Robert P. Doherty
~ Access & Privacy Services
About Me
About Me
Robert (Bob) P. Doherty has almost 25 years of experience in the field of information access and privacy (IAP). After a distinguished career in the Nova Scotia Public Service as a policy analyst, negotiator, and senior executive with Nova Scotia’s Economic Ministry, Bob Doherty became the Province’s first full-time coordinator of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in 1996. During his 10+ years as the overall overseer of the Nova Scotia information access and privacy program, Mr. Doherty pioneered several major developments that made Nova Scotia a benchmark for innovation and professional integrity in the field of access and privacy (IAP).
Robert P. Doherty Access and Privacy Services is a sole consultancy headed by Bob Doherty - one of the most experienced public and sector information access and privacy (IAP) professionals in Canada.
His approach is one of consultation, understanding client objectives, and developing practical privacy guidance, IAP application processing assistance or training that are suited both to the needs and role of the client. His workshops on privacy at regional conferences in Ottawa, Toronto, Moncton, and Halifax through Verney Conference Management have been successful in not only making concepts understandable in the context of daily work routines, but also in providing useful reference material for future situations.
He is listed a qualified consultant on the Province of Nova Scotia Standing Offer List used by the government as well as some municipalities, universities, school boards. He is also on the NBON procurement list for consultant services in New Brunswick.
On January 1, 2021 he was appointed a co-chair for a two-year term of the Halifax, Nova Scotia Knowledge Net Chapter of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).
On December 15, 2022, Bob was awarded a certificate in recognition for his outstanding volunteer work with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and as a KnowledgeNet Chapter Chair.
Professional Experience
Professional Expertise
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Oversaw the development of a comprehensive government-wide tracking system of FOIPOP requests which provided accountability through annual reports on the FOIPOP System.
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Spearheaded and directed the development of the first, and only, mandatory routine disclosure policy among federal and provincial governments in Canada.
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Advised on legislative amendments to the Nova Scotia FOIPOP Act and assisted in the development of the Personal Information International Disclosure Protection Act (PIIDPA)
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Provided technical interpretation of the Nova Scotia FOIPOP Act, training, information, and advice on information access and privacy issues to all N.S. Government departments, agencies, boards, and commissions.
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Played a vital role in the processing of hundreds of FOIPOP applications in the Nova Scotia Department of Justice, as well as for the Nova Scotia Justice privacy impact assessments and research agreements dealing with personal information.
Consulting
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Facilitation, policy advice, and development of information sharing guidelines for the Nova Scotia SchoolsPlus Program
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Legislative Analysis, privacy impact assessment, and privacy advice to the New Brunswick Department of Education on its integrated service delivery program.
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Development of an administrative information plan for the new IAP legislation in the Province of New Brunswick
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Advice, recommendations, and processing assistance for public sector clients on FOIPOP applications.
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Privacy Consulting Services and a privacy impact assessment for the First Nations Education Initiative Inc. (FNEII) in Fredericton, New Brunswick
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Privacy Consulting Services and privacy impact assessments for the Nova Scotia Council on Admissions and Transfer
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Development of the preliminary privacy impact assessment for the Fredericton Smart Cities proposal for the Infrastructure Canada Smart Cities Challenge
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Redaction and disclosure recommendations for workplace investigation reports for a federal client
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A privacy impact assessment for a New Brunswick School District’s proposed new software
Teaching
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Executive producer and writer for a series of eight access and privacy videos for the Nova Scotia Government.
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Taught seminars in access and privacy law at Mount St. Vincent University in the all 3 formats (blended, online and classroom)
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Was a teaching assistant with the University of Alberta’s Information Access and Privacy Certificate Program.
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Delivered privacy law workshop to the professional development program of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia.
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Information access and privacy workshops for universities, municipalities, and Nova Scotia Regional Centres for Education.
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Developed a privacy tool kit for inexperienced privacy officers and management and devised a privacy law flow chart to guide privacy practitioners to applicable legislation.
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Currently teaches professional development online course/workshop in information access and privacy for Dalhousie University's Faculty of Open Learning & Career Development.
Conferences, Speaking Engagements and Memberships
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Across the country, Mr. Doherty has appeared as a guest speaker, panellist and presenter at conferences and to professional associations.
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A featured speaker at two of Dalhousie University’s “Data Protection Day”.
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A founding member of the Public Sector Chief Information Officers Council (PSCIOC) Privacy Subcommittee.
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Served as the Nova Scotia representative, policy director and member of the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Professional Access and Privacy Administrators (now the Privacy and Access Council of Canada).
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Former co-chair of the Halifax Chapter of the International Association of Privacy Professionals Knowledge Net
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Member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society
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Privacy presentation to federal human resource professionals.
Ongoing work
Since leaving the public service, Bob Doherty has continued to be a guest speaker at conferences in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario. Additionally, he has provided information access and privacy consulting and training services to federal, provincial, and municipal clients as well as to the private sector.
Client-Centred Approach
Robert P. Doherty – Access and Privacy Services (RDAPS) approaches any project or assignment with the idea that information access and privacy (IAP) tasks require a collaborative effort. Mutual agreement between Mr. Doherty and the client on the approach to be taken on each IAP project is the primary starting point as each assignment has varying degrees of complexity, and varying degrees of experience of client staff assigned to the project. Some assignments require only basic guidance, while others require, in the beginning, a full range of services and guidance of client staff through the process. It thus involves a collaborative effort in terms not only of goals and objectives of the assignment or project, but also extensive collaboration on the various tasks required to be completed throughout the assignment. Finally, it involves effective communication and dialogue with the client throughout the assignment, and RDAPS availability for consultations and advice from start to finish. In short, the four bases of the work of RDAPS with all clients are collective decision making, collaboration, consultation, and problem solving. References of the effectiveness of this approach and the experience of other clients are available on request.
Testimonials
"We engaged Bob to help us navigate issues relating to privacy of student achievement data, informed parental consent, and data sharing protocols. His expertise in privacy impact assessments was thorough and presented in a meaningful way. He was patient, knew how to engage stakeholders by listening to all perspectives, had a thorough understanding of privacy legislation, and offered advice and counsel that made sense to our objectives. He took us to where we needed to be and his efforts continue to be sustained in the work we do today. He made a difference to our data collection efforts. I would highly recommend his services!"
~ Dr. Daryl Morrison,
First Nation Education Initiatives Inc. (FNEII)
"We engaged Robert Doherty to help the City of Fredericton and St. Mary’s First Nation develop a preliminary privacy impact assessment (PPIA) which was required as part of Infrastructure Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge. Our community was shortlisted as one of ten communities competing nationally at the $10 million prize level. We soon learned that protecting data and privacy is a complex matter; however, Bob was able to seamlessly guide us through the daunting PPIA process working with our five project teams. Using a ‘privacy by design’ approach, Bob helped us assess risk, and develop our privacy compliance tools and principles. We appreciated his no-nonsense, direct approach to get at the core of issues, and accomplish tasks in a well-constructed, methodical manner. It was a pleasure working with Bob, and we would do so again!”
~ Laurie Guthrie, EcD, BIS,
City of Fredericton
“The Province of New Brunswick embarked on the development and delivery of its Integrated service Delivery program, to provide effective and efficient intervention to children and youth suffering from mental health issues. We engaged Bob Doherty to advise us on the privacy requirements involved in collecting, using, and sharing personal information amongst multiple government departments, agencies and the community. Through him we were able to navigate the privacy requirements of several pieces of legislation, codes of ethics of health and social service professions, and law enforcement protocols. His work was of the highest calibre and was one of the major reasons why the program was able to get off the ground and become the success that it has been. I would recommend him without question for any project that required extensive privacy analysis, particularly if it were a complicated one which required extensive problem solving.”
- Bob Eckstein,
Former Director of the Integrated Service Delivery Program for the Province of New Brunswick
"Bob was hired to develop and deliver several training sessions for IAP administrators in Nova Scotia school boards (regional centres for education). In fact, he has been “back by popular demand” a few times. He brought immense knowledge, expertise and good judgement on a wide range of access and privacy issues. The case studies were very relevant and sparked great conversation and learning. We wish we could have Bob working alongside us every day!"
~ Andrea John,
Manager, Information Management,
NS Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (former)
"We contracted Bob in 2016 to provide advice, recommendations, and processing assistance with two large Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) requests. His exceptional knowledge of relevant legislation and processes, due diligence, and provision of expert advice were appreciated and trusted. He even took the time at the closing of the assignment to create an excellent presentation on lessons learned. Prior to this project, I also worked with Bob as an actor in his FOIPOP video series, and participated on a team led by him that created and delivered FOIPOP training to universities and school boards. I have always enjoyed working with Bob and warmly recommend his services."
~ Gwen Gorrill, BA (Hons), MLIS
Manager, Information and Support Services
Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change
Publications
Powerpoint Presentation
Connected Cities Privacy Summit, Mclean, Va. December 5, 2019
Privacy Policy
Upcoming Events
Posted October 18, 2022
Registrations for the online course for N.S. municipalities, regional centres for education, and post-secondary institutions are now open with live case study sessions scheduled for November 14, 15, and 16, 2022
Please click here or on the image below to register.
