Since 1984, CFoIS has been associated with all FOI legal reform in Scotland and continues to focus on the importance of a robust, enforceable access to information law to deliver open and accountable government and efficient public services.  

The conference will also celebrate 20 years since the Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) Act 2002 (FoISA) became enforceable. On 1 January 2005, the right to access information became powerful as its operation was overseen and appeals were heard by the Scottish Information Commissioner. Overnight, 10,000 public bodies delivering devolved functions were subject to FoISA cementing enforceable information rights and duties in culture, law and practice.

Keynote speakers at the conference are:

• Lord Wallace of Tankerness will speak about how he piloted FoISA through the Scottish Parliament
• Helena Jäderblom will give an international perspective. Helena is president of the Supreme Administrative Court of Sweden and chair of the Council of Europe’s Access Info Group which is one of the two monitoring bodies established by the Tromsø Convention.
• David Hamilton, Scottish Information Commissioner
• Patricia Anderson founder member of the ‘Give Them Time Campaign’
• Environmental journalist Rob Edwards
• Charlaine Mellor, Freedom of Information Officer Dundee City Council
• Katy Clark, Scottish Labour MSP
• Graham Simpson, Scottish Conservative MSP
• Carole Ewart, director of CFoIS

David Goldberg, chair of CFoIS, said: “We are delighted to host a range of experts and friends to reflect on the long journey to deliver Scotland’s first FoI law in 2002. The event also provides an opportunity to evaluate where we are now in terms of information rights, duties and the importance of independent regulation.”