| John Edwards | |
| Order: | Sixth |
| Office: | Information Commissioner's OfficeInformation Commissioner |
| Term Start: | 3 January 2022 |
| Order2: | Third |
| Office2: | Privacy Commissioner (New Zealand)Privacy Commissioner |
| Term Start2: | 17 February 2014 |
| Term End2: | 31 December 2021 |
| Alma Mater: | Victoria University of Wellington |
John Edwards is a New Zealand lawyer and civil servant who is the United Kingdom Information Commissioner,[1] and was previously the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner from 2014 to 2021.[2]
Edwards was brought up in New Plymouth[3] and practised law in Wellington for over 20 years specialising in information law.[2] 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.[4]
Edwards was the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner, first appointed in 2014 and held the post until 31 December 2021.[2] During his tenure he was also chairman of the Global Privacy Assembly from 2014 to 2017.[5]
On 21 December 2021, Edwards was formally appointed by letters patent as the United Kingdom's sixth[5] Information Commissioner, and took office on 3 January 2022.[1]