Privacy | Author in Command

Effective date: October 2026

Author in Command is delivered by Second Act Advisory Ltd, which operates authorincommand.com, administers bookings and receives programme payments. Second Act Advisory Ltd is the data controller responsible for the personal information described below.

Contact: hello@secondactadvisory.com

Address: 2A Welbeck Court, Addison Bridge Place, London W14 8XW, United Kingdom.

1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect information you provide when enquiring, applying, booking, participating in the programme or requesting communications. This may include your:

• name, email address, telephone number and postal address;

• book details, relevant experience, objectives and application answers;

• booking, payment and delivery information;

• correspondence, participation information and feedback; and

• communication preferences.

We may consult relevant public information about your book and professional work, including links you provide. Our website and service providers may also collect technical information, such as your IP address, browser, device and website usage, and supply payment confirmations, delivery updates and attendance information.

Please avoid providing unnecessary sensitive information about yourself or others. Payment details should be entered through the payment provider, not sent through enquiry forms or email.

2. HOW WE USE INFORMATION

The purposes for which we use personal information, and our lawful bases, are:

• Responding to programme enquiries, assessing applications and administering waiting-list requests: taking steps at your request before entering into a contract.

• Managing bookings, payments, delivery, sessions and programme communications: performing our contract with you.

• Handling other enquiries, obtaining feedback and improving our services: our legitimate interests in responding to enquiries and developing the programme.

• Maintaining website security and administering our business: our legitimate interests in operating and protecting the business.

• Keeping required financial records: compliance with legal obligations.

• Managing disputes and recovering outstanding payments: our legitimate interests in protecting our legal and financial position.

• Sending marketing communications: consent, or legitimate interests where electronic marketing rules permit.

• Using non-essential cookies or similar technologies: consent where required by law.

Where we rely on legitimate interests, we consider the necessity of the processing and its effect on your rights and reasonable expectations. If information is necessary to assess your application or deliver the programme, we will make this clear. Without it, we may be unable to proceed.

3. MARKETING

Applying does not automatically subscribe you to general marketing communications. We send marketing emails with your consent or, where legally permitted, about our own similar services following a purchase or discussions about a potential purchase. Where relying on the latter, we must have offered an opt-out when collecting your details and include one in each marketing email. You can unsubscribe using the email’s unsubscribe link or by contacting us. This does not prevent necessary communications about your application or booking.

We do not sell personal information or share it with third parties for their own marketing.

4. SHARING AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS

We share relevant information where necessary with website and IT providers, payment providers, printers and delivery companies, online meeting platforms, professional advisers and authorities where legally required.

Providers processing information on our behalf must have appropriate contractual protections. Some providers also process information independently under their own privacy policies. Some providers may process information outside the UK. Where required, transfers must be covered by UK adequacy regulations or appropriate safeguards, such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or UK Addendum to approved Standard Contractual Clauses, together with any required assessment. Contact us for details of the safeguards relevant to your information and how to obtain a copy.

5. SECURITY AND RETENTION

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information and limit access to those who need it. We retain information only as long as needed to handle enquiries and applications, administer participation, meet legal obligations or resolve disputes. Application records are retained while consideration and relevant follow-up remain active, and afterwards only where there is a justified continuing need. Accounting records are normally kept for six years from the end of the relevant financial year, or longer where required. This does not require us to retain all application or programme information for that period. Information no longer needed is deleted or anonymised.

6. YOUR RIGHTS

Depending on the circumstances, you may request access to, correction, deletion, restriction or portability of your personal information. Where processing relies on consent, you may withdraw that consent without affecting earlier lawful processing. You may object to processing based on legitimate interests on grounds relating to your circumstances. You may object to direct marketing at any time. These rights have legal conditions and exceptions. For example, information may need to be retained for legal obligations or claims. Contact hello@secondactadvisory.com to exercise your rights. We normally respond within one month, subject to any extension permitted by law, and may need to verify your identity.

You may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/.

7. COOKIES AND EXTERNAL SERVICES

The website uses Wix and may use cookies and similar technologies for functionality, security and usage analysis. Where consent is required for non-essential technologies, we request it through the site’s consent controls. Browser settings also allow you to manage cookies. External websites and independently chosen services, including AI tools used for programme exercises, have their own privacy policies.

We may update this policy as our practices or legal obligations change. The effective date appears above.