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
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 January 2022
Preceded by	Elizabeth Denham
Third Privacy Commissioner
In office 17 February 2014 – 31 December 2021
Preceded by	Marie Shroff
Personal details
Citizenship	New Zealand
Alma mater	Victoria University of Wellington

Personal life and career

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

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

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]