OPC Youth Council

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s (OPC) Youth Council is a space for young people to share their insights, experiences and ideas on the privacy challenges that matter the most to them. From social media to the rise of artificial intelligence, the privacy landscape is evolving fast. The Council’s voice will play an important role in helping our office understand how these issues impact young people.

What the Council does

• Work with other young Canadians and the OPC to better understand and highlight the privacy risks and issues affecting youth
• Advise the OPC on policies and projects that aim to protect and promote youth privacy
• Collaborate with the OPC in designing impactful public education and outreach campaigns
• Learn from experts in technology and privacy rights

Read the Youth Council’s terms of reference to learn more.

Youth Council members 2025-2027

Justin Huang – Chair
Justin is an 11th grade International Baccalaureate candidate from Ontario. He is passionate about digital society and how big data and algorithms affect our lives. As part of the OPC Youth Council, he is hoping to continue promoting both the digital rights of youth and children, and the responsible use of technology. He is also an avid debater and saxophonist, and loves the outdoors.

Sara Waqas – Vice-Chair
Sara is a proud Albertan currently in Grade 11. She is hoping to study neuroscience in university. She joined the OPC Youth Council because, as a student researcher, she worked with many open access data sets and wondered how the government protected the participants’ privacy and ensured data security. Outside of school, she enjoys debating, keeping up with politics, and watching musicals.

Chinazam Igwe
Chinazam is a Grade 12 student from Moncton, New Brunswick. In Grade 9, a summer job with a Science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) nonprofit exposed her to the possibility of a career in tech. However, it was not until the AI boom and its growing impact on society that she saw an intersection between her passion for tech and her interests in policy and social issues. She wanted to join the OPC Youth Council to explore this intersection with peers from coast to coast because it is a complex issue and she does not have all the answers. Working in a council makes her more optimistic for a healthier digital ecosystem. When she is not thinking about tech and its social impact, you will likely find her writing poetry over her third cup of chai.

Norah Kenward-Richard
Norah is from Burnaby, British Columbia. She is in Grade 12 and really enjoys reading and learning about history (so much so a museum once had to kick her out at the end of the day so they could close!). She applied to the OPC youth council because she has worked with youth through other youth councils and as a Girl Guide leader, and she would like to learn and discuss how youth needs and voices can be incorporated into privacy policies and initiatives. A fun fact about her is that she is probably one of the only Metro-Vancouverites who enjoys the infamous rain!

Victoria Greenwood
Victoria is a Grade 12 student from Toronto, Ontario. She is an internationally recognized youth advocate and leader, passionate about youth empowerment, public policy and reconciliation. She serves as the founder and CEO of the Indigenous Dance Foundation, which brings the art of dance to Indigenous youth in Arctic regions of Nunavut, and is a guest speaker presenting at conferences, schools and community groups across Canada. Victoria wanted to join the OPC Youth Council to collaborate with other young leaders and contribute her voice to shaping inclusive privacy policy. During her spare time, she enjoys dance, poetry, and learning French and Spanish.

Alessia Laudice Di Gennaro
Alessia is a Grade 10 student from Montreal, Quebec. She is deeply passionate about student advocacy, engagement, and all things science. Outside of school, you will usually find her watching classic films, playing piano, or diving into her latest science fair project. She is thrilled to join the OPC Youth Council because she cares deeply about how policymakers will safeguard the future for her generation, especially when it comes to the responsible use of bioinformatics data.

Christopher El-Murr
Christopher is a Grade 11 student (Secondary 5) from the province of Quebec. He is an active sergeant with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, as well as an avid percussionist. At the same time, he is very involved in his school, especially in the concert band and drama programs. His goal in joining the OPC Youth Council is to develop his skills while helping to raise awareness among young people about the impact of technology on their lives and on their person. By actively participating in the Council, he hopes to help the Commissioner advance his understanding of the issues and propose solutions to better educate and protect the privacy of future generations.

Questions?

Reach out to us at CJ-YC@priv.gc.ca with your questions.