Elizabeth Tydd will take over as national information commissioner at the end of incumbent Angelene Falk’s term.

Ms Tydd currently serves as the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s freedom of information commissioner, a role she began in February.

Her five-year term in the top job begins on August 16. She will set the strategic direction of the office, which acts as an independent government agency on privacy and information.  

Ms Tydd previously served as information commissioner and CEO at the Information and Privacy Commission NSW.  

Ms Falk says Ms Tydd has an “extensive regulatory background” and shows an “exceptional commitment to the protection and promotion of information rights, and will play a significant role in advancing information access and privacy for all Australians”. 

The federal government says the process to fill Ms Tydd’s former role is under way.