Juan Watterson


Juan Paul Watterson FCA CMgr FCMI SHK is a Manx politician, who is Speaker of the House of Keys, and a member for Rushen, in the Isle of Man.

Early life

Born in 1980 to John and Alison Watterson, he was educated at Rushen Infants School, Rushen Junior School and Castle Rushen High School.

Qualification and Professional Memberships

Watterson attended the University of Lincoln where he graduated in 2001 with a First Class BA in Management. He joined international accountancy firm KPMG where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2005. He was the ICAEW Chairman of the National Student Council, and later served on the Institute's Young Professionals Advisory Board, Public Sector Advisory Board and is currently a member of the Members and Commercial Board of the Institute as well as being part of its 90 member governing ICAEW Council

Career

Watterson was first elected to the House of Keys in 2006 aged 26 years 142 days, making him the second youngest ever elected MHK. He was appointed a political member of the Department of Local Government and the Environment and Chairman of the Island's Planning Authority, Until May 2009, he had special responsibility as a "political member" for Housing and Social Security within the Department of Health and Social Security, these roles being the Manx equivalent of a junior minister in the UK. After 10 months as Chairman of the Planning Committee, he was appointed to the Department of Economic Development with special responsibility for the Island's financial services sector.
He was re-elected in the 2011 General Election with 3,080 votes, the highest number of votes in the Island, and the largest in Rushen since the 1986 boundary changes. He was appointed the Minister for Home Affairs, Chairman of the Communications Commission, and in 2012 became the island's first Armed Forces Champion. At 31 years 102 days, he became the youngest ever member of the Council of Ministers on his appointment as Minister for Home Affairs on 14 October 2011.
Watterson joined the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme where he is a postgraduate and Honorary Commander. On 1 August 2016 he was appointed Hon. Colonel of the Isle of Man Army Cadet Force.

Personal life

Watterson has been married to Helena since March 2010, they have a daughter and son together and live in Port St. Mary, Isle of Man.
In December 2011 he infamously vomited on a public bus after attending his Department's Christmas party, shortly after giving a talk about a need for a "responsible attitude" towards drinking over the festive period. This was featured in a January 2012 edition of Private Eye, as a nominee of the "Don't Do What I Do, Do What I Say" Rotten Borough award. He later apologised for his "lapse of judgement" in "getting a little bit drunk".

Publications

Tynwaldballs and Tynwaldballs 2, two collections of quotes and garffes from the Manx parliament.