I was born on 5 May 1967 in Sarajevo, where I was
also educated. In 1990, I graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy at
the University of Sarajevo where I studied French with French literature
and Latin with Roman literature. In 1999, I completed my studies in
solo singing at the Music Academy, University of Sarajevo.

As a recipient of a scholarship of the Government of the Swiss Confederation,
in the school year 1999/2000 I attended one-year postgraduate studies
in general linguistics at the University of Geneva. My final paper
titled Analyse des dimensions syntaxique, textuelle et référentielle du
discours de la presse écrite was recognised as an equivalent to a
pre-doctoral paper, whereby I have acquired the conditions to enrol at
doctoral studies.

In 2004, I defended my doctoral dissertation in
linguistics under the title Une approche modulaire des stratégies
discursives du journalisme politique (mentor Prof. Eddy Roulet, PhD) at
the University of Geneva and acquired the academic degree docteure ès
lettres – linguistique (doctor of humanities – linguistics).

My PhD thesis is available online:

https://doc.rero.ch/record/3670/files/these_SimunicZ.pdf

Since graduating in 1990 until today, I have had
many years of experience in science, education and other professional
areas. I worked as a professor of the French and Latin language in the
First Gymnasium in Sarajevo (1991-1994, permanent employment), as a
translator of French at the UN and NATO (1994-1999) and as a university
assistant in the subject of modern French language at the Faculty of
Philosophy in Sarajevo (1999-2003, permanent employment).

From 2004 until today, I have interpreted, translated and proofread different
types of texts from the Croatian, Bosnian and Serbian languages into
French and back for several local and foreign translation agencies;
occasionally, I also test and evaluate translators, manage
multi-language translation projects and control the quality of
translations.