Commissioner’s Role
The Commissioner’s role is to oversee compliance with both the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 (ATIPPA, 2015), and the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA). Among other things, the Commissioner investigates complaints from citizens who believe these laws are not being followed.
Kerry R. Hatfield was appointed the Information and Privacy Commissioner for Newfoundland and Labrador effective December 5, 2024. Kerry comes with extensive knowledge and experience in access and privacy issues from her 20 plus year legal practice, including 11 years providing legal strategy and advice to the Eastern Regional Health Authority, now NL Health Services. Kerry was made Director of Corporate Legal Services in 2022 upon the succession of NL Health Services from the previous regional health authorities. Kerry has expertise in regulatory compliance in privacy, security, data governance and information management within the healthcare sector and broad base experience in corporate governance, contracts and procurement.
Prior to working in the healthcare sector Kerry worked as a partner in private practice at a St. John’s law firm where she was specialized in privacy, access to information, and litigation including representing the OIPC at both the Supreme Court of NL and the Court of Appeal. Kerry obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Allison University in 1997 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick in 2001. Kerry is a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador since 2002. She is past president and director of the Rotary Club of St. John’s Northwest and member of the Board of Directors for the Bowring Park Foundation.