title: John Edwards (regulator)
text: # John Edwards (regulator)
  
  John Edwards is a New Zealand lawyer and civil servant who is the United Kingdom Information Commissioner, and was previously the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner from 2014 to 2021.
  
  ## Personal life and career
  
  Edwards was brought up in New Plymouth and practised law in Wellington for over 20 years specialising in information law. He also served as legal counsel for the New Zealand Families Commission from 2003 to 2013, and as a senior solicitor at the Ministry of Health from 1997 to 1999.
  
  ### New Zealand Privacy Commissioner
  
  Edwards was the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner, first appointed in 2014 and held the post until 31 December 2021. During his tenure he was also chairman of the Global Privacy Assembly from 2014 to 2017.
  
  ### United Kingdom Information Commissioner
  
  On 21 December 2021, Edwards was formally appointed by letters patent as the United Kingdom's sixth Information Commissioner, and took office on 3 January 2022.
  
  