12th Annual Freedom of Information Conference, May 2016

 


12th & 13th May 2016 - Central London, UK

 

Overview

 

The UK's largest two-day Freedom of Information Conference is specifically designed to give FOI Professionals key resources and practical guidance for dealing with all FOI compliance issues.

The first day of the FOI Conference features expert speakers on the latest challenges faced by those working in FOI, and practical guidance on how to handle them.

On the second day, delegates have the opportunity to attend two half-day Workshops, which consider specific aspects of FOI practice in-depth, as well as relevant issues under the Environmental Information Regulations and Data Protection laws.

This Conference provides plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion, as well as networking with other FOI professionals and advisers. Delegates have a 3-course lunch on both days, as well as a wine and canapés reception at the end of the first day.

 

 

Conference Programme

 

Day 1 - Speakers' Presentations Day

(Thursday, 12th May 2016)

 

On the first day, Expert Speakers explore the latest issues facing FOI Professionals and offer practical guidance on how to deal with them. 

 

steve-wood-ico

 

 

 

Keynote Address

 

Steve Wood - Information Commissioner's Office 


    

 

The Speakers Presentations will be chaired by Christopher Knight, 11KBW

 

Presentation Topics (full descriptions of each Presentation can be viewed here):

 

Keynote Address

Steve Wood - Information Commissioner's Office

 

The FOI Commission: the Next Chapter for FOI

Jackie Gray, Managing Associate at Bond Dickinson

 

Lazy Journalism?

Matt Burgess, Journalist and Author

 

Personal Data and Information Requests

Damien Welfare, Barrister at Cornerstone Barristers

 

Unjustified, Inappropriate or Improper – When is an Information Request Vexatious or Manifestly Unreasonable?

Jon Baines, FOI Manager at Network Rail


Divining the Public Interest

Estelle Dehon, Barrister, Cornerstone Barristers

 

The Request and the Response: What’s New?

Zoe Gannon, Barrister at 11KBW

 

FOI and EIR in a New European Landscape

Liz Fitzsimons Legal Director at Eversheds LLP

 

A full description of each Presentation can be viewed here


eCase Software sponsers the FOI Conference


Day 2 - The Workshops

(Friday, 13th May 2016)

 

On the second day, delegates can choose up to two Workshops that explore topics in-depth. In the Workshops delegates will have the opportunity to work through real-life scenarios. A full description of each Workshop can be viewed here

 

Topics are as follows:

 

Morning (select one)

 

A.  Confidentiality: What Does it Mean, and When Should You Disclose Confidential Information?

B.  Third Party Information: Handling Complex Requests

C.  FOI Following the FOI Commission: Legal and Practical Impacts

 

Afternoon (select one)

 

D.  Managing the Burden - Using Cost, Vexatiousness and Other Provisions to Manage the Increasing Flow of FOI Requests

E.  FOI, EIR or Same Difference? Understanding the Application of the Environmental Information Regulations (Workshop no longer available)

F.  When is data personal enough to be protected from disclosure?

 

A full description of each Workshop can be viewed here

 

 

Conference Venue

The venue for this event is: 

Grange City Hotel
8-14 Cooper's Row
London
EC3N 2BQ
United Kingdom


View venue's website

 

 Grange City Hotel London

 

Fees for the Conference

The Speakers' Presentations Day and the Workshops may be booked together or in any combination.

 

Public Sector Rate
(Not available to delegates based outside EU)

 
Whole Conference (Speakers’ Presentations Day plus two Workshops)
£ 795 plus VAT
Speakers’ Presentations Day plus one Workshop
£ 645 plus VAT
Speakers’ Presentations Day only
£ 495 plus VAT
Two Workshops only
£ 495 plus VAT
One Workshop only
£ 350 plus VAT

Standard Rate
 
Whole Conference (Speakers’ Presentations Day plus two Workshops)
£ 995 plus VAT
Speakers’ Presentations Day plus one Workshop
£ 845 plus VAT
Speakers’ Presentations Day only
£ 695 plus VAT
Two Workshops only
£ 695 plus VAT
One Workshop only
£ 450 plus VAT

The Speakers' Presentations Day and the Workshops may be booked together or in any combination.

Additional delegates: 15% discount for second and 20% discount for third and subsequent delegates booked at the same time. Discounts will be applied to the delegate/s with the least expensive booking.

Conference fee includes all course papers for each session the delegate attends and a 3-course networking lunch.

  • Additional delegates: 10% discount for second and 15% discount for third and subsequent delegates booked at the same time from the same organisation. Discounts will be applied to the delegate/s with the least expensive booking.
  • For additional information on fees, please visit the Terms and Conditions or FAQs.

 

Conference Timetable

Day 1 - Speakers' Presentations (Thursday, 12th May 2016)
 9.00 am    Registration
 9.30 am    Presentations start
 1.00 pm    Lunch
 5.00 pm    Presentations end and the wine and canapés reception begins

 

 

Day 2 - Workshops (Friday, 13th May 2016)
 9.00 am    Registration
 9.30 am    Morning Workshops start
12.45 pm    Lunch
 1.45 pm    Afternoon Workshops start
 5.00 pm    Afternoon Workshops end

 

Additional Information

  • The Speakers' Presentations Day and the Workshops may be booked together or in any combination
  • A discount is available for multiple delegates from an organisation who book at the same time.
  • Delegates will receive a copy of the materials for the sessions that they attend
  • Desks are provided for writing for every delegate on both days of the event
  • A 3-course seated networking lunch is provided for delegates on both days of the Conference
  • The FOI Conference is accredited by the Law Society and Bar Council with 12 CPD Points for both days
    The Speakers' Presentations day provides 6 CPD Points, and each Workshop provides 3 CPD Points

 

Who should attend the Freedom of Information Conference

Freedom of Information Officers, Environmental Information Officers, Policy Officers, Compliance Officers, Records Managers, Information Lawyers, Data Protection Officers, Consultants, Public and Private Sector Lawyers, Information Managers, Procurement Officers, Archivists, Researchers, and more...

 

3 Easy Ways to book

  • The online booking form
  • By This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • By telephone at +44 (0) 207 014 3399

 

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Download

Conference Brochure

 

12th Annual Freedom of Information Conference Brochure

 

View PDF brochure here >

 

 

This event is sponsored by

 

eCase Software

Trinogy Systems

 

 

 

With thanks to

11-kbw

 

Bond Dickinson sponsors this year's FOI Conference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Testimonials

 

“Excellent”
Karen Tolson
Bank of England


“I enjoyed the diversity of the presentations. Well balanced and managed.”
Roger Petty
Land Registry


“All of the presentations were excellent and considered fascinating areas”
Sam Potter
University of Nottingham


“A must for all working in FOI”
Gloria Akinyemi
King’s College Hospital


“Very useful and informative as usual”
Mark Stevens
Civil Aviation Authority


“Excellent mix of subjects and presentations.”
Kellene Green
EY


"A very interesting and varied day with a good range of speakers. As a first time attendee it has certainly whet my appetite for future conferences."
Karen Harris
Information Commissioners Office


"Another extremely well put together and varied content event"
Nicky Ross
MOD/RAF


"Good mix of sessions. Today has been very useful and informative"
Anna Canning
DCLG


"A must for all FOI practitioners to support their professional learning."
Mark Scallan
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust


“Very good”
Jenesha Simpson
Attorney General’s Chambers (Cayman Islands)


“Thank you for a very worthwhile conference”
Mark Fletcher
Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform


"Good to have a broad subject range. Very useful"
Dominic Mallinder
Northwest London CSU


“The breadth and knowledge of the speakers was impressive”
Audrey Turnbull
NEAS


“A very useful insight into current thinking with helpful examples.”
Judith Downing
Hampshire County Council

 

“Very informative and enlightening”
Louise Smith
Financial Ombudsman Service


“I liked the contributions from the practitioners.”
Virginia Hawkins
National Assembly for Wales


“An extremely well organised and informative event!”
James Newman
Transport for London


“An excellent, well-balanced, thought-provoking conference, which really helps to keep up to date”
Denise Francis
Science & Technologies Facilities Council


"All speakers provided helpful insights into FOIA pitfalls"
Simon Cosgrove
Maclay Murray & Spens


“The topics were useful and the speakers were good. This conference could not be improved.”
Kayi Emadi
OFCOM

 

“Very useful and informative day”
Caroline Lynch
Royal Berkshire NHS FT

 

“Very enjoyable and helpful. The speakers were obviously experts in the subjects.”
Emma Gedge
Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service

 

"Very useful practical tips"
Amy Ogborne
Bath & NE Somerset Council

 

“I liked the range of issues covered and the use of examples”
Leigh Hopkins
Health Protection Agency

 

“Excellent speakers – really useful”
Wendy Raymond
Medical Research Council