Chair’s Report to the 2012 AGM

This Report provides additional information beyond that sent in the two previous reports to members during the last year:

• 10 July 2012 (New Patrons and Advisory Panel members; APF’s 25th Anniversary)
• 24 August 2012 (New Submissions; New Advisory Panel Members; Membership Reminder)

Your Board has made about 70 distinct policy contributions during the 12 months since the last annual report. The Board’s ongoing policy activities can be monitored from the left-side panel on the home-page.

The organisation is going through an inevitable, periodic renewal, with four Board members retiring. Moira Paterson, Melbourne VIC, has served for 8 months but has found that work-pressures make it inadvisable to continue. Considerable thanks are due to the following, who have provided great service to privacy in Australia:

• Chris Connolly, Sydney NSW, Board member (1990-2000, 2009-2012), who is remaining as Chair of the APF’s active International Committee
• (Prof) Dan Svantesson, Gold Coast QLD, Board-Member (2005-2012), Chair of the Internet SubCommittee (2007-2012), and Vice-Chair (2008-2012), who has initiated and collaborated on many Submissions and Policy Statements
• Jan Whitaker, Melbourne VIC, Board-Member (2002-2012), Web-Site Committee (2002-2012) and Treasurer (2006-2012), who has been the most effective reviewer of draft papers during the Board’s 25 years of existence

We have been fortunate to attract the following highly-qualified new Board members, who will be elected at the AGM. The emphasis on privacy issues arising from Internet technology is very timely:

• Bruce Arnold, Canberra ACT. Bruce is an experienced information technology and policy consultant, and a member of the Law Faculty at the University of Canberra, currently completing his PhD in information law
• Kim Heitman, Perth WA. Kim is General Counsel/Director of Legal Services for the University of WA, and has substantial experience in roles with Internet industry and Internet community associations
• Mark Walkom, Sydney NSW. Mark is an experienced system administrator, with experience in firewalls and virtual private networks
• Pia Waugh, Canberra ACT. Pia is well-known in the IT industry, and was most recently IT Adviser to Senator Kate Lundy

In addition, we welcome contributors to our Committees and Reference Groups, who conduct applied research and prepare and review policy documents for consideration by the Board.

And if you have not yet renewed your membership, it’s never too late.

Roger Clarke, as Chair, Australian Privacy Foundation