TEAM
The HEAPS team brings together a rich blend of disciplinary expertise in education, sociology, economics, psychology, social policy, and clinical sociology. As both researchers and education practitioners, the team is united by a shared commitment to social justice, with a particular focus on promoting equitable access to education.
Team Members
Dr Aradhana Ramnund-Mansingh
POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Aradhana is Head of the MBA programme at MANCOSA and a Research Fellow at the University of the Free State, South Africa. A prolific academic and published author, her work spans sociology, education, and human resource development. She is a Chartered HR professional and active member of several national and international professional bodies.
Dr Benedicte Brahic
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Benedicte is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. Her research focuses on gender and bordering processes within migration and education contexts. She is engaged in interdisciplinary work that critically examines the intersections of mobility, identity, and social inequality.
Dr Khayaat Fakier
CO-INVESTIGATOR
Khayaat is an Associate Professor in Sociology at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Her scholarship focuses on women’s care work and environmental sustainability, with research interests in ecofeminism, the sociology of work, and gendered economies. She teaches and supervises widely on feminist topics, including women in law, incarceration, and fatherhood.
Dr Kim Heyes
CO-INVESTIGATOR
Kim is a Community Psychologist in the School of Nursing and Public Health at Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. Her research explores the intersections of gender, abuse, and health inequalities, with a focus on community-based approaches to addressing systemic disparities in health and wellbeing.
Professor Mariam Seedat-Khan
CO-INVESTIGATOR
Mariam is a Clinical and Applied Sociologist based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her research addresses family, work, and community through a sociological lens, particularly during crises such as COVID-19. She holds numerous leadership roles and board positions with national and international organisations.
Professor Nicola Ingram
CO-INVESTIGATOR
Nicola is Head of the School of Education at University College Cork, Ireland, and a leading sociologist of education. As a Bourdieusian scholar and co-founder of the British Sociological Association Bourdieu Study Group, her work explores intersectional social class inequalities, with a strong focus on educational contexts and youth transitions.
Dr Shoba Arun
CO-INVESTIGATOR
Shoba is Reader in Sociology at Essex University, United Kingdom. Her research interests centre on gender, work, and intersectional inequalities, particularly in relation to global labour markets and development. She has published extensively on these themes, contributing to both academic and policy debates.
HEAPS 