States of Guernsey confirm re-appointment of Data Protection Authority Chairman and members

The Bailiwick of Guernsey’s government, the States of Deliberation, have confirmed the re-appointment of Chairman Richard Thomas CBE and voting members John Curran and Simon Entwisle from 25 March 2023 until 24 May 2027.

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 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 says:

“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 is currently Chair of the Guernsey Employment Trust.

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.