With the growing need for well-qualified privacy and data protection professionals, the annual Westin Scholar Awards were created by the International Association of Privacy Professionals to support students who are identified as future leaders in the field of privacy and data protection.
As a participating Westin Scholar Award school, the University of Ottawa selected JD candidate Michael Walsh to receive this year’s award in recognition of his achievements.
“The industry of privacy is fast growing and constantly evolving. We’ve created this award as a way to put the privacy profession at the forefront of students’ minds as they explore potential career opportunities,” said J. Trevor Hughes, IAPP President and CEO. “Congratulations Michael Walsh. We look forward to seeing the good work you will bring to the field of privacy”.
Prof. Vivek Krishnamurthy who led the selection process noted that “Michael was an active and enthusiastic participant in my Privacy Law class last fall, but I was especially impressed by his paper on the privacy implications of a shift toward ‘open banking’ by financial services providers in Canada. His paper merits publication and close reading by the policymakers who will be charged with making open banking a reality in Canada.”
In addition to a US$ 1,000 cash award, Michael Walsh will receive a copy of the book “Privacy and Freedom” by Dr. Alan Westin, 2 years of membership with the IAPP, 3 complimentary exams for IAPP certifications (CIPP, CIPM, CIPT), as well as unlimited access to online training for recipient’s selected IAPP certification exams.
About the Westin Scholar Award
The Westin Scholar Awards pay homage to the late Dr. Alan Westin, a foundational voice in the field of privacy and data protection. Throughout his life, Dr. Westin researched and wrote about privacy, data protection, digital identity and the future of how societies will deal with issues at the intersection of law and technology. He is the namesake for the IAPP Westin Research Center and Fellowship Program, which was founded in 2013 and serves as a pathway for future leaders in the community. More information on the Westin Scholar Award are available at: https://iapp.org/westin-research-center/higher-education/.