Sonya has spent over two decades in the third sector, from frontline child protection to national policy. She's now the Chief Executive Officer of Action for ME – a charity that is especially close to her heart.
Why did you choose to study at Bath?
At the time, Bath was one of the few universities offering the course I wanted. It also accepted students under 21, which was important for me, and it had a strong reputation in my field.
It was close to my family, especially my younger siblings, and meant I could continue to work at my dad's restaurant and support him.
Did you have a particular career in mind when you chose your course?
I was very clear that I wanted to work in the third sector, tackling injustice. I've always been passionate about child protection, and that really shaped my choices.
Can you tell us about your experience of studying here?
My university experience was probably quite different to many others. I didn't live on campus and juggled several jobs to fund living independently, which meant I missed out on quite a lot of the typical university life. I was also one of the youngest on my course, with many mature students who had families and other commitments, so I tended to come in for lectures and then head off again.
Things really changed when I joined the badminton team. That's when I started to build friendships and feel part of a wider community.
Campus was smaller then. The social sciences block in 3 East wasn't the most inspiring space, so whenever we could, we'd work together down by the lake.
It's been amazing to see how much the university has evolved since then. The newer buildings and the Sports Training Village have completely transformed the feel of the campus into somewhere far more vibrant.
Describe your career journey since graduating.
I left Bath not only with my BSc and Social Work Diploma, but also a young baby, which was not quite expected! My eldest son, Josh, who is now 28, was born just after I sat my finals and just before I started my final placement.
When I qualified, I joined Bath & North East Somerset's (B&NES) Looked After Team, working with children and young people in long-term fostering and adoption. After a few months, my husband, Josh and I went travelling to Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. It wasn't quite the gap year I'd imagined, but it was still an adventure, especially with a nine-month-old baby!
When I got back, I rejoined the team and, over the next few years, took on a range of opportunities alongside frontline social work, including specialist drugs work and trustee roles with local charities. I then moved to Off The Record B&NES, first as Advocacy Service Manager and later Operations Manager.
Along the way, I became Chair of a national organisation for children's rights officers and advocates, which gave me the opportunity to get involved in national policy work. I was then encouraged to apply for an Assistant Director role with Barnardo's South West. It was a daunting move – especially as I was much younger than those I was line managing – but one that shaped me as a leader. I later moved into a national role, combining business support with leading a government-funded partnership to strengthen the voluntary sector.
I knew very little about ME when I saw my current role being advertised. I almost didn't go to the interview as it clashed with a programme I was delivering, but I'm so thankful I did. I came away desperate for the job while also realising how little I knew about the condition and the stigma and inequity experienced by people living with ME.
A year after I joined, my youngest son developed ME following a chest infection, making the work even more personal. Fourteen years since joining, I'm more passionate about the organisation than ever and proud of the real and palpable change we're making.
Alongside my role, I'm Chair of the Future Ambitions Board for Bath & North East Somerset, which has given me the chance to contribute to the place where I was born and brought up, working with some incredible people across different sectors, like Vice-Chancellor Professor Phil Taylor and the University. I'm also a Leadership Fellow with St George's House at Windsor Castle, where I've met some brilliant people who have challenged and inspired me in so many ways.
What is a typical day like in your current role?
In my Chief Executive role, I have many meetings, internally with my leadership team or CEO coffee catchups with individual colleagues, and externally from Chairing the World ME Alliance, or one of research partnerships like DecodeME or Sequence ME & Long Covid to a meeting with a parliamentarian or a donor. I'm often in London meeting donors or parliamentarians and battling with delayed trains, but I wouldn't have it any other way!
What do you enjoy most about your career?
I feel very lucky to have had jobs that I have felt very passionate about. I have met the most amazing people throughout my career. Children and parents who have inspired me with their resilience and colleagues, bosses and teachers who have shared their wisdom and helped mould who I am. And of course, the community I work with whose lived experience shapes what we do, organisationally, and what I do, personally.
Has anything surprised you along the way?
I am always blown away by how much more can be achieved when we work together. So many problems seem insurmountable, but collaboration can make the impossible seem possible and I get to see that in action on a regular basis.
I think what really surprises me is when people don't work collaboratively and allow their egos or self-focus to get in the way. Luckily, that's a lot less common than it used to be!
If you could go back in time to when you were a Bath student, how would you spend 24 hours?
I think I'd want to party! Having not had the 'uni life' in the way many others do, I think I would like to experience it for 24 hours.
What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about studying your course at Bath?
Keep your options open and be proactive. Don't wait for opportunities to come to you, go out and create them.
Take on volunteering, trustee roles, or any chance to gain insight into different careers. Talk to people, ask questions, and learn from their experiences. Get involved in hobbies and activities. They build valuable transferable skills.
Read, research and explore. Whatever you can fit in. Every experience adds something, and it will all help when you take your next steps.
Respond
