Sofia Dedes is an industry leading communications community/stakeholder and government relations professional with over 20 years’ experience in journalism, media advising government and strategic communications advice. Sofia has advised Victorian Government Minister’s on local government, planning, transport, local government, health, emergency services, police, security, and counter terrorism policy, as well as state-wide media strategy.

Over her career, Sofia has worked in senior levels of government and led the  stakeholder and media strategy for large national public facing organisations including the United Nations in Lebanon, Country Fire Authority, the Royal Melbourne Women’s Hospital, South East Water, and the Victorian Planning Authority.

Sofia has also trained with the International Association for Public Participation Australasia has begun her Certificate IV in Training Facilitation. She has held board positions on the Alola Foundation, established in 2001 by Kirsty Sword Gusmão, the former First Lady of Timor-Leste, the board of Melbourne radio station SYN Radio/90.7 FM and Women’s Health Victoria.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (journalism) and a Master’s degree in international relations (Human Rights Law) from Deakin University and in 2020 undertook a Certificate of Change & Corporate Communications at Cornell University.