Data Protection Conference 2006, London, UK | Speakers, their Biographies and their Topics

Privacy & Data Protection

5th Annual Data Protection Compliance Conference
and Workshop Series, London, UK

27th - 28th September 2006

The following persons, all experts in their fields, will be speaking and taking questions at the Speakers' Presentations and Workshops and Discussion Groups. Delegates will have an opportunity to network with speakers and delegates during the lunch break, coffee breaks and at the wine reception (Wednesday 27th September 2006).

Biographies of Conference Speakers and Workshop Leaders

Conference topic: Clear and present danger: corporate investigations and privacy pitfalls.

Workshop topic: Data Privacy & Corporate Investigations: safely navigating the labyrinth.

Companies conducting internal investigations need to be wary of the various privacy and data protection issues. We will identify possible compliance solutions to the most problematic issues raised by internal investigations using real-world scenarios to facilitate discussion. More...

Biography: Dan Cooper is Special Counsel in the Covington & Burling London office whose practice area involves advising on European privacy and data protection matters, as well as contentious and non-contentious intellectual property work. Dan advises clients on compliance with UK and European data protection and privacy legislation, including the UK Data Protection Act, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, Human Rights Act, and related EU directives, such as the EU Data Protection Directive and EU Electronic Communications Data Protection Directive. He has been involved in drafting global privacy policies and data transfer contracts, as well as structuring and implementing comprehensive data privacy audits. He has represented clients in connection with investigations undertaken by the UK Information Commissioner.

Dan Cooper is a graduate of Princeton, Oxford and Harvard universities. He is the author of numerous articles on intellectual property, privacy, and data security matters and is a member of the Law Society's ad hoc group on data protection. He has spoken on intellectual property and privacy issues before various public and private bodies, and has represented clients in regulatory proceedings involving European government agencies. Mr. Cooper is on the Advisory Board of Privacy International and CASRO's General Counsel and Privacy Officer's Forum.

Conference topic: Bridging the gap between data protection and IT.

Biography: Chris Gaines is a Senior Manager at Deloitte and leads the information security management service line within the firm’s Information Security practice. He specialises in the review and implementation of Information Security control frameworks and has led assignments in preparing organisations for formal certification against BS7799, and has extensive experience in undertaking IT security risk assessments, Business Continuity planning and security awareness programmes.

Chris's undergraduate degree is in Economics and he has an MSc in Information Security. His recent responsibilities include a five month global review of an information security function within a leading energy company, a global review to ascertain the information security status within a gaming operation, and a project lead in the development of a BS7799 compliance benchmarking project for the Cabinet Office. Amongst the clients that Chris has recently advised are: Shell, Thames Water, Siemens, the BBC, Bertelsmann, BSkyB and the Strategic Rail Authority.

- Mark Watts, Partner, Bristows -

Mark Watts

Partner

Bristows

Conference topic: Data protection issues in outsourcing within the UK.

Workshop topic: Data Transfers – Choosing the Best Solution

Most data protection professionals recognise that BCRs are the only long term solution for large multinationals transferring personal data globally. Yet progress is slow.

This practical Workshop will concentrate on how to make BCRs a reality in your organisation, regardless of existing data transfers solution. Participants will leave the Workshop with a clear view of whether BCRs are right for their company and, assuming they are, how to kick-off a BCRs project internally.

Biography: Mark is a partner at Bristows, specialising in non-contentious IT matters, particularly transactional matters, such as negotiating software development, system integration and outsourcing agreements. He has particular expertise in relation to E-commerce and data protection.

Mark joined Bristows in 2003 from IBM, where he was in-house counsel for more than six years. Mark held many positions within the IBM Law Department, including Global Data Privacy Counsel, European Software Counsel and European Business Process Outsourcing Counsel. In these and other roles, Mark gained experience of most forms of transactional and non-transactional IT matters.

As Data Privacy Counsel, Mark was responsible for advising on IBM's entry into the EU-US Safe Harbor arrangement and the development and implementation of IBM's internal data protection policies, and auditing programmes.

Since joining Bristows, Mark has introduced the firm's 'Health Check' IT services - fixed price services designed to enable full compliance with relevant E-Commerce legislation (the E-Commerce Health Check) and Data Protection legislation (the Data Protection Health Check).

Conference topic: Why is compliance important – what is happening, what it means for organisations, and how to deal with it.

Biography: Peter Hustinx is the European Data Protection Supervisor, responsible for monitoring the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies in cooperation with the Data Protection Officers present in each Community institution or body.

In this context, the European Supervisor hears and investigates complaints and conducts inquiries either on his own initiative or on the basis of a complaint. He adopts the necessary measures and informs the data subjects of the outcome of his work. The European Supervisor is responsible for advising all Community institutions and bodies, either on his own initiative or in response to a consultation, on all matters concerning the processing of personal data. The European Supervisor is consulted by the Commission when it adopts legislative proposals relating to the protection of personal data. He is also informed by the Community institutions and bodies of administrative measures involving the processing of personal data.

Peter Hustinx is a member and former chairman of the Article 29 Working Party.

Workshop topic: Handling requests for information – the latest thinking.

How to handle requests for information is still on the forefront of good data protection practice. More...

Biography: Rosemary Jay is a Partner at Pinsent Masons. She advises clients on privacy, data protection, human rights, access to information and related information law issues. Prior to joining the firm, Rosemary worked in local government and at the Office of the Data Protection Registrar, where she headed the Legal Department for 12 years. Rosemary is a Member of the Editorial Board of Freedom of Information Journal.

Conference topic: Practical issues facing organisations when considering pan – European data Protection compliance.

Biography: Christopher Kuner is Partner and Head of the International Privacy and Information Management Practice at Hunton & Williams in Brussels. His practice focuses on technology law and electronic commerce. In particular, Mr. Kuner coordinates and carries out large-scale data protection and records management compliance projects for multinational clients in areas such as human resources, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and online services. Mr. Kuner advises companies on legal issues relating to data protection, encryption, digital signatures, online banking, Internet taxation, and the sale of goods and services online, as well as negotiating licensing, distribution, and outsourcing agreements. He is author of the book "European Data Privacy Law and Online Business" (Oxford University Press 2003)

Mr Kuner has represented clients in numerous negotiations with the European Commission, the Article 29 Working Party, and European data protection authorities. He has assisted multinational clients in complying with requirements of European data protection law, such as drafting data transfer agreements, dealing with employee data issues, and performing data protection audits.

Mr Kuner is a member of the New York and Illinois Bars, Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Data Protection Task Force and guest lecturer in data protection and IT law at Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration (Austria).

Conference topic: Recent data protection decisions, including enforcement cases from other EU countries.

Biography: Timothy Pitt-Payne was called to the Bar in 1989 and practices from 11 King's Bench Walk in London. He practices in information law, employment law, public law, and in related aspects of commercial, European and human rights law.

He has a broad-based employment law practice covering all aspects of employment litigation including privacy and data protection issues in the workplace. Tim has a particular interest in employment law issues specifically affecting the public sector. He has advised and represented a wide range of national public sector organisations, NHS employers, police bodies and local authorities.

In the public law field, Tim's areas of interest include public sector pensions, various issues affecting local authorities, data protection and freedom of information, education and community care.

Tim has trained a number of government departments and other public bodies on the Human Rights Act 1998 (in conjunction with JUSTICE) and on the Data Protection Act 1998. He is the joint author (with Michael Supperstone QC) of Guide to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Butterworths 2001).

Conference topic: Access to documents and protection of personal data: conflicting objectives?

Biography: Philippe Renaudière is a Data Protection Officer of the European Commission, and the former head of the Data Protection Unit in DG Freedom, Security and Justice at the European Commission.

Philippe is a Belgian lawyer and has been with the Commission since 1987. Prior to that, he was in-house counsel with Tractebel in Brussels. He gained his undergraduate law degree from the Université Libre de Bruxelles in 1976, a masters degree in economic law in 1978 and a special diploma in industrial legislation in 1984.

- Richard Thomas, UK Information Commissioner -

Richard Thomas

UK Information Commissioner

Conference topic: The Information Commissioner's perspective: business benefits of data protection.

Biography: Richard Thomas has been the Information Commissioner for the UK since 2nd December 2002. He is the independent supervisory authority for the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Regulations 2004, all of which are fundamentally concerned with good information handling. The Commissioner is responsible for promoting good practice.

He has put openness for public bodies and respect for personal information at the heart of his vision for the organisation.

Richard's previous career has straddled public, private and voluntary sectors: Director of Public Policy, Clifford Chance (1992-2002); Director of Consumer Affairs, Office of Fair Trading (1986-92); Legal officer and Head of Public Affairs, National Consumer Council (1979-86); Solicitor, Citizens Advice Bureau Legal Service (1974-79); Trainee and Solicitor, Freshfields (1971-74)

During the course of his career, Richard has also held various public appointments including: Director, Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS); Board Member, National Consumer Council; Member, Independent Television Commission Advertising Advisory Committee; Member, CBI e-Business Council; Member, Lord Chancellor's Civil Justice Review Advisory Committee.

Bridget Treacy

Partner

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert

- Bridget Treacy, Partner, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert -

Workshop topic: 10 Frequently Asked Questions - solutions for the data protection issues which arise in an everyday business context.

In this highly interactive Workshop we will examine some of the most frequently raised data protection queries and pose practical solutions. More...

Biography: Bridget Treacy is a partner in the commercial and technology team at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert. She specialises in complex technology transactions, including IT procurement (specifically, systems integration, software development and implementation projects) and outsourcing. Bridget's experience of outsourcing covers IT infrastructure projects (including desktop, applications, voice and networks), business process and facilities management projects, acting in both the public and private sectors.

Recent projects include a 10-year IT infrastructure outsourcing project (including networks) for a major European airline, an IT procurement and systems integration project for a local authority, a financial institution's outsourcing of its voice and data management functions, an insurance company's outsourcing of its data processing function and an airline's outsourcing of its facilities management and associated services.

Bridget leads the firm's data protection, freedom of information and privacy team. She is particularly experienced in advising clients on the use of personal data in commercial transactions, including cross-border transfers of personal data.

Bridget writes regularly for internal and external publications, including Privacy & Data Protection, and speaks frequently on IT, e-commerce, data protection and freedom of information issues.

Bridget is a New Zealand lawyer.

Conference topic: Personal data exemption and the Freedom of Information Act – how it works.

Biography: Hazel Grant is a Partner in Bird & Bird's IT Sector Group. She qualified as a Solicitor in 1992, after completing a law degree at the University of Cambridge.

Hazel's work regularly involves advising on public procurement and contract law for IT projects, the licensing of software and databases and data protection.

With the emergence of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Hazel has been advising public and private sector clients on the provisions of the FOI Act and related areas.

This has included practical advice on how best to draft contracts and the risks and opportunities under the Act. Hazel's clients range from central government departments ( and other public bodies ) to web retailers and global professional partnerships.

Hazel speaks regularly on legal issues, including those relating to outsourcing projects, the protection of personal data and freedom of information. She is an author of the loose-leaf work, the Encyclopaedia of Data Protection ( published by Sweet & Maxwell ), and a contributing editor ( on data protection and freedom of information ) to the Encyclopedia of IT Law and the Encyclopedia of Ecommerce ( both published by Sweet & Maxwell ).

Biography: Eduardo is a dually qualified English Solicitor and Spanish Abogado and is a partner at Field Fisher Waterhouse. He specialises in the legal issues that derive from the use of information technology and the Internet. Eduardo has been named by Revolution magazine as one of the 40 most influential people in the growth of the digital sector in the UK.

Eduardo advises on the impact of EU e-commerce and data protection law on the operational activities of all types of organisations, including FTSE 100 companies and public sector bodies. He is a recognised expert in the area of e-privacy and online data protection. Eduardo also advises on Freedom of Information compliance issues.

He advises a UK leading retail group on all management and compliance issues affecting its use of customer information and outsourcing of data processing operations. This has involved the drafting of binding data protection corporate rules based on official EU guidance. Eduardo has also carried out data protection audits and managed the adoption of privacy strategies for a number of international clients, and advised leading e-tailers on critical matters affecting their relationship with consumers.

Eduardo has advised local authorities on the practical implications of adopting a data protection compliance programme and the steps involved in adopting a Publication Scheme under the Freedom of Information Act. He has also advised on the development, implementation and management of the UK's leading fraud data-sharing system.

He is a regular contributor to legal and industry journals, including Privacy & Data Protection, and he is co-author of E-Privacy and Online Data Protection (Butterworths, September 2002) and of the Law Society's Data Protection Handbook (July 2004).

To reserve a place at the 5th Annual Data Protection Conference, please register via:

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