Paul Simpkins - Freedom of Information Specialist

Paul Simpkins has worked as a teacher, a lecturer in Business Studies and for 15 years as a Data Protection Officer (and a Freedom of Information Officer) in Local Government. He's been delivering training in Data Protection & Freedom of Information for many years. The training is (believe it or not) interesting, uses real life examples and contains videos and case studies to encourage interaction and make the course enjoyable.

In 2002 he started Act Now Training with a colleague and the company now offers nearly 100 courses a year in Information Law and related public sector subjects. Both directors speak regularly at courses and conferences and Paul has attended international conferences in Italy & Greece. Paul is also a visiting lecturer at De Montfort University.

Paul is also the chair of the Yorkshire & Humber Data Protection Forum which has been meeting quarterly since 1999 and is an examiner for the British Computer Society for their certificates in Data Protection and Freedom of Information writing the syllabus, setting papers and marking scripts. He also sits on the editorial board for an international journal in Freedom of Information entitled Open Government.

He has contributed to the SOCITM Data Protection group and has been the moderator of the NADPO Bulletin Board. He's also spoken at many other courses & conferences including:

• Ethicomp 1999 Rome and 2004 Greece
• NADPO conference, Nov 2000, Warwick University
• Cabinet Office seminar on Datasharing, Jan 2001, London
• Conference Chair, Capita FOI update, Mar 2001, London
• Privacy Laws & Business, July 2001, Cambridge
• Capita Freedom of Information Update, December 2001, London
• IRRV Collection & Enforcement Conference, Blackpool April 2002
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Conference, Brighton, October 2004
• Fire Service Information Management Conference, Moreton in the Marsh, July 2005
• Act Now Conference Chair London 2004/2005, Edinburgh 2004/2005 and Belfast 2005/2006

In the last ten years he has delivered training in Data Protection and Freedom of Information throughout the UK and has a reputation for interesting and intriguing training courses. Read the testimonials, check out previous clients. This could be the way to provide cost effective but quality training in DP & FOI for your staff at your site.