Chief Data Officer

The role of the Chief Data Officer

The Chief Data Officer (CDO) leads a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to responsible information sharing. This includes setting clear expectations for how data and information are managed and shared. In addition to lifting data capability and promoting best practice, the CDO provides leadership on the development and use of artificial intelligence and data-driven tools to improve services and support better outcomes for the community.

As a statutory office established under the Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024 (PRIS Act), the CDO plays a key role in embedding strong foundations for responsible data use and is advised by the PRIS Advisory Committee in performing these functions. Most statutory functions of the Chief Data Officer come into effect on 1 July 2026 and include:

• Overseeing and supporting information sharing agreements made under PRIS.
• Maintaining a public register of these agreements
• Maintaining oversight of the data held by public entities through information holdings requests.
• Assisting, building capability, and developing material to enable responsible information sharing among public entities, external entities and other stakeholders.
• Maintaining oversight of shared information breaches (from 1 July 2027).

This supports collaboration across government and with other jurisdictions while building confidence in how the WA government uses data. Practical guidance and templates to support entities with responsible information sharing are available in the Responsible Information (RIS) Toolkit. 

Contact the Chief Data Officer

Under the PRIS Act, from 1 July 2026 WA Government entities and relevant external entities must notify or respond to the Chief Data Officer in relation to the following activities:

• details of a public entity’s information sharing officer
• responding to an information holdings request (within 45 days)
• if their Minister issues a direction for the agencies to enter into an information sharing agreement, known as an information sharing direction (within 14 days)
• revoking an information sharing direction.

Additionally, if an information sharing agreement is established under the PRIS Act, the Chief Data Officer must be notified of the following activities:

• signing the agreement (within 30 days)
• any variation to the agreement (within 30 days)
• any party’s withdrawal from the agreement (within 30 days)
• termination of the agreement (within 30 days)
• an information breach that involves shared information (as soon as practicable after the breach is identified)

Contact the Chief Data Officer by email at Data.Sharing@dpc.wa.gov.au

Contact the Information Commissioner

Under the PRIS Act, privacy matters are overseen by the Information Commissioner.