Emerita Professor Helene Jaccomard, French-born and educated, has been affiliated with the University of Western Australia since 1983. She earned her PhD in French Studies from UWA in 1991 with the thesis 'Reader and reading in contemporary French autobiography.' Starting as a part-time tutor and research assistant in the 1990s, she joined as a permanent lecturer in the 2000s, advancing rapidly to Professor of French Studies at Level E. In 2014, she expanded her responsibilities to include Translation Studies. She held leadership positions including Convenor of French Studies, Chair of European Languages and Studies, and Arts Faculty Associate Dean (Education). Jaccomard pioneered the Master of Translation Studies program at UWA, the first professional degree in foreign languages in Western Australia. She has extensive experience as a translator and interpreter for private and government agencies.

Her research specializations encompass French cultures and societies, language and literature, teaching innovations, migrant literature including Beurs and perspectives on the Algerian War, Islam in France, French drama especially works by Yasmina Reza, social issues in testimonies and autobiographies such as HIV-AIDS and violence, and translation studies including machine translation. Key publications include 'Yasmina Reza et le Bonheur: Théâtre et romans' (2022, L'Harmattan), ''Cheerful or Merry?’ Investigating Literary Translation Revision' (2020, Australian Journal of French Studies), 'Work Placements in Masters of Translation: Five Case Studies from the University of Western Australia' (2018, Meta), and 'Teaching the art of “judicious” translators’ interventions' (2024, Translation and Interpreting Studies). She has authored five books, nearly 65 peer-reviewed articles, three translations, nine book chapters, and a dozen non-refereed publications. Since 2008, she has served as Managing Editor of Essays in French Literature and Culture, expanding it to open access; she continues in this role after 18 years. She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Australian Journal of French Studies and the editorial team of Aalitra. In 2009, she was awarded Officier des Palmes académiques by the French Ministry of Education for contributions to French Studies in Australia. Currently, as Senior Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Humanities, Discipline of European Languages and Cultures, she works on translating a play by Yasmina Reza.

Professional Email: helene.jaccomard@emeriti.uwa.edu.au