Nicola Attfield
diversity practitioner, writer and researcher, currently completing a PhD
Cape Town, Western Cape 7700-
I am interested in what it means to work towards a humane and sustainable world, social justice and
ecopsychology. I have an MPHIL in Diversity Studies, and am currently completing my PhD through
Wits university.
Work Experience
Freelance writer and researcher
Self Employed - Johannesburg, Gauteng
August 2017 to November 2022
Independent reseacher, focusing on topics such as xenophobia, how to manage change, how to manage
a project, how to manage difficult people, the principles of batho pele, talent management, inclusion,
negotiation and team leadership. I have a range of publications in magazines such as Yes! Sci.Dev.Net,
Mindsplain and All4Women.
Project Facilitator
Agents of Change Project - Cape Town, Western Cape
April 2014 to December 2020
Agents of Change is a practice based social sculpture project which focuses on exploring the ways of
being which have contributed to climate change, and how to work towards a more sustainable world?
This project involves arranging and co-ordinating groups, group facilitation where participants are able
to share phenomenological experiences and the recording of data or reflections.
Co - ordinator for ADIPSA
Incudisa, UCT - Cape Town, Western Cape
January 2010 to February 2012
Co -ordinating the Association of Intercultural and Diversity Practitioners while attending UCT. This
position meant arranging and facilitating discussions between practitioners. ADIPSA provided a link
between diversity practice and academic research.
Education
Doctorate in Diversity Studies
University of the Witwatersrand - Johannesburg, Gauteng
July 2015 to Present
Masters in Diversity Studies
University of Cape Town - Cape Town, Western Cape
February 2009 to December 2012
BA (hons) in Psychology
University of South Africa - South Africa
January 2005 to February 2007
Skills
• Workshop facilitation, qualitative research, group facilitation, diversity facilitation, focus groups,
depth interviews, writing, report writing, depth interviews, discourse analysis. (7 years)
• Writing Skills
• WordPress
• Blogging
• Proofreading
• Copywriting
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Microsoft Word, Editing
Links
https://muckrack.com/profile/bio
Awards
Mphil with distinction
December 2012
Publications
Eco social justice in an anthropocentric world
https://www.google.co.za/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiS2cPgi6j7AhUxolwKHea4A8IQFnoECAgQAQ&url=https
%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecologicalcitizen.net%2Fauthor.php%3Fid
%3Dau126&usg=AOvVaw1EqoOrAbmG5NEab-uoQTYP
February 2021
An article written with James Reed on how anthropocentrism is part of dominant culture, and how
ecological thinking and social injustices intertwine.
Additional Information
Interests: reading, writing, walking, swimming, deep ecology, ecofeminism, ecopsychology, social
identity, social narratives, critical social theory and decolonised theory
