Biography

Sharon Polsky is President of AMINA Consulting Corp. and has specialized in data protection and information risk management for more than 25 years. Since 2007, she has served as the elected National Chair of the Canadian Association of Professional Access and Privacy Administrators, and as the Editor in Chief of The Winston Report, the journal of the access and privacy profession in Canada. Prior to that she served as the Policy Director for CAPAPA.

Sharon is a frequent speaker and lecturer in the areas of data protection, access and privacy, information security, cyber‑liability, and the implications of emerging technologies. Ms. Polsky has been an adjunct instructor at SAIT Polytechnic and the University of Calgary, and for Insurance Institutes across Canada since 2001. She was a key contributor to the Canadian Professional Insurance Broker national certification program. She was also instrumental in developing the Canadian National Competency Standards and the Professional Certification Program for Information Access and Privacy Professionals in Canada.

Ms. Polsky has spoken before the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on privacy implications of proposed federal legislation; authored papers relating to legislative amendments; and was invited to submit recommendations to the Information Commissioner of Canada addressing the modernization of federal privacy and access laws. She has also been invited to speak on related topics of Access Information Assessments, international data protection agreements, online fraud and cybercrime, and the future of Information Access and Privacy in Canada.

Ms. Polsky is an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association - Privacy and Access Law Section. She is also one of few civilian members of the Society for the Policing of Cyberspace; Past President of the Disaster Recovery Information Exchange in Western Canada; a member of the CAPAPA Certification and Accreditation Advisory Board; and has served as a member of the National Advisory Committee for the University of Alberta Information Access and Protection of Privacy Program.

Statement of Interest

1. Why do you want to be on FOIAnet’s Steering Committee?

My experience with data protection for organizations in the public and private sectors across Canada, and my work with members of law enforcement agencies across Canada, have afforded me a unique perspective on the needs and awareness levels amongst Canadians and the organizations they deal with and represent (both in Canada and abroad). From a national and international perspective, there is a great need for increased awareness about access and privacy rights and responsibilities.

From my experience as National Chair of the Canadian Association of Professional Access and Privacy Administrators since 2007, I am aware that many colleagues in the access and privacy profession across Canada are equally in need of greater awareness of both access and privacy, the importance of being well-versed in both disciplines, and how those disciplines relate and respond to each other.

Fundamental to all of this is the reality that there is a serious need to ensure Canadians have a reliable and strong voice to protect their democratic rights and freedoms that are at risk through international agreements and pressures.

Collaborating with international colleagues through FOIAnet would facilitate efforts to increase awareness about access to information rights, policies, and procedures; and doing that in a coordinated international manner would go a long way to ensuring cohesive standards and practices.

1. What specific skills or experiences do you have that make you the best candidate for the Steering Committee?

(a)  Executive-level business management experience in for‑profit entities, and Board experience for non-profit entities;

(b)  Extensive experience in legal and contract analysis;

(c)  Public speaking and adult education experience, including significant experience gathering/developing, analyzing and reporting about the impacts of current and emerging legislation and technologies upon governments, businesses and individuals.

(d)  Familiarity with and understanding of the complexities involved in contemporary data creation, management, and delivery and the potential impacts of emerging technologies.