The federal government has announced new appointments to ACMA, with executives from Google, Rio Tinto and the Copyright Agency to join the national telecommunications and broadcasting regulator.

Communications minister Kelly Rowland announced on Monday that Samantha Yorke, a senior manager in Google’s government affairs team, will start with the Australian Communications and Media Authority on August 2023.

Ms Yorke has a private sector background in law and regulation and has previously worked with the government around online safety and digital platforms.

Prior to joining Google, Ms Yorke established the regulatory function at the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Australia and worked as General Counsel and Asia Pacific Legal Director for Yahoo!’s Australian business. 

Head of Privacy at Rio Tinto, Carolyn Lidgerwood, takes up her position on October 16, bringing with her experience in legal and regulatory frameworks in telecommunications, privacy, broadcasting and radio communications.

In her current job Ms Lidgerwood is responsible for Rio Tinto’s global data privacy program across 35 countries. She was formerly general counsel and company secretary for Southern Cross Media.

The third appointment to be announced is that of former Copyright Agency CEO Adam Suckling, who left the NFP in 2022 and begins work immediately.

Prior to his role with the Copyright Agency, Mr Suckling undertook a range of senior leadership, commercial, policy and regulatory and corporate affairs roles for Optus, Singtel, Foxtel and News Corporation.

“I am confident Mr Suckling, Ms Yorke and Ms Lidgerwood will help support the ACMA as it confronts complex emerging challenges across telecommunications, broadcasting, and online content,” Ms Rowland said in a statement.

All three appointees with serve as full time ACMA members for five years.

The minster thanked outgoing members James Cameron and Anita Jacoby for their contributions over the last ten years.

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