A Bermudian barrister who gained recognition for her privacy advocacy has been appointed as the island’s Privacy Commissioner.

Gretchen Tucker was said by Governor Andrew Murdoch to be a “standout” candidate in an international field.

She took up the role today, become the first Bermudian and first woman to hold the post, which was vacated by Alexander White last year.

Government House said that Ms Tucker holds an International Association of Privacy Professionals certified information privacy management designation and has served the jurisdiction as a cochairwoman of the IAPP Bermuda KnowledgeNet chapter for more than five years.

It added: “Over the course of her career in Bermuda, she has advised decision makers in the commercial, public and third sectors, focusing on the practical alignment of enterprise risk and governance programmes with the rights and interests of individuals as enshrined in the Human Rights Act 1981, the Public Access to Information Act 2010, the Personal Information Protection Act 2016 and common law.

“In 2024, she was recognised by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda for her privacy advocacy and was appointed as an official Bermuda privacy ambassador in advance of Pipa coming fully into force within the jurisdiction.”

Mr Murdoch said: “A talented Bermudian who was a standout among a competitive field of applicants, Ms Tucker’s expertise and commitment to the role will be vital to ensure that Bermuda continues to protect our personal information, as provided for under the Personal Information Protection Act …

“Pipa came into effect just over a year ago, and the commissioner and her team will continue to do their statutory duties and help ensure that residents understand their rights and protections available to them.”