"Paula brings the special skills necessary to create collaborative solutions in an information age," said Marty Abrams, the Centre's executive director, in announcing the appointment. "She understands the intersection between policy and technology, which is so important when looking at emerging privacy issues, including those arising in technologies such as RFID and social networks."

"Paula's nongovernmental organization perspective on privacy and information security issues complements and further balances our work," said Orson Swindle, senior policy advisor and chair of security initiatives at the Centre. "She believes in the importance of taking 'steps to solutions' and will help the Centre raise awareness among industry leaders and decision makers of the critical realm of information security and of the differing regional privacy regimes around the globe. I very much look forward to working with her."

"Center member companies are delighted with Paula's addition to Centre Leadership," said Sandra Hughes, chief privacy executive at Procter & Gamble. "Many of us worked with Paula both on the RFID Privacy Guidelines and APEC Privacy Framework. Few leaders are better at bridging differences between various business and consumer constituencies."

At The Centre for Information Policy Leadership, Bruening joins well-known privacy professionals Abrams, Swindle, and Fred H. Cate. Bruening will also work closely with Hunton & Williams' noted privacy lawyers Cooney, Lisa J. Sotto, and Christopher Kuner. Bruening's work will also involve regular collaboration with a diverse, vibrant team of privacy and information security authorities who understand that information does not remain within a country's borders and must be monitored on a global basis as it travels to meet both individual consumer and corporate needs.

Bruening received her undergraduate degree from John Carroll University and law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and is a frequent author and lecturer on information policy issues in the United States and Europe. She began her work in information policy at the US Congress Office of Technology Assessment. Prior to the CDT, she was the Director of Compliance and Policy for TRUSTe, the online privacy seal program, where she was responsible for compliance and for working with the government on evolving privacy policy. While with TRUSTe, she served on the Federal Trade Commission Advisory Committee on Access and Security. Before that, Bruening was Senior Attorney-Advisor for the Office of Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, US Department of Commerce, where she worked closely with the White House to advise the Clinton Administration on a wide range of domestic and international electronic commerce and Internet issues. She has also served as an onsite consultant to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France and has worked with governments of emerging and transitional economies on issues of telecommunications liberalization and e-commerce and privacy law.

For more information about the Centre for Information Policy Leadership, visit our website at www.informationpolicycentre.com.