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Attended Hymers College:
1991 - 2001
What makes this nominee inspiring?
Sophie balances a very busy life as a Global Finance Director, a polo player (current national 8 goal ladies polo champion) and a mum of 2 young boys. Since leaving Hymers, Sophie went to Nottingham University to study for BA Hons Management Studies. She then trained to be a Chartered Accountant with PwC progressing up to Audit Manager level before joining the global finance team at Smith & Nephew PLC. She is now a Finance Director with global FP&A responsibility at BBRG (part of the €6 billion Bekaert Group). Her career has taken her all over the world including Dubai, Switzerland, Amsterdam, Poland, India, France and Belgium. Sophie has also been heavily involved in many women in business initiatives and is a member of the “diversity and inclusion” team within the Bekaert organisation. Sophie has always been a keen horsewoman having successfully competed for Hymers on many occasions. Whilst at Hymers, she won many show jumping titles including at the prestigious Horse of the Year show. Sophie then went on to be the Captain of the University of Nottingham Equestrian 1st team. Sophie now focuses her equine efforts on polo for which she was selected to play in the "Women in Polo" UK wide league in 2021. Sophie and her “Parc Fermé” teammates convincingly won the 2021 8 goal National title and retained this title again in 2022 where they were undefeated in all games. Sophie has been influential in promoting ladies polo in the North of England and her team was the first full Northern ladies polo team to win at National level.
