Elizabeth France CBE

Biography

Elizabeth France CBE was appointed Chair of the SIA Board in January 2014.

Education

Elizabeth has a BSc (Econ) from the University of Wales, she has been awarded honorary doctorates by the Universities of De Montfort, Loughborough and Bradford and is a Fellow of Aberystwyth University (where she completed her term as Pro Chancellor in 2018).

Career

Elizabeth began her career in the Home Office in 1971 leaving to become Data Protection Registrar in 1994 (she was appointed Information Commissioner in 2001). In 2002 she was appointed Chief Ombudsman and Chief Executive of Ombudsman Services Ltd. In June 2002 she was awarded a CBE, for services to data protection.

Elizabeth was a non-executive Director of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (2005-2010), Chair of the Office for Legal Complaints (2009-2014) and a member of British Transport Police Authority (2010-2018).

She is also Chair of the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales, Deputy Chair of the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the FCA and the Enforcement Decisions Committee of the Payments Systems Regulator, and a Member of Ofgem’s Enforcement Decisions Panel.

Previous roles in government

  • Chair, SIA