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Blair began his career at the University of Auckland, with two bachelors degrees (Zoology and Philosophy) and a M.A. (1st) in Philosophy before beginning primary teaching in Auckland in 1980. With a particular interest in literacy learning he returned part time to University and began studying with Marie Clay. This led to his being asked to train as a Reading Recovery Tutor 1983, in the early days of its expansion in New Zealand. In 1989 after five years of Reading Recovery tutoring in Auckland, Blair trained as a Reading Recovery Trainer on the inaugural trainer training course at the then Auckland College of Education. He completed his PhD, The Question of Learning to Read and Write, an investigation into the understandings of literacy that drive practice in modern education systems in 2003. As a Trainer, literacy consultant and a conference presenter he has been very actively involved in Reading Recovery implementations not only in New Zealand but also Australia, the U.S., the U.K., and Bermuda. This has included a year with the University of London assisting with the establishment of Reading Recovery in England in 1992/3, and several months each year between 1995 and 1998 working on contract for New York University. Blair is on the editorial board of the Reading Recovery Council of North America's peer reviewed publication Literacy Teaching and Learning and served three years as chairman on the International Reading Recovery Trainer's Organisation (IRRTO) Research and Development Committee. Research interests include literacy acquisition and the philosophy of literacy.
