HPX Group is excited to announce that respected privacy maven Nicole Stephensen has joined its Helios Salinger business enhancing the firm’s ability to deliver specialist, whole-of-business privacy, cyber, data and AI governance solutions.

Nicole will work alongside Anna Johnston as Helios Salinger’s second Privacy Partner, providing clients with strategic privacy capacity building and consulting services across key industries.

Nicole brings 25 years’ experience in privacy program management, public policy creation and regulation, both in Australia and her native Canada. She serves on the regional Board of the IAPP, the peak professional body for privacy globally, and is recognised by the Smart Cities Council for her leadership and work in building privacy programs for local government – reframing privacy as an opportunity to innovate responsibly rather than a roadblock. Nicole conducted the privacy impact assessment for the City of Ipswich’s award-winning online Transparency and Integrity Hub, and also spearheaded the City of Darwin’s privacy program.

HPX Group CEO Nick Humphrey said Nicole’s experience and genuine passion for the area made her a valuable addition to the Helios Salinger team, and at a time when privacy non-compliance was a growing business and reputational risk.

“We’re seeing a staggering number of businesses implementing AI to bolster their productivity or decision-making processes, for example, without the necessary privacy and data governance guard rails in place,” said Nick.

Nicole’s appointment follows that of James Patto, who holds a dual Legal Partner role in Helios Salinger and HPX Group’s commercial law firm Hamilton Locke.