Richard Thomas
Richard Thomas CBE LLD was the UK Information Commissioner from 2002 to 2009. He was appointed by HM Queen and held independent status with a range of responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and related laws. The functions of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) include promoting good practice, ruling on complaints and taking enforcement action. He served as a Board Member of IAPP between 2009 and 2013.
He was honoured as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2009.
He is now non-executive Chairman of the Guernsey Data Protection Authority and Global Strategy Adviser at the Centre for Policy Leadership (CIPL), the data privacy and information think-tank.
Richard has also held a wide range of wider UK public appointments. He is currently a member of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) which advises the Prime Minister on the suitability of new jobs which former Ministers and senior officials wish to take. In recent years, he has also served as a member of the Committee on (Ethical) Standards in Public Life, as Chairman of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council (AJTC), as Deputy Chairman of the consumer group, Which?, and as a Trustee of the Whitehall and Industry Group (WIG) which bridges the gap between public and private sectors.
His earlier career included:
Director of Public Policy at Clifford Chance (1992-2002)Director of Consumer Affairs at the Office of Fair Trading (1986 -1992)Legal Officer & Head of Public Affairs, National Consumer Council (1979-1986)Solicitor, Citizens Advice Bureau Service (1974-79)