Close Menu
  • News
  • Home
  • In Profile
  • Finance
  • Legal
  • Technology
  • Events
  • Features
  • Wellbeing & Mental Health
  • Marketing
  • HR & Recruitment
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
Trending
  • Temperatures Soaring: Is Your Workplace Becoming Unsafe?
  • Outgrowing your MSP; businesses need a provider that scales with their growth
  • Level 7 apprenticeship funding cuts will cost UK employers over £200m
  • Groundbreaking compliance tool to futureproof UK fashion sector
  • How much experience do you need to be a FTSE 100 CEO?
  • Four steps businesses can take to prevent expense fraud
  • Belfor UK bolsters SME offering with key hire in major & complex loss
  • 10 Most Common First-Time Investing Mistakes to Avoid
X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
SME Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
  • News
  • Home
  • In Profile
  • Finance
  • Legal
  • Technology
  • Events
  • Features
  • Wellbeing
  • Marketing
  • HR & Recruitment
SME Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
You are at:Home»News»New UK Information Commissioner begins term
John Edwards new UK Information Commissioner

New UK Information Commissioner begins term

0
Posted By sme-admin on January 4, 2022 News

John Edwards begins his new role as UK Information Commissioner today (Tuesday 4 January).

Mr Edwards, who joins on a five year term, spent the past eight years as New Zealand Privacy Commissioner, and before that worked as a barrister.

He succeeds Elizabeth Denham CBE, whose term as UK Information Commissioner ended last year.

Mr Edwards said: “Privacy is a right not a privilege. In a world where our personal data can drive everything from the healthcare we receive to the job opportunities we see, we all deserve to have our data treated with respect.

“My role is to work with those to whom we entrust our data so they are able to respect our privacy with ease whilst still reaping the benefits of data-driven innovation. I also want to empower people to understand and influence how they want their data to be used, and to make it easy for people to access remedies if things go wrong.

“I know from experience that the team at the ICO are entirely dedicated to privacy and information rights, and to supporting organisations and consumers alike. The ICO has an international reputation for forward thinking and clear assessment of the practicalities of the law, which I will continue to promote. And I know too of the active data protection community in the UK – I look forward to hearing the experiences of businesses, the public sector, civil society and the privacy community.

“I welcome the opportunity to oversee the crucial Freedom of Information Act. Transparency that helps people understand and trust decisions made on their behalf has perhaps never been as relevant as across the past two years. I look forward to ensuring the law continues to be relevant in our changing world.”

Mr Edwards appointment comes at the start of a busy year for information rights in the UK. The ICO will be actively engaging with the government over the proposed reforms to the Data Protection Act and introduction of the Online Safety Bill, as well as strengthening links with other digital regulators. The ICO will also continue to prioritise its work to protect children online, through the Age Appropriate Design Code, which has already prompted international tech companies to make changes to better respect children’s rights online.

Biography

Mr Edwards was educated in New Plymouth, New Zealand and achieved a Bachelor of Laws and Masters in Public Policy at the University of Wellington.

He worked as a solicitor and barrister for more than 14 years, including time as a policy adviser to the New Zealand Prime Minister and Cabinet around Freedom of Information.

From February 2014 to December 2021 he was New Zealand Privacy Commissioner. During that time he chaired the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners (now known as the Global Privacy Assembly), and was a member of the OECD’s Informal Group of Experts on Children in the Digital Environment.

About the ICO

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent regulator for data protection and information rights law, upholding information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals. It has its head office in Wilmslow, Cheshire, and regional offices in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

https://ico.org.uk/

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Groundbreaking compliance tool to futureproof UK fashion sector

Belfor UK bolsters SME offering with key hire in major & complex loss

TravelPerk launches new medical and baggage insurance add-on

Comments are closed.

Follow SME Today on Linkedin and share all the topics you find interesting
Get £100 of free trades - ii trading account

The Newsletter

Join our mailing list for the best SME stories, handpicked and delivered direct to your inbox every two weeks!

Sign Up
Events Calendar
    • Marketing
    June 25, 2025

    From PLT to Twitter X: Business Branding Decisions That Backfired

    June 20, 2025

    Fast fashion giant Shein accused of “dark marketing” – what does it mean for businesses?

    • Finance
    July 1, 2025

    Level 7 apprenticeship funding cuts will cost UK employers over £200m

    June 30, 2025

    Groundbreaking compliance tool to futureproof UK fashion sector

    • Health & Safety
    July 1, 2025

    Temperatures Soaring: Is Your Workplace Becoming Unsafe?

    January 29, 2025

    UK takeaways guilty of shocking hygiene failures:

    • Events
    June 19, 2025

    Windsor Expo Wows: A Showcase of Success, Innovation, and Local Business!

    May 27, 2025

    Jose Ucar Confirmed for Leadership Live 2025 Speaker Line-Up

    • Community
    June 23, 2025

    Celebrating One Year In Fairford Supporting The Community

    June 2, 2025

    National Charity Accelerates Children’s Reading Through New Corporate Partnership

    • Food & Drink
    June 23, 2025

    England Cricket Captain, Ben Stokes OBE, takes a stake in Spencer Matthews’ alcohol-free spirits brand, CleanCo

    June 16, 2025

    Hospitality industry risks collapse

    • Books
    April 24, 2025

    Values-Driven Professionalism: A Path to Client Loyalty

    December 2, 2024

    Banish the banshee boss: how to lead without fear – addressing the issue of fear-based management and how NOT to be this manager

    About

    SME Today is published by the same team who deliver The Great British Expos’. We have been organising various corporate events for the last 10 years, with a strong track record of producing well managed and attended business events across the UK.

    Join Our Mailing List

    Receive the latest news and updates from SMEToday.
    Read our Latest Newsletter:


    Sign Up
    X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    Most Recent Posts
    July 1, 2025

    Temperatures Soaring: Is Your Workplace Becoming Unsafe?

    July 1, 2025

    Outgrowing your MSP; businesses need a provider that scales with their growth

    July 1, 2025

    Level 7 apprenticeship funding cuts will cost UK employers over £200m

    June 30, 2025

    Groundbreaking compliance tool to futureproof UK fashion sector

    June 27, 2025

    How much experience do you need to be a FTSE 100 CEO?

    Categories
    • Books
    • Community & Charity
    • Education and Training
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Features
    • Finance
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Safety
    • HR & Recruitment
    • In Profile
    • Legal
    • Marketing
    • News
    • Property & Development
    • Sponsored Content
    • Technology
    • Transport & Tourism
    • Wellbeing & Mental Health

    Copyright © 2020 SME Today.

    • ABOUT SME TODAY: THE GO TO RESOURCE FOR UK BUSINESSES
    • Privacy
    • Contact
    Copyright © 2025 SME Today.
    • ABOUT SME TODAY: THE GO TO RESOURCE FOR UK BUSINESSES
    • Privacy
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.