Steven Tam LLM, LLB, BCOM
Chief Data Governance Officer
Steven currently as serves Chief Data Governance Officer at Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH). In this role, he aims to transform how data is strategically governed and managed so that higher quality data is made accessible at a faster pace to clinicians, researchers and administrators to deliver better care and improve our healthcare system, while enhancing data security, privacy and ethical use of health system data.
Prior to assuming his current role in September 2022, Steven led the Legal Services team at VCH as its General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer for over 12 years. In this capacity, he focused on finding ways to facilitate the use of innovative technologies that enhance healthcare service delivery while addressing legal and privacy risks. He led the development of the General Health Information Sharing Agreement (GHISA), an overarching agreement signed in 2013 between the BC Ministry of Health and all BC health authorities. Today, the GHISA continues to be the foundational legal, policy and data governance framework that governs almost all sharing of health information across the province for provision of care, research, quality improvement and healthcare planning. He played a key role in influencing recent changes to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act that reformed its data residency provisions to better support health innovation and technology adoption.
In addition to a Bachelor of Laws degree from UBC, Steven holds a Masters in E-Business law from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UBC.
