Michael Harvey
Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia
Michael was appointed as BC’s Information and Privacy Commissioner in May 2024. He previously held the same role in Newfoundland and Labrador where he also served as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy, Planning and Performance Management in the Department of Health and Community Services. Michael led the implementation of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 and the review of the Personal Health Information Act.
Fireside Chat with the Commissioner
Stewart Cawthray
Executive Security Architect, IBM
Stewart is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in privacy and cybersecurity for over 20 years. He has served in executive positions across a variety of information, technology and communications companies and is pursuing a professional LLM in privacy and cybersecurity law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University.
Intelligent Systems vs. Hidden Risks
Nicola Collins
Legal Counsel, Tsawwassen First Nation
Nicola’s extensive legal background spans both the private and public sector and previously worked as a solicitor before joining the Tsawwassen First Nation in 2022. She offers guidance on privacy law, real estate, governance and economic development.
Rules of Our Own: Tsawwassen First Nation's Privacy Framework
Michela Fiorido
Partner, Harris & Company
Michela is a Certified Information Privacy Professional with a legal practice focused on access, data security and privacy law. She assists clients in navigating access to information requests and delivers a wide range of privacy training and workshops. Michela also teaches access to information and privacy at Peter A. Allard School of Law as an adjunct professor.
Difficult Applicants, Difficult Requests
Kyle Friesen
General Counsel, Surrey Police Service
Kyle has provided legal advice on policing matters to the RCMP in B.C. for over two decades. Prior to this he served in the national security sector in Ottawa and dealt with law enforcement issues with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of BC. Kyle was recognized as a Master Access and Privacy Professional in 2012 and appointed as an Officer to the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2023.
Reading Between the Redactions
Jennifer Jansen
Manager of Government Services, Tsawwassen First Nation
Jennifer has over 15 years of experience overseeing the Tsawwassen First Nation's information management, communications and leasehold resident relations functions. She acts as the Tsawwassen Judicial Council Clerk and manages the Tsawwassen Legislative Assembly, Advisory Council and the Registry of Laws.
Rules of Our Own: Tsawwassen First Nation's Privacy Framework
Suzanne
Kennedy
Partner, Harris & Company
Suzanne has practiced in the areas of access and privacy for nearly three decades and leads Harris and Company’s Privacy Law Practice Group. With a focus on public sector privacy, she assists clients with various issues including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data and breach management, health data privacy and more.
Difficult Applicants, Difficult Requests
Alexis
Kerr
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Alexis is an experienced lawyer and trusted advisor to numerous institutional healthcare clients. Her practice focuses on healthcare and information governance, data privacy and cybersecurity. She provides practical, results-oriented assistance for information access and breach responses.
What to Do When Things Go Wrong
Tristan
Packwood-Greaves
Manager of Compliance and Legal Counsel, Capstone Copper
Tristan’s legal practice centers on corporate and privacy law. He has advised clients on a variety of business matters, including mergers and acquisitions, public and privacy equity, regulatory compliance and due diligence. Prior to joining Capstone Copper, Tristan clerked for six Justices of the Supreme Court of BC and was an associate with Norton Rose Fulbright.
What to Do When Things Go Wrong
Ernesto dos Santos
Soares
Privacy Legal Counsel, Simon Fraser University
Ernesto has extensive experience analyzing and applying orders from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of BC, supporting robust interpretations of access, correction and disclosure obligations. In his current role, he develops tailored privacy training and provides strategic advice to SFU on compliance, access to information and data governance.
Reading Between the Redactions
