Celebrating 20 Years of WASPI: Recognising Dedication, Collaboration and Champions in Information Sharing
On Monday 10 November the Welsh Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information (WASPI) hosted the Collaboration, Culture and Celebration conference and awards ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the framework.
The event celebrated 20 years of collaborative work to advance information sharing and the principles of information governance across Wales. The event included the WASPI 20 awards, which acknowledged the dedication of individuals, teams and initiatives who have championed information sharing and governance standards over the past 20 years.
The four award categories all focused on a different aspect of the Accord's success over the past twenty years:
- Collaborative Excellence Award
- The WASPI Advocate Award
- Unsung Hero Award
- The Excellence through Adversity Award
In addition to these, a handful of special recognition award were also given to those who have made significant contributions to the framework.
And the winners are...
Collaborative Excellence Award
Nominees for this award championed collaboration in initiatives where different organisations from across health, local government, police, education, or the third sector, have come together, united by the WASPI framework to achieve something truly remarkable. They’ve proven that we are always stronger, and our outcomes for the public are always better, when we collaborate.
And the winner is...
Dyfed Powys Police.
For taking a collaborative approach to information sharing across organisations and giving partners the opportunity to meet and share challenges and best practice.
The WASPI Advocate Award
This award recognises the person who has tirelessly championed WASPI, driving positive change within their organisation and beyond. An individual who brings the Accord to life, who advocates for its principles in meetings, who mentors colleagues, and who has made an exceptional contribution to embedding data sharing as a strategic tool for good.
And the winners are…
Wayne Pritchard, HM Prison and Probation Service, and Mark Russell, South Wales Police.
Wayne Pritchard has transformed data sharing within HMPPS over the years with WASPI being its central driver for compliance. He has used the Accord framework to encourage others to constantly review and update their Information Sharing Protocols.
Mark Russell champions WASPI and promotes the framework’s adoption and data protection legislation. He has been an avid supporter of the Information Sharing Gateway, championing the tool and promoting its benefits and use to other QA members across the South.
Unsung Hero Award
This award recognises the valuable contribution made to WASPI and information sharing in Wales that might sometimes go unnoticed. Nominees for this award are guardians of public trust, the true unsung heroes working diligently behind the scenes.
And the winner is…
Lisa Parry, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Lisa has been involved in the WASPI framework since its inception. As Senior Information Governance Manager, Lisa has been instrumental to embedding the WASPI framework into the culture at BCUHB, and championing the principles of safe and lawful sharing of data.
The Excellence through Adversity Award.
This award honours an individual or a team who, when faced with significant adversity, demonstrated resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to the principles of WASPI. When the pressure was on, they didn't just cope; they excelled. They found a way to share information safely and effectively to achieve a positive outcome against the odds.
And the winner is…
Helen Parry, Gwynedd Council.
When a handful of organisations were disengaging from the WASPI framework, Helen’s dedication to the North Wales WASPI QA group fostered a sense of community and purpose. Her resilience, invaluable expertise and leadership laid a strong foundation for the group’s continued success.
Special Recognition Award
Building the WASPI framework hasn’t been easy, it has taken time and resource, and this award acknowledges those who have made a significant contribution to WASPI over the past 20 years by providing their time, knowledge and skills to create better information sharing in Wales s.
Their contributions range from:
- Being forefathers of the framework – drafting and shaping the Accord and templates
- Leading and making decisions on changes to the framework and its future
- Being part of change advisory and service management boards and Chairing regional quality assurance groups
- Championing and promoting WASPI
What makes WASPI special is that it was built by practitioners for practitioners and is continuously being developed. These individuals have led this process throughout the years and continue to be involved now.
And the winners are…
Dave Parsons, Digital Health Care Wales
Helen Thomas, Information Commissioner’s Office
Jackie Evans, Dyfed Powys Police
John Grenfell, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
John Sweeney, Digital Health Care Wales
Richard Howells, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Ryan James, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Congratulations to all the award winners and everyone nominated!
You can view the full list of nominees for each category on the WASPI website.