Global and Noble: Professor Emeritus Carmel McNaught’s Voyages

Carmel McNaught is not a professor, she is an educator - and in her four decade long career, she has never forgotten that. Now christened as Professor Emeritus, Carmel is a sought after scholar across the globe through her contribution to the Universities at New Zealand, Zimbabwe, South Africa, UAE and of course, her home, Australia - where she dedicated reasonable amounts of time, to bring about reforms.

Seizing opportunities that quench her yearning for thrill as well as service, seems to be the one common theme through all her endeavours. In this exclusive interview, she tells Binjal Shah of SheThePeople about her voyages around the world as an educator and patron of change.

What does being an educator entail in today’s context?

 
I see myself as a facilitator within a community of intelligent and diverse people. I am proud, privileged and often humbled by the fact that my work has been recognized in various ways - by the title Emeritus Professor and by several awards.

Education is a vehicle for change in that it can give access to new ideas, fresh perspectives, and possible strategies for change. When I was a junior teacher, I could perhaps influence and assist the students I taught. As I assumed more senior positions, there were opportunities to impact on whole-of-institution policies and processes.

  Professor to Professor Emeritus – what were the high points and the low ones, in this incredible journey?
I know I am privileged, having been born into a stable family in a country of privilege, which is how I see Australia. I am grateful - and feel a responsibility to contribute back to the global community in our connected world.

I have the joy of a happy marriage, four wonderful children and three grand-children. My family has been a support to me and the multiple roles of wife, mother and professor work together to keep me better balanced.

But I do think that many women work harder than men in equivalent positions. I don't know why we have to do this but I do know that we do. For me, I have often had the feeling that my success could support other women (and men) in their endeavours - that I could make a difference to people I directly worked with and also to the wider community of educational professionals.

Carmel Mcnaught

 Since your life as an educator warranted that you expand your horizons geographically, you may have interacted with a wide spectrum of audiences –and women too. How has that experience been, and what did it add to your journey?

My career has had several meanderings: for the final decade of my full-time career. I have spent reasonable periods of time as a Professor and visiting Scholar in other countries and feel I understand the university systems in Zimbabwe and South Africa, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore and England. I now have a base in the UAE, as well as our home in Australia.

One has to live somewhere to understand the nuances of culture at a level that can be life-changing. In all the places I have lived, I have learnt so much. I have learnt to see issues and life from multiple perspectives; I have learnt to be more patient; and, most of all, I have learnt to be grateful for the abundance and peace of my life when I know that many others do not share the advantages of my situation.

   If there was one principle that governed the way you took on your life, that you would like to impart to the next generation, what would it be?

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life." This sense of always looking forward is so important to me. One learns from the past but it is not wise to continue to live there or to try to hold onto what is gone.

"Don't put off till tomorrow what can be done today." Time to do everything is always a challenge. Being efficient is really, really important. Time is a gift that should be used and not wasted.

How important is it, rewarding women's achievements? What role do awards play in the women's movement? 
Everyone, at every stage of life, needs to be rewarded. I prefer to adopt an inclusive view with respect to gender, ethnicity, age, etc., and so regard the women's movement as standing up for all those who are marginalized or discriminated against. In order to do that we need to make the world hear about the stories of women who have achieved significantly. Awards are a great way to do this; and the sharing of stories of those who achieve can be an uplifting inspiration to others.