Sonia Thomas has been the Executive Director of the Women in Exhibitions Network since November 2022. Sonia is a highly motivated professional with strong communication and analytical skills and has held senior roles within the exhibitions industry for almost two decades (she was previously Director Operations/COO of UFI). Sonia believes in operational excellence and service orientation/customer centricity through data, process, and communication management. She sits on several advisory boards for the exhibition sector.

Sonia is also an executive and team coach and teaches HRM and coaching at university level, and has been a coach for the Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at HEC Paris Business School for three years. She holds a master’s degree in team coaching and was recently certified by LSE on Inclusive Leadership Through Behavioural Studies. She is specialized in change management and believes in collective intelligence and the extended benefits of a diverse workforce, with a professional philosophy of empowerment and a more participative style of management.