Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Mike Stopforth, operating through Michael Stopforth (“we”, “us” or “our”), collects, uses, stores and protects personal information when you visit mikestopforth.com, contact us, subscribe to communications or engage with our services.

We are committed to processing personal information responsibly and in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”).

1. Who We Are

This website promotes the speaking, facilitation, consultation, publishing and related professional services offered by Mike Stopforth.

Responsible party: Michael Stopforth
Email: mike@mikestopforth.com
Business address: 79 Roodebloem Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town
Information Officer: N/A

2. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with the website, we may collect:

• Your name
• Your email address
• Your telephone number
• Your company or organisation
• Information included in an enquiry or booking request
• Newsletter subscription preferences
• Records of correspondence with us
• Event, speaking or consultation requirements
• Technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device type and operating system
• Information about how you use the website, including pages visited, links selected and referring pages
• Cookie identifiers and related analytics information
• Payment and billing information where services are purchased, although payment details may be processed directly by a third-party payment provider

Please avoid submitting confidential, sensitive or unnecessary personal information through the website’s contact forms.

3. How We Collect Information

We may collect personal information:

• Directly from you when you complete a form, subscribe, make a booking or contact us
• When you communicate with us by email, telephone, social media or another platform
• Automatically through cookies, analytics tools and similar technologies
• From an event organiser, agency, employer or other person arranging services involving you
• From publicly available professional or business sources
• From service providers that assist with bookings, email communications, payments or website administration

4. Why We Use Your Information

We may process personal information to:

• Respond to enquiries and booking requests
• Provide quotations, proposals and requested services
• Arrange speaking engagements, workshops, facilitation or consultations
• Administer contracts, invoices and payments
• Send newsletters or other communications you have requested
• Maintain business and client records
• Improve the website, content and services
• Measure website usage and communication performance
• Protect the website and identify security threats, fraud or misuse
• Comply with legal, regulatory, accounting and tax obligations
• Establish, exercise or defend legal rights
• Send relevant marketing communications where permitted by law

We will only use personal information for the purpose for which it was collected, or for another compatible and lawful purpose.

5. Grounds for Processing

Depending on the circumstances, we process personal information because:

• You have provided consent
• Processing is necessary to respond to your request
• Processing is necessary to enter into or perform a contract
• We are required to comply with a legal obligation
• Processing protects a legitimate interest pursued by us or a third party
• Processing is otherwise permitted under applicable law

Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal will not affect processing that occurred before the consent was withdrawn.

6. Newsletters and Direct Marketing

You may subscribe to receive newsletters, articles, event information and other updates.

We will only send direct marketing communications where we have an appropriate legal basis to do so. Every marketing email will include a method for unsubscribing.

You may also ask us to stop sending marketing communications by contacting us at mike@mikestopforth.com.

Unsubscribing from marketing does not prevent us from sending necessary service, booking, contractual or administrative communications.

7. Cookies and Analytics

The website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Enable essential website features
• Remember your preferences
• Understand website traffic and usage
• Improve website performance
• Measure the effectiveness of content or campaigns
• Support embedded media and third-party functionality

Where required, non-essential cookies will only be activated after you have made a choice through the website’s cookie controls.

More information is available in the Cookies Settings page.

8. Sharing Personal Information

We do not sell personal information.

We may share information with trusted third parties where reasonably necessary, including:

• Website hosting and technical service providers
• Email and newsletter platforms
• Customer relationship and booking systems
• Cloud storage and productivity providers
• Analytics and website-performance providers
• Payment processors and financial institutions
• Accountants, auditors, attorneys and professional advisers
• Event organisers, agencies or clients involved in arranging an engagement
• Government bodies, regulators or law-enforcement authorities where required by law

These service providers may only process information for the services they perform for us and must apply appropriate confidentiality and security measures.

9. International Transfers

Some service providers may store or process personal information outside South Africa.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the recipient is subject to appropriate data-protection requirements, contractual safeguards or another lawful transfer mechanism.

10. Data Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational safeguards designed to protect personal information from:

• Loss
• Unauthorised access
• Misuse
• Alteration
• Disclosure
• Destruction

No internet transmission or electronic storage system is completely secure. We therefore cannot guarantee absolute security.

Where required by law, affected individuals and the Information Regulator will be notified of a security compromise involving personal information.

11. How Long We Keep Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• Fulfil the purpose for which it was collected
• Provide services and maintain appropriate business records
• Meet legal, tax, accounting and regulatory requirements
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce agreements

When information is no longer required, it will be deleted, destroyed or de-identified where reasonably practicable.

12. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may request that we:

• Confirm whether we hold your personal information
• Provide access to personal information we hold about you
• Correct or update inaccurate information
• Delete information that we are no longer authorised to retain
• Restrict or object to certain processing
• Stop sending direct marketing communications
• Explain how your information has been used
• Provide information about third parties that have received your information

We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.

Certain rights may be limited where retaining or processing the information is required by law or is necessary to establish, exercise or defend a legal claim.

13. Third-Party Websites and Platforms

The website may link to third-party websites, social-media platforms, podcast services, video platforms or other external services.

We do not control these third parties and are not responsible for their privacy practices. You should review their privacy notices before submitting personal information or using their services.

14. Children’s Information

The website and services are not intentionally directed at children.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate consent or another lawful basis. Please contact us if you believe that a child has submitted personal information through the website.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes to the website, our services, technology or applicable law.

The updated version will be published on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. Material changes may also be communicated through another appropriate channel.

16. Contact Us

Questions, requests or concerns regarding personal information may be sent to:

Email: mike@mikestopforth.com
Address: 79 Roodebloem Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town

You may also lodge a complaint with the South African Information Regulator through its official complaints channels if you believe your personal information has been processed unlawfully.