Allison Furniss

Allison Furniss is a PhD candidate in the department of anthropology at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Allison holds a Master of Philosophy degree, with distinction, specializing in Justice and Transformation. Her PhD research focuses on how female artisanal coltan miners, traders and transporters in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo navigate their daily work environment and benefit from mining capitalism. She is conducting a multi-sited ethnography guided by feminist epistemologies to better understand the production chain of modern digital technologies and renewable energies, many of which require non-renewable materials in their fabrication. Born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, Allison has been an active volunteer in political and labour advocacy in her home community and is passionate about social justice initiatives. Previously, she worked for 4 years in Tanzania and Namibia conducting sport for social change initiatives. She has also worked for 4 years in the non-profit sector in her home Territory of Yukon, engaged in various empowerment and support programs for youth and college students from rural northern communities.