Reflections on eCase FOI25
Lynn Wyeth, our conference chair, reflects on the FOI25 conference, organised by the Fivium eCase team.
It’s a few weeks on from this year’s eCase FOI25 conference. FOI25 gave us the chance to look at the best of the last twenty years, reflect on our current practices and challenges, and also look forward to the future.
As we celebrated twenty years of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA) and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) there was a chance to continue to learn from those that have fought for our transparency rights for many years. It was a pleasure to hear from Carole Ewart of the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland (CFoIS), and Maurice Frankel of the Campaign for Freedom of Information (CFoI), with their insights into how things have gone over the last twenty years. It was also very fitting on this twentieth anniversary of the legislation that they both be awarded with special recognition awards.
A look back at the type of requests that have shaped FOI over the 20 years with Dr Ben Worthy was a trip down memory lane, and eCase’s latest research, Issues in Information Governance, was of no great surprise to many current FOI practitioners, with many sectors suffering from lack of staffing, lack of resources and low management buy-in.
The conference breakout sessions provided a mix of practice and theory to help current practitioners. Practical knowledge was put to the test with delegates trying to make their way through the FOI escape room. Knowledge was kept up to date with recent case law sessions. Discussions were held on how we can continue to enable people to access information, especially minority groups. Valuable continual professional development for delegates.
As we said farewell to retiring practitioners such as Barry Moult, whose support for the IG community has been so treasured over the years, we also welcomed new speakers and new challenges.
The impact of AI on how requests are made, or could be answered, is both exciting and challenging. Will the Labour government may be more amenable to expanding the Act to those private companies spending taxpayers’ money..? Expect to see some lobbying soon.
So, what comes next for our FOI community? Some of the speakers this year were former winners of FOI awards at previous conferences or have shone brightly on the eCase free webinars. It really is fantastic to see a new generation of FOI experts carrying the torch into the next twenty years.
Along with the in-person attendance of both Information Commissioners, there was evidence that there are still passionate people out there in the FOI community that value all of those original objectives of the Act; Openness, transparency and accountability.
It was fantastic to be able to celebrate the first 20 years with so many of the FOI community. Hopefully we can all be inspired, revitalised and positive for the future after such a brilliantly run conference.