Associate Professor Chrisma Pretorius is an academic in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She holds a PhD from the University of the Free State (2011) and is dually registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as both a neuropsychologist and counselling psychologist.  She is an NRF C1-rated researcher and SUNRISE Fellow, recognised for her leadership in developing innovative, collaborative research programmes with the potential to improve health outcomes in Africa.

Prof. Pretorius leads the Neuro-Inclusion Research Group, an interdisciplinary research programme based within the Department of Psychology. The group’s vision is an Africa where people living with chronic neurological conditions are cared for, valued, and understood. The group's research focuses on co-designing evidence-based psychoeducational interventions with patients, caregivers and healthcare providers to reduce stigma and improve care.

Her research has a particular focus on Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and functional seizures, while also encompassing epilepsy, dementia and multiple sclerosis. She combines qualitative and quantitative methods to develop contextually relevant interventions that improve patient experiences and strengthen healthcare systems across Africa.

Prof. Pretorius has served for more than a decade as the African representative on the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Functional/Dissociative Seizures Taskforce and is a founding member of the Functional Neurological Disorder Society (FNDS), where she serves on the Communications Committee. She also serves as cultural ambassador for Africa. Nationally, she serves on the editorial board of the African Journal of Disability. Through the Neuro-Inclusion Research Group, Prof. Pretorius is building research capacity across Africa by fostering interdisciplinary and international collaborations, mentoring emerging researchers, and co-producing contextually relevant interventions with patients, caregivers and healthcare providers. Her work aims to reduce stigma, improve person-centred neurological care, and ensure that people living with chronic neurological conditions are better cared for, valued and understood.