Who are we?

We are a small, but perfectly formed, team of freelancers who can meet many of your language-related needs.

The friendships and working relationships at monkeyproof go back up to 25 years – yes, we really are that old – and span two continents, four countries, endless laughs and cups of coffee, and a fair bit of Nicaraguan rum.

Megan Caine

The copy-editor in me has most recently experienced the joys of sprucing up UK parliamentary debates for publication, while my qualified Spanish to English translator (DipTrans) side has been working with a wide variety of clients in the UK, Spain and Nicaragua, going back 20 years. And, sometimes simultaneously, as an RSA-qualifed English teacher I have inspired people of all ages to learn the language and have been employed as a teacher trainer at higher education level.

Over my career, since my first degree in psychology and education, I have also stepped into the role of, among other things, an aromatherapist, a community development worker in Nicaragua, an international conference organiser and a non-executive director of a women’s network, and when not working I’m an ashtanga yoga fanatic and fledgling vegan cook, and am learning Japanese and the ukulele (albeit not at the same time).

This eclectic collection of skills and experiences means that I have the ability to work on texts in a wide range of fields, and to expertly copy-edit English texts written by Spanish speakers. It also means that I have the annoying habit of constantly embarrassing my friends by ranting about bad English in public places. On holiday, I’m always the one taking a photo of a badly-translated sign while ignoring the breathtaking view at my back… If you want to know more, drop me a line on megan[at]monkeyproof.co.uk and I can send you my CV and answer any professional queries you might have.

Susy Carrera

Born and raised in Peru, I went to an American school in Lima, which gave me a sound English foundation while awakening my interest in languages. After attending bilingual English-Spanish secretarial school, I worked for two years at the New Zealand Embassy in Lima as secretary to the Chargé d’Affaires. I then relocated to Cologne, Germany, which was to be my home for the next 10 years, first as a university student and then, after graduating in translation in English, German and Spanish, as head of the Argentinean Embassy’s pool of translators in Bonn – a fantastic job, and a unique opportunity to learn about European-Latin American relations.

I arrived back in Lima in 1989, and have pursued a career as a freelance translator ever since, with clients that include a wide range of global charities and international agencies. I am an expert in international aid terminology and have an in-depth understanding of development theory and practice. But my interests go well beyond translation and include a passion for politics, the environment, animals and the defence of the voiceless around the world. I have also travelled extensively around Europe, the US, Latin America and South Africa. I am an avid reader and movie fan, and love nature and exercising.

Esther Santamaría Iglesias

I was born in Madrid and educated in Spain, where I qualified as a Spanish language instructor, and the UK, where I gained my BA degree. I taught Spanish and specialised in Spanish for business purposes at the University of Aberystwyth (1995-2003) and the University of Swansea (2003-2012). My own publications include “A Spanish Grammar Workbook” (Blackwell, 2002) and “En Activo: Practical Business Spanish” (Routledge, 2008).

I have always combined my career in education with work as an indexer and, having recently gone freelance in this area, I now specialise in creating indexes, bibliographies and filmographies for international publishers, including a number of university presses in Spain, the UK and the USA. I currently live in the UK, and am owned by a rather large, but very loveable, puppy and a nonplussed cat.

Below is a representative selection of past and current clients…..