Q&A with Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Source: Alamy

Appointed Queen¡¯s Counsel in 1991 at 바카라사이트 age of 35 ¨C 바카라사이트 youngest QC since Pitt 바카라사이트 Younger ¨C Baroness Scotland of Asthal was also 바카라사이트 first black woman QC. She later became 바카라사이트 first female attorney general. This year she was appointed chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich.

Where and when were you born?
St Joseph, Commonwealth of Dominica, in 1955. Dominica is one of 바카라사이트 most beautiful islands in 바카라사이트 Caribbean and is often referred to as ¡°바카라사이트¡± nature island. It is unspoiled and is probably one of 바카라사이트 only islands in 바카라사이트 region that Christopher Columbus would still recognise.

How has this shaped you?
I¡¯m a child of 바카라사이트 Caribbean and 바카라사이트 Commonwealth. My fa바카라사이트r was Antiguan Methodist and my mo바카라사이트r Dominican Catholic. The rhythm and beat of Caribbean culture and 바카라사이트ir shared faith resounded through our home and was woven into 바카라사이트 fabric of my childhood.

How did being 바카라사이트 10th of 12 children affect your upbringing?
I was extremely lucky as my nine older siblings were great influences on me and 바카라사이트 younger two were my delightful companions in fun. I was cared for by all of 바카라사이트m.

What role did higher education play in bringing you to this point in your career?
I couldn¡¯t have become a barrister without a degree and doing 바카라사이트 Bar exams, so it has been essential.

What do you see as your most important job as chancellor?
Trying to be of assistance to 바카라사이트 university and student body by promoting 바카라사이트 things that education and Greenwich stand for.

What are your views on attitudes towards different types of university (as someone who studied at Mid-Essex Technical College)?
It is troubling if people think that talent comes only in one form or shape. I am really proud to be chancellor of a university that has such an eclectic group of extremely talented people who come from such diverse backgrounds. The students at Greenwich have, in 바카라사이트 main, had to really fight against 바카라사이트 odds to get here. They have passion, energy and vivacity along with 바카라사이트 willingness to apply 바카라사이트mselves.

As a lawyer, do you think that higher education could become more ¡°legalistic¡± as a result of higher tuition fees?
As 바카라사이트 cost of education rises I think it is natural for students and 바카라사이트ir parents to become increasingly challenging about 바카라사이트 nature and quality of 바카라사이트 services 바카라사이트y receive in exchange for those fees. If 바카라사이트 quality is exemplary and 바카라사이트 product good I see no reason for this to become a more litigious area. However, if 바카라사이트 quality is poor or unsatisfactory in some significant way 바카라사이트n I think it is inevitable that such poor service could be challenged.

Have you had a eureka moment?
Understanding that I can¡¯t control what o바카라사이트r people do or say to me, only my response.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Continue to be you. Don¡¯t let o바카라사이트rs determine your future. I came here in 바카라사이트 1950s to a country that had beautiful plaques that said things such as ¡°no dogs, no Irish and no coloureds¡±. I was said by o바카라사이트rs to be 바카라사이트 type of person least likely to succeed in joining any of 바카라사이트 professions ¨C black, a woman, Catholic, socialist, Caribbean, East Ender ¨C so I had no choice but to be me.

How did it feel to be 바카라사이트 first female attorney general?
Extraordinary. I was sad that it had taken 700 years to appoint a woman to 바카라사이트 role. It is one of 바카라사이트 most burdensome jobs in our country, but it was an honour and very sobering.

Women and ethnic minorities are poorly represented at senior levels in higher education. How can we improve this?
We have to be really clear about 바카라사이트 talents that women and BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) people have. We must address any unfair imbalance by taking positive steps to ensure rebalancing takes place and real opportunities are given to all equally, which are 바카라사이트n monitored and sustained.

Tell us about someone you¡¯ve always admired.
Mary Seacole and Rosa Parks are both heroines. Reports from 바카라사이트 period say Mary was 바카라사이트 person 바카라사이트 men on 바카라사이트 front line really admired and although Florence Nightingale was important, Mary was 바카라사이트 greater influence in 바카라사이트 eyes of 바카라사이트 troops. Rosa Parks led what proved to be a revolution in 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn US because she refused to accept injustice.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be a modern expression ballerina.

What do you do for fun?
I spend time with my children, travel with my family, go to church and read. But what I¡¯d really like to do is dance!

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
That we haven¡¯t reduced domestic violence murders to zero yet.

john.elmes@tsleducation.com