Michael Whitbread, Director (Data Privacy Governance Officer) – Legal, has been appointed as a Chair of the Guernsey Employment & Discrimination Tribunal, which is made up of independent people appointed under the law to hear and determine complaints such as unfair dismissal, discrimination and minimum wage issues.
New appointments were made this year ahead of a major expansion in the grounds, introducing protections from discrimination on the basis of race and disability among others. Michael will of course remain with JTC as his primary role.
As a Chair, Michael will work to support the success of the substantial reforms. His duties will include leading a panel of two lay members during hearings, as the legally qualified practitioner on the panel. He will serve on the Tribunal from January 2022 until 31st December 2024, generally in person but with the capacity to conduct remote hearings on occasion.
Commenting on his appointment, Michael said: “A baseline of protection from discrimination in employment, and the provision of goods and services, is standard operating procedure for any modern community and I look forward to developing deep expertise on the reforms once they are released. My approach will be to hear cases impartially and fairly, adding greater clarity about the law for both organisations and individuals alike.”
“Michael is a highly capable and dedicated member of our Legal Team who, in addition to advising on matters of employment law and providing critical leadership on our international data protection requirements, has identified and pursued an additional opportunity to give public service through the administration of justice. We applaud this endeavour and have every confidence that Michael will discharge his new duties with the same meticulous and conscientious approach that he applies to his work at JTC,” said Bill Byrne, Chief Group Counsel.
Michael is an employment lawyer by background and holds a Masters in Law from the University of Sydney, focusing on employment law and discrimination issues. His LLB is from the University of Newcastle, Australia.