Nicola Rollock

​Professor Nicola Rollock is a distinguished academic, author, and consultant specialising in racial justice within education and the workplace. She currently serves as Professor of Social Policy and Race at King’s College London and is also a Distinguished Fellow at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. Nicola’s advocacy for racial equality is driven by a commitment to fostering meaningful change through critical examination of systemic racism. Her speaking engagements cover a range of pertinent topics, including survival strategies for Black employees, white allyship, approaches to advancing racial justice, subtle forms of racism and racial microaggressions, career strategies and experiences of Black female professors, and navigating higher education for those pursuing degrees or PhDs.​

Nicola’s early career laid a solid foundation for her current endeavours. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Liverpool in 1994, she pursued a Postgraduate Certificate in Family and Couple Therapy at Birkbeck, University of London. In 2001, she was appointed Head of Education at the Runnymede Trust, a UK-based think tank focusing on racial equality. She completed her Doctorate in Education at the UCL Institute of Education in 2006, focusing on the experiences of academically successful Black pupils in a London secondary school. Nicola then held academic positions at London Metropolitan University, the UCL Institute of Education, and Goldsmiths, University of London, where she was Reader in Equity and Education.​

In recent years, Nicola has achieved significant recognition for her work. In 2019, she published the influential report Staying Power: The Career Experiences and Strategies of UK Black Female Professors, highlighting the underrepresentation and challenges faced by Black female professors in the UK. That same year, she curated the Phenomenal Women: Portraits of UK Black Female Professors exhibition, which debuted at London’s Southbank Centre. In 2020, Nicola appeared as an expert contributor in the BAFTA-winning Channel 4 documentary, The School That Tried to End Racism. Her first sole-authored book, The Racial Code: Tales of Resistance and Survival, was published by Penguin Press in 2022.​

Nicola is popular for her insightful and thought-provoking talks that delve into the complexities of racial inequality. She provides Black employees with practical survival strategies to navigate and challenge systemic barriers in the workplace. Her discussions on white allyship offer guidance on how individuals can actively support racial justice initiatives. Nicola also examines subtle forms of racism and microaggressions, shedding light on their pervasive impact. By sharing the career strategies and experiences of Black female professors, she inspires and empowers others in academia. Additionally, her talks on accessing and navigating higher education provide valuable insights for those pursuing degrees or PhDs. Organisations and institutions engage Nicola for her expertise to drive conversations and actions towards creating more inclusive and equitable environments.