Giovanna “Gio” Lester, CT, began her career in 1980 in Bahia, Brazil. She has been an active member of ATA, where her roles have included serving on the Marketing Committee, leading the Interpreters Division as both assistant administrator and administrator, contributing to the Portuguese Language Division’s Leadership Council, and participating as a mentor in ATA’s Mentoring Program. An ATA-certified Portuguese-to-English translator, she previously served as a Portuguese-to-English grader for ATA’s Certification Program and continues to deliver workshops that support candidates preparing for ATA’s certification exam.

She served as president of the original ATA Florida Chapter, FLATA, and is the co-founder of the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Florida (ATIF), the current ATA chapter established in 2009, where she also served as director and president. Her commitment to professional development and ethical standards extends beyond ATA. She has held leadership roles with the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) as editor of The NAJIT Observer, with the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters as director and interim vice president, and as president of the Brazilian Association of Translators and Interpreters (Abrates), where she continues to serve as a long-standing mentor.

She remains engaged in advancing industry standards and excellence. She is currently a member of the ASTM F43 Committee on Language Services and Products, and is active in Toastmasters International, serving as vice president of Public Relations. Her career reflects a deep commitment to elevating the profession, supporting colleagues, and strengthening the quality and visibility of language services.