We’re so excited to introduce Sophie our new Projects Officer, who joined the Beacon team in June alongside Niamh, our new Communications Officer.
Get to know one of the newest members of our team and email her at sophie@rarebeacon.org to say hello.
Welcome to the rare family, Sophie!
What were you doing before you joined Beacon?
Before I joined Beacon, I was following my lifelong dream to become a Vet by studying at Cambridge.
Having survived years of gruelling exams, Covid-interrupted studies, and gaining a BA in Zoology, I made it into my fourth year out of six. All of this caught up with me, however, in January 2022 and I realised that this was perhaps no longer the career for me.
I took some time out to explore what I wanted to do next, working part-time and freelance in communications, administration and data. I now feel ready to settle down into a permanent position, applied to Beacon, and the rest is history!
Why did you choose to join the Beacon team?
Despite deciding Veterinary Medicine was no longer the path I wanted to follow, my career motivations and values have remained largely the same. Having managed to convince my boyfriend that we will eventually need a (rather large!) small holding to keep animals physically in my life, charity work in the medical or animal sectors became my new career focus.
Therefore, upon coming across Beacon’s job advert, it was immediately working for a cause that heavily resonated with me, especially having learnt so much about human medicine at university, and as a close family member was diagnosed with a rare disease when I was a child.
What really piqued my interest is Beacon’s work was that, to improve the lives of people diagnosed with rare diseases, the approach is through empathy, community and advocacy, rather than just bombarding them with cold, hard, jargon-laden science.
The more I read and hear about the work Beacon does and it’s aims, the more enthused I am about making even just a small difference in this impactful space. I am so grateful to be able to say I work at Beacon and I’m very excited to meet and support as much as the rare disease community as possible.
What do you want to achieve most at Beacon?
I really want to continue pushing and striving forward the work that Beacon does to help all members of the community.
I hope that my fresh set of eyes and my experience in medicine, natural sciences and Veterinary Medicine mean that I can bring new ideas to brainstorms for all manner of projects.
I really hope to carve out a path for myself by starting in such a broad role and am excited to explore the different areas of work that Beacon does to really find my niche in the sector!
What are your hobbies outside of work?
All my hobbies are somehow unfortunately middle-aged… I am classical musician, singing soprano in various choirs, Gilbert and Sullivan shows and operas, and playing French Horn and piano.
I am also a volunteer administrator with the RSPB where I award children certificates for helping and celebrating nature. I also enjoy cross stitching, reading, and have recently discovered a love of gardening in my tiny, rented patio garden!
What’s your favourite book/film/TV show and why?
My lifelong love for animals means that my favourite TV show is and always has been anything with David Attenborough. The mix of beautiful videography, animals and interesting facts makes it ideal relaxing television!
And that’s a wrap!
We hope you enjoyed getting to know a little more about one of our newest Beaconites, Sophie.
Remember to email her to say hello and join us in welcoming Sophie to the rare family!
