The IAPP's Tokyo-based KnowledgeNet chapter hosted the region's first-ever certification-based networking event on October 19.
The event, spotlighting the IAPP's certification program, was hosted by Tokyo KnowledgeNet chairs Takashi Nakazaki and Terry Matsufuji, CIPT. Matsufuji said that historically, a language barrier was keeping IAPP members in the area from engaging fully with certification material. While members were enticed by the idea of getting certified, the minutiae were hard to grasp in English and was the subject of many questions at previous meetings.
“The majority of people don’t like to visit the website if it’s not in Japanese,” he said. “So we decided to explain it in local languages.”
The meeting consisted of attendees learning about various IAPP certification options, how to prepare for an exam, and the value of designations. Nakazaki said the information was well received.
“Attendees want to see a country-specific certification or adding Japan to [a] CIPP/Asia [exam],” he said. “We want to have another meeting like this again.”
They aren't alone. Meetings like these enhance and enrich IAPP member experience, said IAPP Director of Operations Tory Bell.
“It's great to have policy-based discussions, but it is also great to take time to walk folks through how to get certified and how better to use all of the resources the IAPP has to offer,” she said.
The meetings also allow the IAPP to build bridges with its global audience.
“For our members in Japan, sometimes it's difficult for us to reach them on a personal level because of the distance and the language barrier, so having such enthusiastic volunteer advocates, our members are able to truly engage,” Bell said. “The hope is that we are able to engage all of our members across Asia and help them understand that our resources are global, that they are also personal to them, and that we care about them having an understanding of our offerings.”
IAPP Member Engagement Specialist Leah Harrington agreed.
“We hope this idea about the importance of certification gains some traction as we develop more chapters in Asia,” she said.
The decision to highlight certification comes at a time when privacy issues in the inconsistently regulated Asia-Pacific region are heating up. On October 19, the U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis Ted Dean and Secretary General Mari Sonoda of the Personal Information Protection Commission of Japan met to continue to affirm both of the groups' dedication to "implement and expand" the APEC Cross Border Privacy Rules.
Interested in getting certified? Read more here. Want to join a local KnowledgeNet chapter? Find one nearest you here.
photo credit: tetedelart1855 Tokyo Shimbashi via photopin (license)