Privacy Consultant, Valencia Risk
Graduate Program in Public Policy, Administration & Law, Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law (MPPAL) 2023
Public Administration, Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) 2019

Tell prospective students a bit about the work you do.

My primary focus as a privacy consultant is on data governance, privacy protection and the development of policy within both public or private organizations. My work requires me to know the ins and outs of the Canadian Privacy Regime - the legislation, the trends, the industry standards and the key players. This knowledge of privacy is then utilized for a multitude of services such as; preparing Privacy Impact Assessments ("PIA") which are comprehensive reports that detail privacy risks associated with a program, developing Privacy Management Programs which is a fancy way of saying putting together a policy suite for privacy. Suites normally include templates for privacy notices, protocols for privacy breaches, guides for PIAs, policies on data handling practices, and much more. I will also assist with ad-hoc files where a breach must be investigated and guidance is needed on containment or an organization needs specialized training on subjects such as "Managing Personal Information, Ransomware and Phishing or the Mosaic Effect".

No two days are ever the same. I may be in meetings all day or at times completely focused on writing a report. I appreciate the flexibility as well as the balance of my work. What I love the most is that quality of my work is a reflection of my intelligence in the field and my ability to provide practical advice. Myself and other SPPA colleagues who work in similar roles, but different subject matters, like to call this the art of "firefighting". Its an absolute thrill and extremely rewarding to see the finished product after all your hard work.

Reach out on LinkedIn if you have any questions about what I do!

Tell prospective students a bit about how your studies at York helped you to get where you are today.

The SPPA is single-handedly the single greatest positive qualifier of my success. Examples of why include; the professional, technical, analytical and transferable skills we develop, the vast network of students and alumni, the warm and humble professors, the relevant subject matter in courses, the administration's strategic direction, all of which encompass the community's efforts to develop students and nurture the next generation of public servants. With that said, I made a consolidated effort to network and volunteer in this community but that was only because the SPPA had created that environment for all of us.

I have completed both the BPA and the MPPAL. From the BPA, I developed my ability to research, analyze and present information as clear and succinct "deliverables". By deliverables I mean argumentative papers, presentations, reports and briefing notes. I learned how to present one's self and how to approach social interactions while acknowledging certain political nuances. From the MPPAL, I refined my technical abilities to prepare said "deliverables" and I delved deeper into my subject matter (privacy) with the lens of each course. Is privacy administered in an equitable manner and was the pandemic a good case study for this? Would individuals benefit from a Privacy Tribunal and is Bill C-27 the remedy for that? What are the implications of Employee Monitoring Policy on privacy and what does HR need to be wary of?

Each of these complex questions and countless more were sparked by the engagement I had with classmates and the instruction provided by professors, during my time in the Masters. I recommend the Masters to anyone seeking to refine their field, learn a new one or just network with like-minded individuals.