John Edwards (regulator)

John Edwards is a New Zealand lawyer and civil servant who is the United Kingdom Information Commissioner,[1] and was previously the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner from 2014 to 2021.[2]

John Edwards
Edwards in 2018
Sixth Information Commissioner
Assumed office
3 January 2022
Preceded byElizabeth Denham
Third Privacy Commissioner
In office
17 February 2014 – 31 December 2021
Preceded byMarie Shroff
Personal details
CitizenshipNew Zealand
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington

Personal life and career

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Edwards was brought up in New Plymouth[3] and practised law in Wellington for over 20 years specialising in information law.[2] He also served as legal counsel for the New Zealand Families Commission from 2003 to 2013, and as a senior solicitor at the Ministry of Health from 1997 to 1999.[4]

New Zealand Privacy Commissioner

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Edwards was the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner, first appointed in 2014 and held the post until 31 December 2021.[2] During his tenure he was also chairman of the Global Privacy Assembly from 2014 to 2017.[5]

United Kingdom Information Commissioner

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On 21 December 2021, Edwards was formally appointed by letters patent as the United Kingdom's sixth[5] Information Commissioner, and took office on 3 January 2022.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "John Edwards is confirmed as the new Information Commissioner" (Press release). London: Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Office of the Privacy Commissioner | Who we are". Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  3. ^ "ICO's January e-newsletter". ICO e-newsletter (Mailing list). January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  4. ^ Bateman, Robert (26 July 2021). "Who Is 'Facebook-Hating' John Edwards, Tipped as the New UK Information Commissioner?". grcworldforums.com. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b Scroxton, Alex (26 August 2021). "NZ privacy lead John Edwards named new information commissioner". Computer Weekly. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
Government offices
Preceded by Privacy Commissioner (New Zealand)
2014–2021
Succeeded by
Liz MacPherson
as Acting Privacy Commissioner
Preceded by Information Commissioner (United Kingdom)
2022–present
Incumbent