Jennifer Barrigar - Candidate

More information available at https://reputablelog.org

What skills will you contribute to the NCF Board?

I have a BA (Hons) from Carleton, an LL.B. from Dalhousie University, and LL.M. and LL.D. degrees from the University of Ottawa's Law and Technology Institute. My ongoing interest is the intersection of the technical and the social, with a particular focus on reputation as a means of surveilling and shaping people's identities online and off.

For several years I served as Legal Counsel at the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. During that time, I was able to participate in the initial application and interpretation of Canada's 2001 private sector privacy act (PIPEDA) and worked as well with international standards for privacy and data protection.

Beyond the background in law, technology and privacy, I also bring a history of community Board involvement, with time spent on the Board (and Executive) of both the Ottawa School of Art and the Ottawa Women's Credit Union.

What are the most important functions of the NCF for its members?

To me, the digital divide issue isn't merely about lack of technological access, it's about lack of knowledge, lack of support, lack of agency and lack of community. These linked ideas -- of access and community -- are, to me, the central points around which NCF is organized and extremely important functions.

Why do you want to be an NCF director?

I believe strongly in the power of community and in the importance of those who are able to do so to step up, to contribute to their communities, and to use their skills and energy in the best way(s) possible. My earliest introductions to online communities and experiences was through NCF, and I believe it is important to help ensure that access and those experiences continue to be available.