WHO’S WHO introduces people who are making an important contribution to education in Ireland today.

NAME: Philip Watt
OCCUPATION: Director of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI)

Where are you from?
I am from the Cliftonville Road, north Belfast, and more recently, Skerries, County Dublin

What is your earliest childhood memory?
My father holding my brother Timothy just after his birth (it must have been in 1965, when I was 2 and half years old)

How many siblings have you?
I have one older sister, Moyra, and one younger brother, Tim

Are you a close family?
We are a close, though geographically dispersed family with my sister in Wales, and my brother and mother in Belfast. My father Sam died ten years ago.

Where did you go to school/college?
I went to Cliftonville Primary, Belfast Royal Academy, and in 1980 I went to Trinity College Dublin. My decision to go to TCD rather than a British or northern university was one of the most important (and best) decisions of my life.
 
Was there a teacher or lecturer who had a particular influence on you?
I loved history and Mr ‘Bones’ McCoy in Belfast Royal Academy was an outstanding teacher who also related well to his students with the abundant qualities of patience and equality. Also, Mr Jameson, a brilliant (though also a very strict) maths teacher.

What sparked your strong interest in interculturalism and racism?
During my time in the Students’ Union in Trinity College we were actively involved in campaigning against the injustice of apartheid as well as the values instilled by my mother and father.

What led you to your job as Director of NCCRI?
I was seconded to the Department of Justice to coordinate the European Year against Racism in 1997 and the NCCRI emerged as a new body to carry forward the progress that had been made during the year.

What are the main challenges facing NCCRI at present?
The biggest challenges are the changes that have taken place in Irish society in recent years and also the need to keep a focus on both ‘new’ diversity in Ireland and existing diversity, including the continued challenges of the inclusion of the Traveller community in Irish society. We work in the ‘space’ between the government and broader civil society, which is always a challenging position to be in!

Are you satisfied that we are winning the battle against racism in this country?
Combating racism will remain an on-going challenge and old forms of racism remain and change and new forms appear. Our success will be measured by the extent to which Government bodies actively combat racism and promote an intercultural approach to integration. The new Office of the Minister for Integration and the work of the Minister of State, Conor Lenihan TD, have had an important and welcome policy impact in recent months.

What one outcome would you most wish to achieve in your work with NCCRI?
Contributing significantly to Government policy to ensure that Ireland is widely perceived as the leading country in Europe for promoting integration and combating racism.

What does a typical workday involve?
Liaising with staff and our Partnership Board, in particular our Chair Anastasia Crickley, on progress in relation to on-going strategies and projects, in particular the National Action Plan against Racism (Lucy Gaffney) and the EU Year of Intercultural Dialogue, 2008; meetings with senior civil servants; editing and writing reports; responding to and generating media interest in our work.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Meeting with the representatives of the growing range of different communities In Ireland and working with an excellent staff team.

What do you like least about your work?
The constant need to identify additional funding to our core funding in a period of challenging economic times.

What is the best thing that happened to you in the past year?
The progress made under the EU Year of Intercultural Dialogue, 2008 and the final year of The National Action Plan against Racism.

Are you a workaholic?
My wife might give you a different answer, but I try and maintain a healthy life work balance, especially as we have three young children.

What do you do to chill out?
Cheer my children from the sidelines at rugby, camogie, soccer and hurling games. I often lose my voice at weekends!

Do you like living in Dublin?
I have loved Dublin since the first day I arrived here when I started college. While I also love to return to Belfast, Dublin is my home.

What plans have you for the future?
To continue...

Have you a pet hate?
Having to work on a Saturday or Sunday.

Have you a role model?
I don’t have a role model as such, but I much admire for different qualities, President Nelson Mandela, President FD Roosevelt, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Barack Obama, Ronnie Fay (Director of Pavee Point), Bob Dylan and our own President, Mary McAleese.

What in the world would you most like to change?
It would have to be ending racism as it has been at much of the root of most human misery over the past one hundred years and more.

Have you a message for educators?
Equality is not necessarily about treating everyone the same, as some students will have greater needs than others.

Have you a message for Government?
To keep a strong focus on integration and anti racism at this time in our history, as what we do now will largely shape the future.

Editor's Note: Further to Budget cuts, it is now likely that the NCCRI will cease to operate. We wish Philip every success in his future work.