Clare Suttie

Here’s the tea on Clare Suttie

Clare founded Atlas Translations in 1991 and has spent 35 years helping people and organisations communicate across languages. She knows that a successful project takes more than finding someone who speaks the language. It takes the right specialist, a clear understanding of who the message is for, and the confidence to ask questions before a small misunderstanding becomes a costly one.

That experience shapes how Clare leads Atlas today. She works with the team to solve unusual or complex language challenges and advises clients on the best approach for their audience, budget and purpose. Her knowledge spans translation, interpreting, localisation and the many practical details that surround them, from terminology and document layout to accessibility and quality assurance.

Clare is particularly interested in work where getting the language right has real consequences: patient information, legal documents, technical content and communication that people need to understand and trust. She believes good language services begin with listening. Sometimes the most useful thing Atlas can do is ask a client one more question.

She’s also a longstanding advocate for the people behind the work. She served as the corporate representative on the board of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting from 2013 to 2020 and regularly shares advice with translators and interpreters. At Atlas, she has built a team and supplier community around professional skill, careful project management and strong working relationships. In 2019, she introduced a four-day working week for the team.

Outside Atlas, Clare brings the same organising energy to community fundraising, including St Albans Postboxes and Exmouth Mail Trail. She lives in Devon with her family, remains very fond of a cup of tea, and is always happy to talk through a language challenge.