During her PAF year, Sofie joined UCB Australia as a Commercial Market Support Associate.

Sofie supported the Immunology marketing team in expanding their omnichannel customer engagement strategy and driving promotional efforts for both existing and new products across diverse customer segments. Her responsibilities included coordinating the design and setup of exhibition stands for two major medical congresses, as well as leading the planning and launch of a new partnership focused on patient awareness and education.

Sofie’s PAF year gave her a rare entry point into the pharmaceutical sector—one she acknowledges might not have been available through standard hiring pathways. “Without this experience, I wouldn’t have landed my current position. UCB likely wouldn’t have had the time or resources to onboard someone with my background.” She transitioned from B2C into a highly regulated, science-driven industry and quickly adapted to new governance structures and ways of working. “I had to shift my expectations around ownership and influence—this industry runs on collaboration, not speed.”