Nicola Robins

I’ve spent 25+ years helping leaders and teams who seek better decisions and action in relation to society and nature. I’ve worked in 15 countries and in most sectors, primarily with listed companies in emerging markets. I was taught by pioneers of Impact Assessment (University of Cape Town), Industrial Ecology (Yale School of the Environment) and Shared Value strategy (Prof Mark Kramer of Harvard Business School). I've spent time in research (Environmental Evaluation Unit, UCT) and as a corporate employee (Nissan SA). My present focus is on applying complexity-adapted tools in sustainability. My sources include the 'Naturalising Sensemaking' school of complexity science and the Traditional Southern African Knowledge System known as Ngoma. As a consultant, I've learnt through trial and error, which has admittedly been tricky at times. My current focus on loosely structured thinking partnerships allows me to learn more gracefully these days, alongside my clients. Seeing local Traditional Knowledge being applied in effective and respectful ways brings me alive. I live in Cape Town, a short walk from the edge of the Great African Seaforest.