As with more recent Presidents, much of this entry has been written thanks to contributions from Hazel, who responded to a Google Form which I sent round to as many Presidents as possible and has been updated slightly since the original posting.
Hazel is currently Chair in Development Geography at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University.
Hazel is a social scientist who has been undertaking research into the reality of gender and development in sub-Saharan Africa for over 30 years. Her main areas of research are the socio-economic aspects of human development and how these impact on children and women, in particular their livelihood opportunities, education as well as health and well-being.
Hazel has led national and international research projects funded by UK government, UK research councils, UK foundations and the European Union Daphne Fund. She has published books, chapters and over 50 refereed articles relating to gender, health and development in sub-Saharan Africa. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, New York Times, London Evening Standard, the Huffington Post, BBC, ITV and Sky TV as well as UK, US and Singapore radio.
She has presented her research at the Houses of Parliament, the EU Parliament and at the Girl Summit 2014.
In 2015 she was named as ‘One of 1000 Most Influential Londoners’ for her research on female genital mutilation. She is a specialist on participatory and community-based action research methods which empower research participants and enables their narratives and views be heard.
Hazel was born in London in 1955.
She told me about her school experiences and employment:
"I failed my 11+ so went to the Secondary Modern School in Maldon, Essex.
I then passed my 13+ so went to the Grammar School in Maldon, Essex.
Two years later the two schools were merged into a large Comprehensive School, renamed The Plume School, Maldon, Essex. I stayed there until I finished my A levels.
From 1973 to 1976 I attended Sussex University where I graduated with a BA 2.1 (Hons) in Geography with African and Asian Studies.
Between 1977-1978 I did an MA in West African Studies at the Centre for West African Studies (CWAS) at Birmingham University.
From 1978 to 1984 I undertook my PhD at CWAS at Birmingham University.
I have spent my career as an academic teaching human geography and development studies and researching social justice issues, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.
I'd just moved into a new job, and we picked up an award for 'Fieldwork through Enquiry' and I also won one for some work I'd done with Felicity Aston on her 'Pole of Cold' expedition.
An area that she often focusses on in her talks is female genital mutilation (FGM): a topic on which she speaks widely at GA Branches and elsewhere, bringing this important issue to the attention of many students. She has written on this topic, and also period poverty (another current issue) for the Conversation:
Hazel said:
"I focussed on equal opportunities during my time as President. I like to think I contributed to the GA being an open diverse organisation which welcomes people of any gender, ability, ethnicity and religion. My main memories are of camaraderie, support and laughing (a lot!)."
References
University page: https://pureportal.coventry.ac.uk/en/persons/hazel-barrett
https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/researchers/professor-hazel-barrett/?theme=main
View Hazel's Presidential Lecture here: https://slideplayer.com/slide/6367868/
BARRETT, HAZEL. “Editorial.” Geography, vol. 82, no. 1, 1997, pp. 1–1. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40572860. Accessed 20 July 2020.
Hazel has led national and international research projects funded by UK government, UK research councils, UK foundations and the European Union Daphne Fund. She has published books, chapters and over 50 refereed articles relating to gender, health and development in sub-Saharan Africa. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, New York Times, London Evening Standard, the Huffington Post, BBC, ITV and Sky TV as well as UK, US and Singapore radio.
She has presented her research at the Houses of Parliament, the EU Parliament and at the Girl Summit 2014.
In 2015 she was named as ‘One of 1000 Most Influential Londoners’ for her research on female genital mutilation. She is a specialist on participatory and community-based action research methods which empower research participants and enables their narratives and views be heard.
Hazel was born in London in 1955.
She told me about her school experiences and employment:
"I failed my 11+ so went to the Secondary Modern School in Maldon, Essex.
I then passed my 13+ so went to the Grammar School in Maldon, Essex.
Two years later the two schools were merged into a large Comprehensive School, renamed The Plume School, Maldon, Essex. I stayed there until I finished my A levels.
From 1973 to 1976 I attended Sussex University where I graduated with a BA 2.1 (Hons) in Geography with African and Asian Studies.
Between 1977-1978 I did an MA in West African Studies at the Centre for West African Studies (CWAS) at Birmingham University.
From 1978 to 1984 I undertook my PhD at CWAS at Birmingham University.
I have spent my career as an academic teaching human geography and development studies and researching social justice issues, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.
When Hazel became President, she was Associate Dean of Applied Research, Faculty of Business, Environment and Society, Coventry University. She was also Research Professor in Development Geography."
I first met Hazel in October of her Presidential year, when she travelled up to the SAGT Conference. She was there to give the fraternal greetings as is common between the SAGT and the GA at their respective conferences. I have attended the SAGT conference almost every year since 2004 when I was first invited up by Val Vannet when she was conference convenor.
Image: John Vannet
Hazel was the editor of 'Geography' from 1997-2003 years. This is a significant role, held for a considerable period.
Hazel's Presidential year reflected her own research interests of course. She told me, "my Presidential theme was:
Geography: Crossing Boundaries.
This refers to the fact that as geographers:
Hazel lived in the Gambia earlier in her career. where she undertook data collection for her PhD. In the early part of her research career she carried out research into the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa and has done numerous invited lectures at GA branches on this topic.
Geography: Crossing Boundaries.
This refers to the fact that as geographers:
- We research issues that cross physical and human boundaries
- We research issues that require an interdisciplinary approach that cross subject boundaries
- The methodologies and methods we use in our research are constantly pushing back boundaries
Hazel lived in the Gambia earlier in her career. where she undertook data collection for her PhD. In the early part of her research career she carried out research into the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa and has done numerous invited lectures at GA branches on this topic.
More recently her research has focussed on female genital mutilation (FGM) both in Africa but also in the EU and UK.
Over the last decade her research has been directed at the social and economic aspects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, in particular Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and The Gambia as well as amongst migrant groups in the UK.
An area that she often focusses on in her talks is female genital mutilation (FGM): a topic on which she speaks widely at GA Branches and elsewhere, bringing this important issue to the attention of many students. She has written on this topic, and also period poverty (another current issue) for the Conversation:
Hazel said:
"I focussed on equal opportunities during my time as President. I like to think I contributed to the GA being an open diverse organisation which welcomes people of any gender, ability, ethnicity and religion. My main memories are of camaraderie, support and laughing (a lot!)."
References
University page: https://pureportal.coventry.ac.uk/en/persons/hazel-barrett
https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/researchers/professor-hazel-barrett/?theme=main
View Hazel's Presidential Lecture here: https://slideplayer.com/slide/6367868/
BARRETT, HAZEL. “Editorial.” Geography, vol. 82, no. 1, 1997, pp. 1–1. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40572860. Accessed 20 July 2020.
Top Spec, co-written with the previous year's President: Bob Digby
Top image: Copyright Bryan Ledgard / Geographical Association
Any memories of Hazel's time at the GA welcome
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