Policy Project Manager
- Eleanor McKnight
- After completing my first degree, undertaking further studies
in community education and working abroad for a short time, I was appointed Co-ordinator of a Chinese
Advocacy Association in Belfast. I remained in this project for twelve years.
- Following the collective lobbying for, and introduction of, race
relations legislation to Northern Ireland, I took up a new position as Race Relations Adviser, where
much of the work was developed in partnership with the Department of Health & Social Services and the
Central Community Relations Unit of the Northern Ireland Executive. At the same time, on a voluntary level,
I worked intensively with young Chinese people around the issues of identity and citizenship. This was
followed by a two-year short-term project in a national Black 'umbrella' agency, addressing the capacity
building needs of over 20 voluntary and community groups.
- I then changed direction, moving away from the voluntary sector to the
Race Equality Unit of the new Equality Commission in Northern Ireland - an amalgamation of the CRE, Equal
Opportunities Commission, Fair Employment Commission and Disability Council. As Race Equality Officer,
I had a broad remit, which included complainant aid, settlement terms and conditions for public bodies,
training (both race specific and generic) and developing public sector guidance, such as national Race Equality
Guidelines for Health. Other work involved policy development in relation to overseas workers, Refugees and
Asylum Seekers.
- In September 2002, I moved back to Scotland to work with the NRCEMH on
policy development and implementation.
