Angela Balakrishnan

Angela oversees the development and delivery of strategic communication and engagement activities across the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Contrary to popular belief, data protection is about humans, not paperwork or processes. And so Angela encourages her team to find the human in the densest of subjects to drive change in how people think, feel or act on their information rights. She ensures the ICO grows awareness of the value and impact of its work; gathers insight to inform what it does; and influences behaviour on information rights. She co-chairs the UK Regulators communications network and is part of the Women in PR committee. Before the ICO, she spent nine years in government communication, working on foreign affairs, international development and business. She first cut her teeth in comms at one of the UK's biggest charities, Cancer Research UK. She specialises in crisis communications and public awareness campaigns, helping to connect organisations' work with different audiences through storytelling, creative content and partnerships. Prior to her comms career, she was a journalist, working at The Guardian and several music magazines. She also put on monthly club nights with live bands in Camden. She still lives for live music and enjoys transferring her joy for festivals and fancy dress to her two young sons.