It was a privilege to talk with Liz Tydd, the Australian Information Commissioner, as she shared the future of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner or OAIC with us and how their postural organisational changes over the past year have positioned them to be at the forefront of being a contemporary regulator.

Listen to episode eighteen:

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About this episode:

In this special broadcast edition of our podcast series on Thriving in Uncertainty, Liz takes us through the latest figures on data breaches from their recent report. She explains how an additional dimension of misinformation (e.g., deepfakes) can become an accepted truth in the mind of the audience, highlighting how even the human brain is grappling to adjust to this very real and growing threat and its manifestations.
Liz also shares how the latest data tells us that the information from data breaches across various industries has commonalities in the fact that it is sensitive and valuable information about us that defines who we are and can be used to recreate identities.

The OAIC’s work centres on access to information to promote truth and accountability, particularly in government, but also to promote privacy and protect people from the devastating impacts of misinformation and cybersecurity breaches that result in a loss of identity. To perform this critical work, the OAICs need to have the confidence to operate in this new digital world safely and securely, taking a human-rights-centred approach in a dynamic and ever-changing regulatory environment.

In this enlightening episode, you’ll learn the OAIC’s latest thinking on the eight key elements in ensuring there is a human-rights-centred approach in the AI space and how essential it is for their workforce to be committed to preserving human rights, be curious and work collegially, and how the organisation has developed four pillars to manifest in their culture and operations which are proactive, proportionate, purpose-driven, and people-focussed.

She also explains how the OAIC has a unique vantage point on top of the hill in that they can look at the sectors they regulate, pull out common themes, and inform the guidance.

As a knowledge-based organisation, Liz highlights the critical need for knowledge to be shared internally and several ways that the OAIC are doing that through cross-collaboration teams, cross-professional teams, and communities of practice to share expertise, new approaches and ways of working, and refining skills which enables their organisation to then share that knowledge externally and amplify their messaging.

Liz’s leadership approach of being open to change, developing the ability to respond effectively in a dynamic landscape, and taking a human-rights approach to designing for trust is a masterclass for any leader in leading through change and dealing with complexity in a dynamic environment.

Find out more about this Trailblazer:

Elizabeth Tydd
Australian Information Commissioner
Office of the Australian Information Officer (OAIC)

Elizabeth Tydd took up the position of Australian Information Commissioner in August 2024 for a 5-year term.

Elizabeth joined the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner in February 2024 as Freedom of Information Commissioner after two 5-year terms as the Information Commissioner at the Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) of New South Wales.

Elizabeth’s role at the IPC was 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.

Elizabeth has occupied a number of statutory decision‑making roles in NSW commissions and tribunals, including deputy president of the Workers Compensation Commission and deputy chairperson of the former Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal.

Elizabeth 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.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws from the University of Technology Sydney, as well as postgraduate certificates in executive management and governance together with post graduate qualifications in leadership and policy from Harvard University. Elizabeth possesses expertise in digital government and has written extensively on this subject.

Tune in next week as we speak to a new trailblazer in another episode in our series on Thriving in Uncertainty.

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