I make privacy program management simple

Samara is a results-oriented strategic privacy leader, lawyer and consultant, who leverages operational privacy leadership experience into practical strategies for program and project success. Samara is the founder and Managing Principal of INQ Consulting and Partner at INQ Law.

We understand the importance of good governance and criteria-based decision-making about personal information. We know that strong practical organizational privacy practices reduce risk. We enable access to data using privacy best practices for both private and public sector clients, from IT implementations that help your company’s efficiency to research and innovation technologies that improve health outcomes. 

Samara can be contacted at sstarkman@inq.consulting  or sstarkman@inq.law
www.inq.consulting or www.inq.law

Samara Starkman

The Barrington Consulting Group

Associate Partner

As a credentialed privacy professional, change manager, project manager, and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and with a Master's degree in English, I assist senior leaders in developing and executing strategy, ensuring privacy of sensitive data, and leading organizational change. 

I've worked with Nova Scotia Power, Halifax Water, the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services, DHXMedia, Vital Statistics, the Halifax Port Authority, and other organizations to assess privacy needs, advance organizational goals, prepare for change, and create solid strategies.

Senior Consultant

Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education

I worked with the Planning, Research, and Accountability Division, primarily responsible for the Department's Evaluation Committee and an internal policy review.

Policy Analyst

As a policy analyst, I led the review of legislation, advised senior leaders on legal requirements and potential improvements, and prepared consultation documents. I also directed the review and creation of internal policies to ensure alignment with legislation and the Agency’s strategic orientation for 2015/2016. 

I managed Nova Scotia’s commitments to the Atlantic Apprenticeship Harmonization project by working with provincial counterparts and translating high-level harmonization goals to actionable tasks. This is a significant initiative with trades to be harmonized over the next five years.

I wasthe project lead for the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan and Framework which included leading a Steering Committee of stakeholders and experts and overseeing our consultant’s contractual obligations to deliver work on time and on budget. 

I directed the creation of regular and ad hoc reports for the CEO, Board, stakeholders, Trade Advisory Committees, and Trade Sector Councils by Agency staff. I also managed the evaluation component of the Agency’s Strategic Plan Evaluation and the Employer Engagement Evaluation which are tools for assessing the success of this initiative. 

As a strategically-oriented thinker, I worked with a team of three staff to create the Social Media Strategy and the Employer Engagement Strategy. In addition, I directed the 2015-2016 Business Plan.

Policy Analyst, Industry Relations

Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia

During this one year secondment, I quickly learned the Workers’ Compensation Act, the workplace culture, and the role of policy within the organization to provide policy research and advice.  I revised the Noise Induced Hearing Loss Policy after the second phase of consultations to take into account employer, worker, and stakeholder concerns. I then prepared and delivered training to adjudication staff on applying the new process and provided ongoing advice on complex claim decisions. 

I was instrumental in advancing the organization’s goals of increasing client satisfaction through transparency by translating a large portion of the Workers’ Compensation Act into plain language. This guide is used by decision-writers in communicating with clients when denying or accepting a claim so that the client can understand the reason for the decision. 

I also drafted a number of position statements that advanced the policy agenda by providing decision frameworks for case managers who adjudicate complex claims.

I coordinated the Minister’s weekly policy briefings, coordinated the First Contract Arbitration consultation feedback document, and I created legislative cabinet documents for the Office of the Fire Marshal, the Labour Standards Division, and the Safety Branch.

I was instrumental in fostering strong working relationships to lead the Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Regulation Committee Sub-Committee. These professionals were tasked with updating a number of safety regulations to align with best practices, new technologies, and safety trends while balancing employer and employee interests and advancing worker safety. 

I directed Privacy Impact Assessments for every major project in the department, integrating requirements of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act with risk mitigation measures.

I lead the Wellness @ Work Committee that undertook a number of health initiatives to advance Total Worker HealthTM.

I applied my leadership skills in mentoring a policy intern. I provided resources, advice, and expertise as required to ensure that she was successful in her work term and gained the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to produce excellent results and gain further employment.

As an active leader in GoverNEXT (the organization for new and young public servants), I co-lead the Policy and Partnerships Task Team and co-lead the most significant policy and research project undertaken by the organization: a challenge from Deputy Minister David Darrow to recommend ways to improve the public service. Through this project, I directed three task teams, reached and involved 400 members, coordinated consultation events, and produced a document with 10 recommendations using an ‘open source’ structure that culminated in a presentation to the Associate Deputy Ministers and to the Deputy Ministers’ Round Table. A number of these initiatives are now in place through the Public Service Commission.

I coordinated the Deputy Minister’s Senior Leadership meetings, which included taking an official Record of Decisions and Action Items as well as logistical considerations.

I undertook a self-study of regulation and cabinet processes and drafted legislative documents, in particular those relating to the appointment of Agency, Board, and Committee members and assisted with research when required. 

I co-led the department’s United Way campaign that involved the management of 40 volunteers to deliver 35 fundraising events over 3 months. This coordinated and aligned initiative resulted in an 11% increase in donations over the previous year despite a 100 FTE reduction in the department. 

I supported the H1N1 Situation Room during the pandemic by taking a Record of Decisions at the daily morning meeting and managing the official H1N1 communications that were sent to nurses and doctors, Occupational Health and Safety organizations, and other stakeholders.

Administrative Assistant

Camp Wenonah

Over the course of 9 summers I held a variety of jobs including leading school groups in 3 day programs, taking children aged 9-14 on overnight canoe trips, planning and coordinating activities for  up to 250 children, overseeing the girls counselling staff, skill instruction (including rock climbing, canoeing, sailing, and guitar lessons), continual risk assessment and management, and  office administration.

Various (Section Director, Canoe Trip Leader, Counsellor, Office Coordinator)

Government of British Columbia

I worked with a consultant to implement a records management system. This project necessitated forming positive relationships with staff members given the territorial and sensitive nature of ownership in relation to work. To implement the retention schedule, I interviewed each staff member in three divisions to learn the nature of their work, anticipating the records needs of the branch, testing and revising the draft policy, and ensuring alignment with best practices and legal requirements.

Records Analyst

I am a privacy leader. In my daily work I...
- set up privacy offices and programs,
- lead privacy impact assessment,
- manage risks, and
- prevent privacy breaches.

Current and recent projects include 911 privacy risks, health information system privacy assessments, and privacy program maturation.

taplio

The Battle

Samara Starkman

Linda Bolton M.A., FIP

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