Sofia brings over 23 years of work experience from the private and development sectors, serving as a leader in partnerships and fundraising for various areas of work in Africa, Europe, and the US. She worked as the Director for Resource Mobilization and a member of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation’s (AATF) Executive Management Team. In this role, Sofia developed and implemented the organization's strategic and business plans and raised over USD100 million for agricultural technology scouting, adaptation, deployment, and commercialization for different food value chains.  

As IRRI’s Regional Director for Africa, Sofia manages and coordinates IRRI’s activities in East and South Africa (ESA), working closely with governments, development agencies, donors, and other key partners in the region. She also leads the development and implementation of IRRI’s regional and country strategies for research and development, outreach, and capacity-building.