Inger Hansen

Inger Hansen (11 May 1929 — 28 September 2013) was the first Privacy Commissioner of Canada from 1977 to 1983 and Information Commissioner of Canada from 1983 to 1990. Hansen was also the first ombudswoman for Kingston Penitentiary in 1973 and became a Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog in 2000.

Early life and education Hansen was born on 11 May 1929 in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1960, she graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Law. Hansen completed further education with a public administration degree at Queen's University in 1990. After working in British Columbia as a criminal defense lawyer, Hansen worked for the Solicitor General of Canada in 1969. In 1977, Hansen was named the first Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Despite being reelected for an additional four years in 1981, her position as commissioner ended in 1983 after the creation of Canada's Privacy Act. When her term ended, Hansen became the inaugural Information Commissioner of Canada in 1983 and held the position until 1990. After her time as information commissioner, Hansen began working for the Ontario Court of Justice in 1991 and remained in the Ontario justice system until 2003.

Awards and honours Hansen was named a Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog in 2000.