Amanda Smith,
Director, Language Strategy & Content Business Operations,
Discovery Communications
Amanda is responsible for leading the language customisation strategy of one of the largest media operations in Europe, with 28 languages for Europe and the Middle East and access services (closed captioning subtitles, on screen signing and audio description) in 6 languages. Management of 55+ third party vendors across Europe, including vendor selection, negotiating commercial terms and rates and conducting regular RFP reviews. Budget management of a multi million dollar budget, including reporting to key stakeholders.
In a prior role to Discovery, Amanda was Head of Studios at Chello Zone managing 7 local dubbing and subtitling studios, providing services to international broadcasters such as BBC Worldwide, Turner and MGM as well as servicing Chello’s internal language requirements. She also served as Language Operations Manager for DNE, where she was responsible for setting up the language operation and managing very fast past growth of languaging.
Amanda studied German and Russian languages and literature at Leeds University.
Languages – German, Russian, French, Bulgarian and Czech.
After hours – Amanda loves travelling and wildlife, she has spent an hour in very close proximity of the mountain gorillas in Uganda, has been to Borneo to see the Orangutans, the Galapagos, Costa Rica, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Botswana, Thailand, Peru and Madagascar. Amanda has travelled extensively throughout Europe for both business and pleasure, particularly in Eastern Europe.
