We are delighted to announce that Sophie Ede has joined Real as our new Interim CEO and will be working with us over the next six months. Sophie brings over twenty years of experience in the charity sector, a deep commitment to improving the lives of d/Deaf and Disabled people, and personal lived experience that has shaped her dedication to this work.
Sophie is an experienced charity leader. Her most recent CEO role was at Hearing Help Essex, a charity providing support to people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing. She is also Co Chair of Stagetext, the national arts charity providing captioning in theatres, museums and arts venues.
Sophie originally trained as a classical singer before losing her hearing in her mid twenties. She is now a profoundly deaf hearing aid user. She is passionate about breaking down barriers for d/Deaf and Disabled people and brings a deep personal commitment to inclusion.
At Real Sophie will focus on strengthening our financial sustainability. This includes developing new funding opportunities and creating clear training packages for organisations that want to work with us to improve their Disability Awareness and understanding of Reasonable Adjustments. These training offers will support employers and service providers to become more confident and more inclusive.
Sophie lives in Essex with her husband, son and goldendoodle. Outside of work she enjoys volunteering, gardening, walking and spending time with friends and family.
We are excited to have Sophie with us and look forward to working together to continue delivering our important work.
