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The pan-island Information Commissioner is to step down in 2018 amid plans for Jersey and Guernsey to go their separate ways, as new data protection legislation is introduced.
Emma Martins will leave the post in March next year after 14 years.
A new Information Commissioner dedicated to Jersey will soon be recruited after Guernsey announced they were not in favour of a pan-island commissioner managing two different sets of legislation.
Emma Martins started working on data protection in Jersey in 2004. In 2011, she also began supporting Guernsey and has since then supported both islands in navigating the obstacles associated with the growing importance of data protection globally, including the implementation of new EU Data Protection Regulations.
Pictured: Emma Martins has had a key role in providing leadership on data protection as the importance of the issue grows globally.
Assistant Chief Minister, Senator Paul Routier, praised the outgoing data chief. "Data protection is essential for Islanders and businesses – now more than ever. Mrs Martins has played an important role in Jersey and I thank her and wish her all the very best for the future,” he commented.
A recruitment process is now underway to find Mrs Martins' replacement, who will begin as new GDPR legislation comes into force.
Video: What is GDPR? And what does it mean for the Channel Islands? This video explains.
Senator Routier added: “Jersey places the highest importance on data protection matters, and our new legislation will serve the needs of Islanders and businesses for the future. We will continue to work constructively with Guernsey on a wide range of matters, but as the importance of data will continue to grow, it is right that we appoint a dedicated Jersey regulator to oversee our compliance with the new legislation.”
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