Our Story
The idea to create a Northern Information Governance Forum in 2018 was born out of a desire to provide an additional networking and knowledge resource that was based outside of the south east. We have grown and evolved over the years supporting IG professionals and giving them the opportunity to share experience and practice with peers and attend both online and in-person events to build knowledge and keep up with an ever changing privacy landscape. As the way data is used continues to increase in importance and become even more precious with the development of AI and all that it means for every data subject, having a forum to navigate these topics will be something we are passionate about taking forward into the future.
Supporting Members
Our committee is made up of volunteers who work in the IG sector and understand along with our members how important it is to keep ahead of things when it comes to data privacy. We are committed to growing the membership so that we can create an environment where members gain value from networking with peers and building knowledge through our regular webinar events on a variety of associated topics such as Cyber Security and Records Management. We would love it if you would come and join us.
Helen McElroy
Chair
Helen is an Information Governance Professional with over 20 years of public and private sector experience including many years as an NHS Information Governance specialist. Now a Senior Information Governance consultant, Helen supports a range of organisations in the public, private and voluntary sector and is one of the founder members of NIGF.
Deborah Topping
Committee Member
Deborah runs an award-winning consultancy & training company that includes a virtual DPO service. She has extensive experience in Information Governance across all sectors including the public sector for many years. She provides qualified (LLM in Information Rights Law and Practice) advice and training including GDPR, DPA2018, FOI, EIR, and more. All based on practical experience in her plain talking, pragmatic style. She is also a recognised trainer for the Caldicott Guardian role and an observer at the UKCGC.
Kate Watson
Committee Member
Kate is a data privacy and digital skills specialist and a speaker on tech and data security/protection topics and has worked in the field of learning and development and regulatory compliance for nearly forty years. She is both an independent consultant and works for a large psychological services organisation with many NHS trusts accessing the service, as the Head of Compliance and Organisational Risk.
Sue Taylor
Committee Member
Sue has a wealth of technical knowledge in Global data protection and privacy compliance which is applied in a professional manner and also uses a common sense approach. An ISEB certified Data Protection processional, she specialises in Information Rights Law and Practice and we are very fortunate to have her on the committee.
John Laurence Curtis
Committee Member
John has extensive experience in the local authority sector including work as the strategic lead for open data and accreditation for the public services network and data security and protection toolkit. He is currently the Assistant Director, information and data governance & interim data protection officer with our main sponsor, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester.