Digital Jersey is continuing to work with local businesses and off-island innovators to break new ground in the practical use of data trusts, including through the latest creation of the Roberta Trust.
Established recently by Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, the Roberta Trust project is a healthcare-specific data governance research project, that will become the latest data trust to be registered in Jersey.
It is anticipated that, over the course of the coming year, the Roberta Trust will collect non-clinical data specifically to help improve recurring pregnancy loss support and research. The aim is for the data trust to act as a blueprint for greater community involvement and engagement in healthcare.
Jersey-headquartered global professional services company JTC will be appointed as Trustee of the Roberta Trust.
Data trusts represent an innovative use of a trust structure to hold data so that it can be stored, managed and shared safely, lawfully, in accordance with a trust’s parameters and applying fiduciary duties to the stewardship of data within a highly regulated environment.
The creation of the Roberta Trust follows Digital Jersey’s pilot project for the world’s first ever data trust under Jersey Trust Law, the Lifecycle Data Trust, which was established in 2023. It successfully tested the data trust concept, collecting data over 17 months from 650 cyclists in Jersey through special bike light sensors. The primary focus of the pilot was to test the viability of using a trust structure for data stewardship purposes, while it also generated valuable insights to support safe cycling in Jersey.
Now, Digital Jersey is continuing to work closely with local service providers and legal experts as well as off-island stakeholders to maintain momentum and highlight the opportunities presented through the practical use of data trusts. In particular, Digital Jersey is citing practical opportunities for data trusts in the healthcare and real estate sectors, and in supporting the development of smart cities.
Regius Professor of Computer Science and Digital Jersey Non-Executive Director, Dame Wendy Hall (pictured), has been a champion of the data trust concept over recent years. Commenting on the latest development, she said: “It is fantastic to see a Jersey-registered data trust being used to support secure data stewardship within the UK healthcare sector – an area where we see particular opportunity for the practical use of data trusts. This is a significant step in the ongoing evolution of data trusts in supporting safe data management, backed up by Jersey’s tried and tested trust law, in a world where the security and management of often sensitive and personal information is increasingly important.
“A lot was learned from the Digital Jersey’s own Lifecycle pilot project, which generated considerable interest from around the world in Jersey as a leading centre for data stewardship. It’s a significant opportunity for the jurisdiction, and I am pleased that Digital Jersey is continuing to support local and off-island parties to break new ground in this innovative space.”
Mark Fleming, Head of Private Client Services – Jersey, JTC, added: “We are pleased to be able to continue to support the evolution of the data trust in Jersey and provide trustee services to the Roberta Trust. There are few jurisdictions other than Jersey that have the experience, legislative environment, regulatory framework and governance capabilities to support the innovative use of the trust structure in this way. It represents an exciting opportunity for Jersey to bring its long-standing trust expertise into the digital age.”
