Australia is lagging the US in its approach to information governance, placing enterprises and individuals at risk according to Susan Bennett, co-founder of Information Governance ANZ, a new think tank that aims to lift the profile of information governance and spur enterprises into action.

Ms Bennett is a lawyer with international experience in information governance for strategic information risk management, privacy frameworks and responses to data breaches, including regulatory responses.

“Sprawling data collections are exposing businesses to enormous risk and cost if they are subject to a cyber-attack or caught up in litigation or regulatory action, and information governance ensures that these risks and costs are minimised,” said Bennett.

Ms Bennett added that effective information governance required top-down commitment and an understanding by senior executives and the board, of the risks associated with having no proper strategy in place.

“We want to help break down ‘information silos’ at both the community and organisational level, driving more connected thinking and innovation to better lead information governance best practice. Effective leadership of information governance is the key to ensuring that appropriate strategies, priorities, policies and processes are successfully embedded in an organisation to maximise the opportunities and minimise the risks arising from the information it holds,” said co-founder and IM consultant Marie Felsbourg.

Peter Baumann, CEO of Active Navigation, the first sponsor of Information Governance ANZ said, ”The value that can be derived from data trapped deep within an organisation can deliver improved performance and profitability.  Proactively implementing Information Governance should therefore be a no brainer.  This is particularly so because it also mitigates risk associated with potential legal exposure, business interruption, loss of productivity, data breaches and reputational damage.”

Membership of Information Governance ANZ is free to anyone who wants to join through the website – www.infogovanz.com.