Guernsey re-appoints Data Protection Authority Chairman and members

The Authority is an independent board responsible for the development and implementation of the regulatory regime necessary to oversee the local data protection law’s requirements, and provides governance to the Bailiwick of Guernsey’s Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA).

Richard (pictured) was the UK’s Information Commissioner from 2002 to 2009, responsible for enforcement of the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts. He was subsequently the Chairman of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council and served as a Member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life from 2012 to 2017. In January 2018, he was appointed by the UK’s Prime Minister to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

Richard said: “Personal information is everywhere these days. The Data Protection Authority aims to safeguard people and make sure organisations get it right. Our effectiveness is essential to the Bailiwick of Guernsey’s recognition as a safe and responsible place to do business. It is a privilege to be re-appointed by the States to continue my role as Chairman of the Authority and I am very pleased that John Curran and Simon Entwisle have also been re-appointed.”

John and Simon have both been re-appointed onto the board as voting members for up to four more years after coming to the end of their existing term.

John is a former Chief Executive of the Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities (CICRA) and currently sits on the Board of the Channel Islands Financial Ombudsman and as a non-voting Member on the States of Guernsey Transport Licensing Authority (TLA).

Simon retired from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in 2018 after 13 years’ service as a member of the ICO Management Board. He was originally the Chief Operating Officer and served as Deputy Commissioner and Deputy CEO.