Our Commissioners
Learn more about our Commissioners below...
Information Commissioner
The Information Commissioner is appointed as an independent office holder under section 4 of the Government Information (Information Commissioner) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIIC Act), and is also the Chief Executive Officer of the IPC. The Information Commissioner is appointed by the Governor of New South Wales and reports directly to the Parliament with oversight by the Joint Parliamentary Committee. This is reported in publicly available documents including the IPC’s annual report.
Ms Elizabeth Tydd is the Information Commissioner. Ms Tydd was first appointed to the role on 23 December 2013 for a five-year term and was re-appointed for a further five-year term concluding 23 December 2023. Under the GIIC Act, a person is not eligible to be appointed for more than 2 terms of office as Information Commissioner.
Ms Tydd’s role is to promote public awareness and understanding of the right to access government information in NSW, as well as providing information, support, advice, assistance and training to agencies and the general public.
As Information Commissioner, Ms Tydd has the power to review decisions made by other NSW government agencies and deal with complaints about information access, monitor agency functions and reports to the Attorney General and the Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Fair Trading about proposals for legislative or administrative change.
In April 2016, the then Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, the Hon. Victor Dominello MP, invited Ms Tydd to take on the role of NSW Open Data Advocate. In this capacity, Ms Tydd provides advice to the Data Analytics Centre (DAC) and across the NSW Government on non-personal data that should be released to the public.
Ms Tydd has extensive regulatory and governance experience at an executive and Board level, in a range of jurisdictions and industries including commercial, not for profit and public sector oversight.
As the Executive Director, Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing, Ms Tydd oversaw the development and implementation of a contemporary risk-based approach to regulation in these sectors, including the introduction of a periodic risk-based regulatory model for licenced premises. She was also responsible for executive oversight of this major strategic policy environment.
At the NSW Office of Fair Trading, Ms Tydd occupied the position of Assistant Commissioner of the Compliance and Legal Group. In this role she was responsible for regulating significant industries, including real estate, the motor industry, and general consumer transactions. She has additionally played a key role in the development of Australian consumer law and the implementation of a national framework for compliance activities.
Ms Tydd has been appointed to a number of significant statutory roles, including Deputy President of the NSW Workers Compensation Commission and Deputy Chairperson of the former Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal.
She has also held a number of board and committee appointments, including Trustee of the Responsible Gambling Fund, the University of Technology Law Advisory Board and the boards of the Delta Society and the Catholic Development Fund Sydney.
Ms Tydd has published various reports and articles in journals, including the NSW Law Society Journal and Public Administration Today.
Ms Tydd is an accredited mediator, Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Institute of Public Administration. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws from the University of Technology Sydney, as well as post graduate certificates in executive management and governance.
Salary details
The NSW Information Commissioner's remuneration is published in the IPC's annual report.
Delegation of authority
The Commissioner may delegate the exercise of any function of the Commissioner, under the Instrument of delegation under section 13 of the Government Information (Information Commissioner) 2009 (GIIC Act).
See the Information Commissioner's Instrument of Delegation
See the IPC CEO - Instrument of Authorisation
View the video at the bottom of the page featuring the Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Tydd.
Privacy Commissioner
Samantha Gavel was appointed as NSW Privacy Commissioner on 4 September 2017.
Ms Gavel's role is to promote public awareness and understanding of privacy rights in NSW, as well as providing information, support, advice and assistance to agencies and the general public. Her responsibilities include the preparation of reports recommending legislative, administrative or other action in the interests of privacy as well as conducting inquiries and investigations into privacy related matters.
Ms Gavel has the power to deal with complaints about privacy matters, monitor agency functions and report and make recommendations about proposals for legislative or administrative change.
The Privacy Commissioner administers the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP Act) and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIP Act).
Most recently Ms Gavel was the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner, and previously held the role of Private Health Insurance Ombudsman for six years.
Ms Gavel has also worked in senior administrative roles for both NSW and Commonwealth Government organisations. She is an experienced mediator and has significant expertise in complaints handling, dispute resolution, privacy rights and ombudsman work, as well as a deep knowledge and understanding of Australia’s health system.
Ms Gavel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sydney University. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed accredited mediation training with LEADR.
Ms Gavel is Chair of the Council of The Women’s College at the University of Sydney and the independent member of the Private Health Insurance Code of Conduct Compliance Committee.
Salary details
The Privacy Commissioner's remuneration is published in the IPC's annual report.
Delegation of authority
The Commissioner may delegate the exercise of any function of the Commissioner, under the Instrument of delegation under section 13 of the Government Information (Information Commissioner) 2009 (GIIC Act).
See the Privacy Commissioner's Instrument of Delegation
Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Tydd
