46 47 something that I explore in my academic OLIVIA: I’ve grown into my career, NUAM: It’s hard to find a balance, isn’t “Do I belong research. embracing more about who I am, and what it? Because you know, you’re personally my experience is, and bringing that in. The invested in this project as well. So you do AYANDA: In terms of your academic environmental sector is a bit all over the want to talk about stuff that’s important, but in Britain? I’ve research, what is it exactly? shop, because nobody knows what the at the same time it’s emotionally draining to environmental sector is really. So that’s part be constantly reminded of this. Sometimes spent most of NUAM: I was doing research in Myanmar, of the problem. But from the best data we I feel like I have a sense of duty almost to which is where I’m from. Originally, I was have, it’s one of the least diverse sectors be like, hey, if no one’s going to talk about going to look at the faith experiences and in the UK. So embracing, you know, what this then I should because I’ve got personal my life here but the spiritualties and theologies of Christian makes me unique within that, and then experience, but then, you know, that’s a lot women among my ethnicity in Myanmar, going with it and using it to your advantage. of responsibility on someone. my physical and then the pandemic hit. So that forced me to return home. And I spent the rest of At 18, when I started at Edinburgh, I AYANDA: So Olivia, would you like to share appearance 2020, like most of us, panicking, and trying definitely wouldn’t have been like, oh, you with us what you brought with you? to figure out how to continue my research. know, I’m going to have a job that means I And just as I found a new direction, the have to talk explicitly on the radio about my OLIVIA: I have brought with me a necklace marks me out military coup happened in Myanmar, which race. . . definitely not! that my mum got me for my 21st birthday. really closed the door to that avenue. It’s a Tiffany necklace and it’s the classic as different.” NUAM: Does that ever get taxing, talking Tiffany heart, with my initials engraved in So the latest version of my PhD is now about your race and your identity as part of the back. looking at the theologies of migrant your day to day job? women from my ethnic group: migrant I was really grateful for it because it’s a women in the UK, and Europe. I’m basically OLIVIA: What’s good about Black and lovely thing and it’s an expensive gift but at questioning how their experiences of life, in Green is it’s by the black community for the the time I’m like I’m not gonna wear that a context so different from where they grew black community. So within the team, and necklace. I don’t do hearts. But I wear it all up, has impacted the way they understand your immediate hub, you’re around people the time now. God, the divine, all that kind of stuff. That’s a like you or who aren’t going to ask stupid very kind of elevator pitch version of it. questions, and are not going to treat you AYANDA: And Nuam, I believe you brought like an EDI [equality, diversity and inclusion] jewellery as well with you?  AYANDA: And yes, Olivia, just from what consultant. Nuam said about her career and how it NUAM: Yeah, I’ve got my grandmother’s really links to personal experiences, you I think I’m still learning how [to say] what I ring. It’s very blingy. It’s got like, three rows kind of spoke about intersectionality and want to say, and there’s definitely still stuff of about six rubies. She passed away two how it’s your personal experience. I think I don’t say, and don’t talk about. I don’t years ago. And when she passed, I got given it’s also translated into your career, would know if that’ll change, or if that’s just my it by my mum. So it’s very, very important you say so? boundary.  and significant to me.