Tell us about yourself?
I grew up in Sarawak, Malaysia and I have worked in various Information Technology disciplines over the past 20 years. For the last 6 years I have been responsible for managing, leading and implementing information and records governance strategy, policies and initiatives for a power utility company in Malaysia.
I also recently obtained the Certified Information Professional (CIP) by AIIM as my career certification path. I am a proud mother of 2 children. I enjoy zumba and I am passionate about family, friends and healthy balanced lifestyle.
What led you into the world of Information Governance (IG)?
Working for an end-to-end energy service provider, the organization operates in a highly regulated industry. In such environment, it is critical for the organization to clearly identify and abide to the relevant regulations and codes of practices. I was tasked to lead the new IG section and to achieve the set objectives and that was how I started in the world of IG.
What pressures are organisations facing to ensure IG best practices?
I think information security is a major driving force for organization to implement Information Governance. Today’s organizations are faced with the overwhelming challenge of managing, finding, and leveraging their information. Before any organisation can find or leverage on any of it, organizations need to first make sure they are safeguarded. The needs have become more apparent as more and more disruptive technologies are invented and rolled out into the industries. One example that I can give is cybersecurity which organisations must tackle. Access to information has become so discrete and fluid that safeguarding the information has become that much harder.
Another pressure point is the need for compliance to regulatory requirements. Organizations would require Information Governance for this to happen. And the challenge of getting this right has become harder than ever. Nowadays, organizations are having difficulties in getting the required critical business information for decision making and organization is also at risk in losing critical business information. As information disorganization are common in many organizations, it increases the risk in breach of information confidentiality, integrity and availability. Non-compliant organizations risk incurring much more than just heavy fine. Loss of customers trust and a damaged reputation are just a few of the risks if information is not tended to properly. These thus put pressure on organizations to embark on IG best practices as quickly and accurately as possible.
What are the biggest developments you have seen in the IG?
Over the last 5 years, the biggest developments that I have seen in the IG is the employment of qualified information management professionals with appropriate skills and competencies. The numbers of certified information management professionals have grown in leaps and bounds all over the world. Moreover, there are various paths to Information Governance professional development nowadays. Formal certifications paths are globally available for IG professionals to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in various information management-related disciplines.
Do you have any tips for someone starting out in IG?
I think individuals should get as much experience in all areas of Information Governance; strategy and policy, information and privacy, law and regulations, records management, and technology. One helpful advantage is to not think in silo, as governance cuts across domains of management and technology. All these experiences are part and parcels of the journey to implementing proper Information Governance. Never stop learning as Information Governance is a continually evolving program, changing as technology and business needs change.
With the rapidly evolving technologies and digital disruption, where do you see IG heading in the next few years?
As we enter a new decade, we are seeing more and more organizations adopting cutting edge technology and cloud-based workplace. We can work anytime, anywhere! This makes information increasingly tougher to control. Information growth will go on and the need for Information governance cannot be disregarded. I believe organisations will increase their spending on Information Governance products and services to be better equipped when it comes to managing their information.
The future of Information Governance is unquestionably bright. I can see Information Governance gaining more traction within organisations as we enter a world where compliance and security are becoming a competitive edge.
Information Governance by its nature interdisciplinary. In my opinion, to be successful, organization will need to adopt a holistic approach. It takes effort and good collaboration from various teams namely IT, RIM, Audit, Legal and Business Operations in an organization to manage information appropriately and successfully. Any organization that recognizes this effort will undoubtedly be leading the future of information governance.
Why is it important to be a member of InfoGovANZ ?
InfoGovANZ is an interconnected space where members have access to experienced international information governance practitioners sharing and exchanging knowledge, experience and ideas about IG best practices. The networking and professional events are excellent which I find it useful for making new contacts and learning more about what’s happening in the information governance space. I feel very privileged to be a part of InfoGovANZ.
