CIPR

In this case study, Susan Fox, a Corporate Affairs Director at the Information Commissioner's Office, answers questions from the CIPR's Amanda Foran.

What is your educational background?

Degree, postgraduate certificate in information studies, and a communications, advertising and marketing certificate. I am also a CIPR Fellow.

What are your previous positions?

PR Manager, Unilever

Customer Communications Manager, GUS Home Shopping

Corporate Affairs Manager, Environment Agency

What is your current role and how long have you been in this position?

I am currently Corporate Affairs Director at the Information Commissioner's Office. I joined the ICO in 2004 as Communications and External Relations Director and have recently added corporate governance to my responsibilities.

Can you provide a brief overview of your role?

It's a really interesting job in an interesting environment. The ICO is the UK's independent authority set up to uphold information rights – we oversee data protection and freedom of information. Both areas are fascinating and touch upon virtually aspect of personal and public life.

My role is to raise awareness of rights and obligations – which is a statutory duty for the ICO – and to provide good corporate governance and effective corporate planning.

What is a typical day for you?

Difficult question – it's pretty varied! I'll do the usual public relations things – monitoring the news agenda, checking our plans for the day, going over statements and positioning, following up projects etc. As I'm on the ICO's executive team, I get involved in corporate issues.

We've undertaken a big change programme, so I'm doing a lot of work on corporate strategy, culture and values, which is very satisfying and has made a big difference. In common with the rest of the public sector, we're cutting costs and boosting efficiency, so I'm spending time checking effectiveness and closely monitoring expenditure.

I lead a network of international data protection communicators and I chair the communications group for the British and Irish Ombudsman Association www.bioa.org.uk , so there's a fair bit of networking and sharing best practice that is really valuable.

Why do you think it's important to be part of the CIPR's Chartered Practitioner programme?

I think that the communications profession has really come of age – I also think it is misunderstood by many. The Chartered Practitioner programme gives us a chance to show that we are an established profession, with high standards and multiple skills.

Communications is often seen as a soft skill and a dark art – of course it's both and more, and the Chartered Practitioner scheme helps to demonstrate the value of that in the workplace. It's a great way to show what a professional approach to communications can bring to an organisation.

What are the benefits of achieving Chartered Practitioner status?

For me, it was an opportunity to continue learning at a senior level, and to consolidate some of my experience. It was a chance to test myself, and as it was based on reality of experience, rather than solely theoretical learning, the opportunity for original thought made it stimulating.

I was fortunate because my organisation supported me and was very encouraging – and colleagues have shown pride in the Chartered status, which has been gratifying. Being able to say I'm Chartered is not only good for me, but reflects well on the ICO too – it's a sign of communications quality.

What was the topic of your original piece of work submitted as part of the Chartered Practitioner application process?

'Freedom of information – is it changing the way we do PR?'

I was surprised how little open discussion there had been among PR professionals about the potential the Act has for changing how we communicate, so I welcomed the chance to explore it.

Any additional comments?

Thanks to the CIPR for working hard to get PR recognised as a serious, chartered profession. And good luck to anyone doing the scheme this year – it's certainly hard work, and testing, but it's really worthwhile.