychodrama and group facilitation. She brings warmth, clarity, and a deep respect for human experience —creating spaces where participants can connect and grow.
Adrian Ilovan
Adrian is the CEO of Netlogiq and a web and online marketing specialist since 2000. With experience in over 450 development and promotion projects, he focuses on improving conversion rates for e-commerce and service websites. Adrian is also an experienced trainer and speaker at marketing and online promotion events. He leads Netlogiq, a Cluj-based online marketing agency with a team of 15 specialists, serving multinational and local brands such as OfficeDepot, Golden Tulip, Ramada, and Eximtur.
The digital marketing landscape is being transformed by AI at an unprecedented pace—more has changed in the past year than in the previous decade combined. Search engine results are increasingly dominated by AI-generated answers, forcing marketers to completely rethink their SEO strategies and tactics.
In this session, Adrian will explore how AI is reshaping digital marketing in 2026, presenting both the threats and opportunities that language professionals, agencies, entrepreneurs, and marketing departments need to understand. You'll discover what's working now in SEO, how to adapt your content strategy for an AI-driven search environment, and practical approaches to stay visible and valuable when traditional marketing rules no longer apply.
Alexandra Cozac
Alexandra Cozac is an entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience and the founder of Lady Cozac, a brand dedicated to organization and healthy habits. Starting her career as a journalist with five years in TV media, she later specialized in communication and PR for four years. Alexandra now combines these experiences in her mission to help people build routines that support their success. She believes success is not the result of sudden inspiration but the outcome of daily habits we cultivate. Having undergone personal and professional transformations, she shares her insights as a healthy habits coach, empowering others to create their own versions of success—both personal and professional—one small habit at a time.
In a world that constantly demands adaptation and reinvention, how do we maintain our sense of value while navigating career transitions? Join Alexandra Cozac as she shares her journey from TV journalism to PR, and ultimately to entrepreneurship—a path defined not by chasing trends, but by building on her core strengths.
Drawing from over a decade of professional transformation, Alexandra will explore how language professionals and other creative workers can identify and leverage their unique strengths to create meaningful impact. Through practical insights gained from helping others develop success-building routines, she'll demonstrate how small, consistent actions rooted in what you do best can lead to significant professional reinvention.
This session is for anyone questioning their professional direction, wondering how to stay relevant in an AI-transformed landscape, or simply seeking to understand what unique value they bring to their clients and communities.
Venue
Get to the venue
BUS (FROM AIRPORT)
Lines M41, M41L > 24, 30, 24 B
BOLT / TAXI
Bolt is the leading mobility app operating in Cluj. Alternatively, you can grab a taxi.
The DoubleTree by Hilton
This five-star hotel is an iconic landmark of Cluj, and was the host of TranslateCluj 2020, the previous edition of our conference.