Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 5 of the Guardians of Data podcast.
In information governance, there is no substitute for learning from those who have walked the path before us. Experienced IG leaders bring a wealth of knowledge from years at the frontline of data protection and information rights – navigating challenges, overcoming obstacles and shaping best practice along the way. By sharing their stories, lessons learned and practical advice, they help both new starters and seasoned professionals grow in confidence, strengthen their practice and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.
In this episode we are joined by Raz Edwards, Head of Data Security and Protection at Wolverhampton NHS Trust. Raz has over 17 years of experience as a Data Protection Officer, including more than a decade in the NHS. She is also Chair of the National Strategic Information Governance Network and serves as a member of the Upper Tribunal and First-Tier Tribunal in the Information Rights Jurisdiction.
In our conversation, Raz shares her journey into Information Governance, the challenges she’s faced and overcome as an IG leader, her advice for both new starters and seasoned professionals and her perspective on the future of the profession. She also reflects on what she’s learned through her tribunal role and what it takes to succeed as an IG leader.
Download and listen here, or on your preferred podcast app. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.
Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Jon Baines, reflecting on his career as a Data Protection Specialist and the hot issues in information governance, Lynn Wyeth discussing the recent controversy around Grok AI, Maurice Frenkel looking back at 20 years of the Freedom of Information Act and Olu Odeniyi analysing recent cyber breaches and discussing the lessons to learn.
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 4 of the Guardians of Data podcast. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance; from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information.
The topic of this episode is cyber security. Every week we read about organisations being hacked, held to ransom or their data being stolen. The BBC recently discovered, through an FOI request, that around 10 million people had their data stolen when Transport for London (TfL) was hacked in 2024, making it one of the biggest hacks in British history. The so-called Scattered Spider crime group, breached TfL’s internal computer systems, disrupting its online services and causing £39m of damage.
And the breakout of war in the Middle East has significantly increased the risk of cyber-attack. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recently warned that organisations should prepare for the risk of collateral damage from Iran-linked hacktivists. It said those with a presence in the region should consider boosting the monitoring of their IT systems and follow the centre’s guidelines for dealing with a heightened threat of cyber-attacks.
In this podcast we talk about cyber security through the lens of the recent cyberattacks on major UK retailers. In just the past few months, household names like, Jaguar Land Rover, Gucci, Marks & Spencer and Co-op have suffered significant disruption from ransomware attacks and other cyber incidents. These caused empty shelves, disrupted online orders and shook customer trust.
To help us unpack what happened and what lessons we can all take away, we are joined by Olu Odeniyi a Cyber Security expert and trusted advisor with more than 30 years’ experience in this field. In our conversation, we also explore how businesses can build resilience and trust in the face of growing threats, the future of cybersecurity and practical tips for all of us to stay ahead of the hackers.
Download and listen here, or on your preferred podcast app. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.
Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Jon Baines, talking about his career as a Data Protection specialist and the hot issues in information governance, and Lynn Wyeth discussing the recent controversy around Grok AI and Maurice Frenkel talking about 20 years of the Freedom of Information Act.
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 3 of the Guardians of Data podcast. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information.
In the past few weeks, we have had a stark reminder of why transparency in public life is a democratic necessity. The US Government’s release of millions of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation has triggered, amongst other things, the arrest of the King’s brother, the sacking and subsequent arrest of a former Government minister, political jeopardy for the Prime Minister and questions about the future of the British monarchy.
In Episode 3, our guest is Maurice Frankel OBE, Director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information. We discuss the remarkable story behind the UK’s Freedom of Information Act. From his early work with the campaigner Des Wilson in the 1980s, to the later attacks launched to weaken FOI’s impact, Maurice shares insights on:
• Life before the Act and how public authorities’ culture has evolved
• The key battles to see the law passed and fully implemented
• Lessons from major disclosures, inquiries and data releases
• FOI shortcomings, from excessive public interest extensions to the need for proactive publication
• Emerging threats to transparency
Hear what still inspires one of the UK’s foremost transparency advocates and why FOI remains a vital tool for public accountability.
Listen via this link, or on your preferred podcast app. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.
Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Jon Baines, talking about his career as a Data Protection specialist and the hot issues in information governance, and Lynn Wyeth discussing the recent controversy around Grok AI.
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 2 of a new podcast; Guardians of Data. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In each episode we will be speaking with experts and practitioners to unpack the big issues shaping the IG profession.
In the first episode, we were joined by Jon Baines, a Senior Data Protection Specialist at Mishcon de Reya LLP and the long-standing chair of NADPO. In a wide ranging conversation, Jon shared his journey into IG, his advice for both new starters and seasoned professionals and his perspective on the future of the profession.
In Episode 2 we discuss the recent controversy around Grok AI.
Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI and integrated into the social media platform X, has caught the attention of governments and regulators across the world after it was used to edit pictures of real women to show them in revealing clothes and suggestive poses. In the UK, Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office have opened formal investigations, a significant step that signals how seriously AI-related risks are now being taken.
This controversy raises fundamental questions about how AI systems are designed and overseen and about whether existing laws and board-level oversight are keeping pace. In episode 2, we unpack these issues with the help of Lynn Wyeth, an expert in AI, data protection and responsible technology.
Listen via this link or on your preferred podcast app. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.
Act Now is pleased to bring you the first episode of a new podcast; Guardians of Data. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In each episode we will be speaking with experts and practitioners to unpack the big issues shaping the IG profession.
In information governance, there’s no substitute for learning from those who have walked the path before us. Experienced IG leaders bring a wealth of knowledge from years at the frontline of data protection and information rights – navigating challenges, overcoming obstacles, and shaping best practice along the way. By listening to their stories, we can all grow in confidence and prepare for the IG challenges of tomorrow.
In the first episode, we are joined by one such IG leader: Jon Baines is a Senior Data Protection Specialist at Mishcon de Reya LLP where he advises on complex data protection and FOI matters. Jon isn’t a lawyer in the traditional sense yet is listed in Legal 500 as a “Rising Star” in the Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity category. Jon is the long-standing chair of the National Association of Data Protection (NADPO) and Freedom of Information Officers. He is regularly sought for comment by specialist and national media and writes extensively on data protection matters.
In our conversation, Jon shares his journey into IG, his advice for both new starters and seasoned professionals and his perspective on the future of the profession.
Listen via the player below, or on your preferred podcast app. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.
Data protection is often framed as a question of compliance. Regulations, policies, and frameworks dominate much of the discussion.
In practice, however, the most important questions are about responsibility, trust, and judgement.
Every organisation that collects or uses personal data is, in effect, a custodian of that information. With that role comes an expectation: that personal data will be handled carefully, used appropriately, and respected as something that belongs to people, not systems. Meeting those expectations is rarely straightforward.
Day-to-day data protection decisions are often made under pressure. They involve trade-offs, uncertainty, and situations where the law does not provide a simple or immediate answer. Legislation defines the boundaries, but it does not resolve every ethical or operational question organisations face.
This is where many of the real challenges of data protection sit, in the grey areas between what is permitted and what is appropriate.
Guardians of Data was created to explore this space. The podcast brings together people working in privacy and information governance to talk openly about the realities of responsible data use. Rather than focusing on theory or compliance checklists, the conversations centre on how decisions are made in real organisations, and how trust is maintained when handling personal data.
Each episode is short and focused, examining judgement calls, ethical considerations, and the expectations placed on organisations entrusted with personal data. The aim is not to provide definitive answers, but to encourage thoughtful discussion about what good data stewardship looks like in practice.
Guardians of Data is intended as a space for reflection and conversation for anyone navigating the responsibilities that come with using personal data in today’s digital environment.
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 5 of the Guardians of Data podcast. In information governance, there is no substitute for learning from those who have walked the path before us. Experienced IG leaders bring a wealth of knowledge from years at the frontline of data protection and information rights – navigating challenges, overcoming obstacles and shaping best practice along the way. By sharing…
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 4 of the Guardians of Data podcast. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance; from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. The topic of this episode is cyber security. Every week we read about organisations being hacked, held to ransom or their data being stolen. The BBC recently discovered,…
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 3 of the Guardians of Data podcast. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In the past few weeks, we have had a stark reminder of why transparency in public life is a democratic necessity. The US Government’s release of millions…
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 2 of a new podcast; Guardians of Data. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In each episode we will be speaking with experts and practitioners to unpack the big…
Act Now is pleased to bring you the first episode of a new podcast; Guardians of Data. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In each episode we will be speaking with experts and practitioners to…
Data protection is often framed as a question of compliance. Regulations, policies, and frameworks dominate much of the discussion. In practice, however, the most important questions are about responsibility, trust, and judgement. Every organisation that collects or uses personal data is, in effect, a custodian of that information. With that role comes an expectation: that…
