Indira Naidoo-Harris

In an increasingly polarized world, constructive conversation can feel out of reach. But the world's most pressing issues demand diverse perspectives and space for people to feel they belong and their voices are heard. In Higher Education (HE), that means recognising and addressing unconscious bias, fostering open-mindedness, and cultivating the art of respectful listening. Only then can we create a culture of respect and understanding that empowers students to learn from each other and become the innovative leaders our world needs. 

Max Webber, Co-Host of The Interview, met with Indira Naidoo-Harris, Associate Vice President of Diversity and Human Rights at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, to discuss how her upbringing and experience in public service fuels her passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) advocacy in HE.

Indira's Journey

Max: Let's start with a brief introduction to yourself and your institution.

I’m Indira Naidoo-Harris, the Associate Vice President of Diversity and Human Rights at the University of Guelph (UG) in Ontario, Canada. Established in 1964, we’re a comprehensive public research university known for developing exceptional thinkers and engaged citizens. We have three campuses spanning urban and rural communities with close to 30,000 undergraduates. 

Prior to my role at UG, I was a national award-winning journalist and cabinet member of the provincial parliament in Ontario as the first-ever Minister of the Status of Women and Minister of Education. Throughout my career, I’ve always drawn on my experiences as a woman, mother, immigrant and human rights advocate.

Max: What drew you to working in HE? 

My parents were educators; I grew up in a family that emphasized that knowledge and lifelong learning are pillars to building strong individuals and communities. I was born in South Africa during Apartheid. My family left South Africa to immigrate to Canada; the notion of overcoming struggle to move forward was entwined in my life. Similarly, my work in journalism exposed me to people’s challenges and stories; this inspired me even more to contribute to creating a better world. Now, I find myself in a different facet of public service in HE, concentrating on supporting the future leaders of our community.

Max: What’s your biggest focus in building psychological safety for all students on campus?

Universities are powerful reflections of who and where we are in society. Post-pandemic, we’ve been left with a rise in polarization and mental health issues; in light of this, creating a climate of psychological safety is one of the most critical focus areas right now. We need diversity to find innovative solutions to the problems we face as a society – this can only happen when everyone has a sense of belonging, and we build upon a foundation of inclusion. At UG, we’re focusing on empowering our leadership to intentionally model the behaviours that create a positive campus climate.

Max: How are you working to ensure students engage with one another respectfully across topical issues?

Students, faculty and staff must first recognise their unconscious biases so they can consciously work to counter them. We want our students to be open to learning from and about others; a productive conversation can only happen when we understand what we bring to the table and respectfully listen to what others have to say. A great example of this at UG is the Islamophobia and Antisemitism training our senior leadership is currently engaged in. Considering what's happening in the Middle East, we want our leaders to have a deeper understanding of the experience of the people in our community impacted by these events.

Max: How are you looking to engage time-poor students with DEI initiatives?

Often in HE, students come to us when they have a problem. We need to work towards creating environments where we address issues before they become problems – this isn’t always easy and needs ongoing work. To create the sense of belonging and inclusion required to facilitate true learning, we need to ingrain DEI in everything we do. At UG, we examine our systems through a broad lens to address entrenched biases and discrimination and identify gaps and opportunities to integrate institution-wide DEI strategies.

Max: What is the best piece of advice you’ve received across the course of your career?

I’d say it’s the impetus to be over prepared instilled in me by my parents – make sure you know your stuff and know it well. As my career has transitioned from journalism to politics and now to education, I’ve always taken the time to understand the industry I’m moving into. Before starting in television news, I volunteered to better understand all facets of the process; I felt that understanding the intricacies would allow me to excel in my role. I’d share this advice with young people: embrace opportunities to learn, meet new people and equip yourself with the knowledge and experience to be well prepared.