Speakers

Experts in privacy law draw from their diverse background to share thought-provoking content.

Marc Chénier, Deputy Commissioner & Senior Counsel,
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Marc was appointed to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada in January 2024. He has over 25 years of experience working in the federal public service, in electoral law and policy. He previously served as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Legal Counsel for the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections, where he was responsible for ensuring compliance and enforcement of federal election and referendum legislation.

Keynote Address

Michael Harvey, Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC

Michael was appointed as BC’s Information and Privacy Commissioner in May 2024. He previously held the same role in Newfoundland and Labrador where he also served as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy, Planning and Performance Management in the Department of Health and Community Services. Michael led the implementation of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 and the review of the Personal Health Information Act.

Keynote Address

Elsa Adamick, Senior Commercial and Privacy Counsel,
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia

Elsa is ICBC’s expert on privacy and data sharing matters. Her practice is focused on privacy, data protection, technology and regulatory compliance. Elsa advises and negotiates on a wide range of commercial contracts, including technology agreements with complex data protection schemes.

Contract Drafting for Privacy Concerns – A Practical Approach

Michela Fiorido, Partner, Harris & Company LLP

Michela is a Certified Information Privacy Professional, as well as a Fellow of Information Privacy. Her legal practice focuses on access, data security and privacy law, with an emphasis on surveillance, technology use and artificial intelligence. Michela represents clients before privacy commissioners and provides strategic advice on the intersection of privacy and human rights laws.

Big Employer is Watching You

Kyle Friesen, General Counsel, Surrey Police Service

Kyle has over 20 years of experience providing legal advice to the RCMP in B.C. This includes access, privacy and security issues at the federal, provincial and municipal government levels, including working with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of BC. Kyle was also recognized as a Master Access and Privacy Professional by the Privacy and Access Council of Canada.

A Year in Review

Aislin Jackson, Policy Staff Counsel, BC Civil Liberties Association

Aislin’s legal expertise is in family and estates law, with experience representing Indigenous people in historical claims and child protection matters. They attended law school at the University of Toronto and served in the school’s legal clinic as a student caseworker.

Big Employer is Watching You

Suzanne Kennedy, Partner, Harris & Company LLP

Suzanne is an access and privacy lawyer, with additional experience in education and health law. She advises public and private sector employers as they navigate the implications of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and other related legislation. Suzanne also trains in-house privacy and access coordinators on access requests and internal investigations.

Patient Privacy Rights in Health Care

Jacob Kojfman, Senior Legal Counsel, Co-operators

Jacob practices commercial and technology law, supporting his organization’s digital transformation. He negotiates high risk critical tech-related agreements involving personal information. He is an active member of CBABC’s Intellectual Property and Technology Law Section and a previous panelist for conferences sessions on intellectual property and technology use.

Contract Drafting for Privacy Concerns – A Practical Approach

Reina Magistro Nadler, PhD Candidate, Peter A. Allard School of Law

Reina is a doctoral candidate at Peter A. Allard School of Law. She holds a JD from Stanford Law School, an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies - Neuroethics from UBC and a BA in Philosophy from Harvard. Her dissertation research evaluates the uptake of neuroscientific knowledge and techniques into legal processes and institutions.

Neuro-privacy: Practical and Philosophical Considerations

Gwen Phillips, Ktunaxa Nation Director of Governance Transition and BCFNDGI Champion

Gwen is a citizen of the Ktunaxa Nation and has worked for the Ktunaxa Nation Council for the past forty years. She is currently championing the B.C. First Nations’ Data Governance Initiative which is committed to ensuring timely access to quality data to manage and account for investments and outcomes associated with First Nations well-being. She also serves as a volunteer member of the First Nations Information Governance Centre Board.

Indigenous Data Sovereignty

Robert Piasentin, Partner, McMillan LLP

Robert is the National Chair of McMillan’s Technology Group and the National Co-Chair of McMillan’s Emerging Companies and Start-ups Group. He also is a founder and lead partner with McMillan Ascent, an innovative start-up legal support initiative. Robert has over 15 years of experience as an in-house lawyer for one of the largest technology consulting firms in Canada and a large licensing company in the UK.

Contract Drafting for Privacy Concerns – A Practical Approach

Sybila Valdivieso, Executive Director, Provincial Health Services Authority

Sybila is Executive Director and Senior Legal Counsel with Provincial Health Services Authority where she specializes in Privacy, Health Law, and Life Sciences. She has worked in healthcare for the last ten years alongside experts in governance, ethics, privacy, analytics, research and technology in support of the health system. Prior to that she was Legal Counsel for the Law Society of Ontario and worked in public economics with a focus on gender disparity, environmental health and housing.

Patient Privacy Rights in Health Care