We often collaborate with Nicole Stephensen, Managing Director of Ground Up Consulting, a trusted partner to Helios. Over her 20+ year career, Nicole has gained widespread recognition for her extensive local and international expertise in privacy program management and acculturation – and her frank, candid and practical approach to privacy compliance and best practice.

Throughout her career, Nicole has been a key strategic advisor to Boards and Executives globally, as well as in shaping privacy regulation in Australia and overseas. Notably, Nicole played a pivotal role in developing Queensland’s first privacy law, the Information Privacy Act 2009, and implemented the Queensland Ombudsman’s Complaints Management Program.

Nicole is a mentor and sought-after speaker on privacy, cybersecurity, and digital policy. She was nominated by the OECD to join its expert communities on DFFT and PETs in 2024. Nicole is a Fellow of the Australian Information Security Association and a leading member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals.