Sonya’s Biography

Sonya has dedicated her life to advancing justice for survivors of gender-based violence. She believes survivors are experts in their own lives and that lasting change begins when their knowledge shapes the policies, practices, and systems intended to support them.

As Director of Stakeholder Outreach & Engagement, Sonya leads the Amourgynoir in Practiceproject, a Black-led, survivor-led training initiative centred on the experiences of Black women, girls, gender-diverse and trans survivors.

Over 3 decades, Sonya has worked across the public, private, and non-profit sectors to create meaningful change for survivors. Before joining WomenatthecentrE, Sonya served as Executive Director of Surrey Women’s Centre and later as the inaugural Director of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office at the University of British Columbia, where she helped establish one of Canada’s largest campus-based sexual violence prevention and survivor support programs.

Sonya holds an MBA with a specialization in Leadership and remains committed to working alongside survivors to amplify lived expertise and advance a future where survivors can exercise their right to safety, healing, and justice.

Without community, there is no liberation.
— Audre Lorde