Data ethics committee to advise local government sector

Published: 12th March 2020

A special ethics committee of experts has been established to advise the local government sector on the best way to ensure that the principles of trust and transparency guide the management and use of data by Queensland's 77 councils.

The three-member committee will meet regularly to monitor the implementation of a framework that puts ethics at the centre of data management across the local government sector.

Chaired by digital change specialist and former editor-in-chief of the Courier-Mail David Fagan, the committee was formed by the Local Government Association of Queensland to help the Association navigate the ethical and accountability expectations inherent in good data management.

The other members of the committee are Queensland Council of Social Service chief executive officer Mark Henley and Holding Redlich partner Andrew Hynd, who has extensive experience in information technology and communications.

LGAQ chief executive Greg Hallam said the committee was a crucial part of the Association’s aim to ensure local government in Queensland led the way on data ethics.

“This is all about strengthening trust between local councils and the communities they represent,” he said.

He said the committee would meet within weeks to begin its work.

David Fagan

David Fagan is an adviser on communications, trust and digital change.

He is a former editor and editor-in-chief of The Courier-Mail, is an adjunct professor in the QUT Business School and is the author of Wake Up - The Nine H#shtags of Digital Disruption and Has The Luck Run Out (to be published in 2019).

He sits on the boards of Carers Queensland, the Royal National Association and QMusic and the adjudication panel of the Australian Press Council.

Mark Henley

Mark Henley is Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS). QCOSS is Queensland’s leading force for social change to eliminate poverty and disadvantage.

Mark has 28 years of experience in the community services sector and a commitment to creating responsive services, and independence, dignity and better outcomes for all people.

He is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Deputy Chair of the Queensland Plan Ambassadors Council; Board Director Brisbane North PHN and is also the chair of the Brisbane North PHN Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Andrew Hynd

Andrew Hynd is a Partner in the Corporate & Commercial group in the Brisbane office of national law firm Holding Redlich. He has specialist experience in information technology and procurement.

Andrew has over 20 years’ experience acting for a range of public and private sector organisations on IT projects, especially software licensing, implementation and support, cloud services and privacy and data advice.

He is highly regarded for the commercial and pragmatic advice he provides, with a specific focus on strategic procurement and the development, negotiation and implementation of complex contracts.