Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine how the researcher can critically reflect on his/her own identities when interacting with participants who hold nomadic identities and analyses the dynamic discourses of power unfolding at different levels. Design/methodology/approach-Autobiographical narrative data derived from a research study on highly educated refugees in the UK are analysed in order to highlight the multi-level dynamic discourses of power unfolding between researcher, participants, the community context and the broader socio-cultural context. Findings-The findings shed light not only on the power relations unfolding at different levels but also on inequalities which arise-particularly in organisational settings-and put at a disadvantage certain groups of highly educated refugees. Research limitations/implications-The thorough analysis demonstrates how a researcher can be critically reflexive-that is, challenges his/her own authority and gives "voice" to the participants-when studying groups with nomadic identities. Originality/value-The originality of the paper lies in revealing through a critical reflexive analysis how and why certain migrant groups may be disadvantaged and/or marginalised in organisational settings. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Migration research Nomadic identity Refugees Highly educated Power discourses Researcher identity

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