About

Ironically, it was Sophia’s role as a lobbyist for the European plastics industry that ignited her passion for environmental affairs.  After working on issues such as plastics, chemical policy, water issues, and energy in Europe, North America, and the Middle East she developed a keen interest and deep understanding of the intersection of the environment, business, policy, and communications.

Sophia has several years experience working in communications and public affairs for the environmental sector, with a particular focus and passion for recycling and plastic waste. She began her career in Brussels at a trade association representing the plastics industry, where she worked on issues such as chemicals regulation, plastics recycling, and food packaging safety. Her particular focus is on developing end-markets for recycled waste and has worked in market development for a large plastics recycling company where she was involved in developing a public relations and public affairs campaign to address the lack of demand for recycled polymers. She has also worked as a research analyst for the Closed Loop Fund, in the Middle East and Mexico on water management issues, and on public health issues for Sub-Saharan African countries.  She is an Adjunct Professor of Global Environmental Health at New York University’s School of Public Health and an Adjunct Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Studies at Columbia and Fordham Universities in New York City.   

Sophia is the Chair of the National Recycling Coalition‘s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.  She also sits on the Board of Trustees for the Nuasin New Generation Charter School in the Bronx and is a member of the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board since 2018.  Sophia also sits on the Leadership Team of the Ohio Recycling Coalition.

Originally from Toronto, Canada she has also lived and worked in France, Belgium, the West Bank, and the United States. Sophia has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto, and graduated cum laude from the University of Leuven (Leuven, Belgium) with a M.Sc. in Public Policy. Sophia also holds an M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and is fluent in French.