25th Annual
Data Protection Compliance Conference
Speakers Presentations
Speakers Presentations: Day 1
Wednesday, 23rd September 2026
Hear from industry experts as they explore the latest issues and regulatory guidance in data protection, offering practical insights on emerging challenges, compliance strategies, and best practices
Day 1 - Wednesday, 23rd September 2026
Speakers Presentations – an in-person event live from Central London
Conference Chair
The Conference is chaired by internationally-renowned Privacy Expert, Bridget Treacy
Keynote Address
Information Commissioner’s Office
Presentation Topics
Providing Compliance Advice on Science Fiction
Presentation Overview:
Many conference attendees are now routinely expected to advise on technology that, ten years ago, was literal science fiction. Drawing on his work with governments, regulators, foundation model providers, and boards and C-suites across the AI ecosystem, Dr Barry Scannell sets out the key advice needed at the frontier of a technology that is rewriting the assumptions on which the law was built, including warranties and indemnities in commercial contracts, IP allocations, training data provisions, how data protection and cyber security obligations are being shaped by models like Mythos, and how the ongoing AI and IP saga shows no sign of abating.
Implementing the DUAA 2025: Automated-Decision Making, Complaints Handling and Other Changes
Presentation Overview:
The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 has now been implemented with several important changes to the law. This session considers the practical implications of the new law, as well as the opportunities those changes present. In particular, the session explores the changes to automated decision-making and the introduction of new complaints handling requirements.
Biometrics Unmasked: Innovation, Intrusion and Regulation
Presentation Overview:
This session explores how organisations can navigate the complex and evolving compliance landscape surrounding biometrics, with a particular focus on facial recognition. Drawing on regulatory enforcement and real-life examples, the session will highlight where organisations are getting it wrong and why. The session also looks to the future and where issues are likely to arise in the longer term.
The Accidental Joint Controller – Risk Mitigation Strategies
Presentation Overview:
As collaborative working increases, interdependencies grow and activities grow ever more entwined with technology adoption and AI, it is increasingly essential to recognise the warning signs of joint controllership. Joint roles are on the increase, sparking growing regulatory attention. This session will help you recognise key indicators to help you plan ahead, consider other potential approaches to enable informed decisions-making and choice, discuss practical risks and implications from joint roles, and consider how best to manage them in relation to your collaborator, the regulator and data subjects.
Cyber-Security: What Can We Learn from Recent Incidents & Enforcement Actions
Presentation Overview:
Regulators now have cyber security compliance firmly in their sites. What do high profile cyber incidents and enforcement action by the ICO, FCA and other regulators tell us about the cyber issues organisations should be considering? What questions should GCs and DPOs be asking of their CIOs and CTOs, and what guidance should GCs and DPOs be giving about the priorities organisations should be setting now.
Enabling the use of AI for Employment
Presentation Overview:
The deployment of AI agents for employment and recruitment purposes is one of the top data protection challenges of 2026. This session addresses the risks of AI in this context, the regulatory compliance issues and how to handle them in practice.
Conducting DPIAs in 2026
Presentation Overview:
DPIAs are a well established GDPR requirement yet many organisations still struggle to identify when they are required and how to complete them in a proportionate, defensible way. Focusing on common high risk scenarios including the increasing use of AI powered technologies, this session explores when a DPIA is triggered, the impact of the EDPB’s new DPIA template and the key challenges organisations face when completing DPIAs, with guidance on how to address them effectively.
Children’s Data – Practical Compliance Advice while Regulation is in Flux
Presentation Overview:
Regulators around the world are moving fast to protect children’s data online – examples in the UK include the Age Appropriate Design Code and the proposed under-16 social media ban. Organisations operating across borders face an increasingly fragmented compliance landscape, with divergent age thresholds, verification requirements, and enforcement approaches. Enforcement is accelerating too, with significant actions against major platforms on both sides of the Atlantic signaling that regulators mean business. This session maps key developments across jurisdictions, examines the compliance obligations they create, and provides practical compliance advice for organisations while the law is in a state of flux.
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Conference Contributors & Sponsors:
Testimonials
“Excellent!”
Simon Hall
IBM
“The updates on existing subjects were particularly useful.”
David Pickersgill
Johnson & Johnson
“The networking opportunities were very good. Very useful. Will attend again.”
John Pendleton
Old Mutual
“Very informative and well executed conference”
Claire Robson
Kent & Medway NHS Trust
“Speakers delivered good insights into various aspects of the GDPR”
Paul Woods
Government Legal Department
“The hotel facilities were excellent”
Andrew Dyke
Operation Mobilisation
“An interesting day packed with a plethora of useful materials. The conference never disappoints with the quality of speakers, providing insightful and pragmatic views and interpretations.”
Stephanie Allen
Shop Direct Group
“Very enjoyable day! Well worth attendance. Very good speakers.”
Sarah Rudge
OFQUAL
“All the sessions were informative and well presented. Very enjoyable!”
Fiona Cadger
Standard Life Aberdeen PLC
“Great conference with diverse topics”
Catherine Bowen-Walker
Close Brothers
“A very well put together and well run conference”
Helen Worthington
Jerrold Holdings
“This conference cannot be improved. Excellent!”
Caroline Mair
Registers of Scotland
“A very useful and well organised conference”
Alistair Browne
British Council
“Very useful, practical and thought provoking”
Ben Moreland
LV=
“I’m extremely impressed by the quality of speakers and content covered. An excellent balance of public and private sectors”
Julie Hinault
States of Jersey Taxes Office
“The mix of speakers meant that a lot of ground was covered effectively.”
Karen Russell
British Arab Commercial Bank
“As usual the Conference was very well organised”
Paul Byrne
British Airways
“Excellent”
Greg Steel
Confused.com
“The conference content was excellent and thought provoking”
Kim Walker
Royal Air Force
“A very helpful conference. Took away some good ideas.”
Lesley Richardson
Financial Conduct Authority
“I found all the presentations very useful. The discussion panel was excellent… thoroughly enjoyed this conference and would not hesitate on coming back”
Scott McFarlane
National Trust for Scotland
“Good variety of relevant topics discussed throughout the day. Speakers were engaging!”
Ellis Bryant
Saga Plc
“Great to see so many different sectors represented. Well organised!”
Jane Davy
University of Southampton
“Overall, an excellent, informative and useful day. Well worth attending”
Colin Cluney
Department of Finance and Personnel
“All fantastic”
Leslie Waghorn
Virgin Media
“Another excellent year – very current and topical”
Stuart Gittings
Eli Lilly and Co.
“A very useful conference, a good broad range of speakers that were able to give practical advice”
David Mayers
Lisburn City Council
“All topics very relevant – most particularly the bits about social networking and security breaches.”
Jackie Evans
South Wales Fire & Rescue
“Once again a great conference, which gives me plenty to think about and implement!”
Kevin Giles
Glasgow Housing Association
“Very useful conference”
Alan White
Pitney Bowes
“Excellent. A well run event.”
David Higginson
ING Direct
“Great venue, superbly organised, very professional.”
Julie Barclay
Gambro Lundia
“Another excellent conference.”
Lynn Young
British Library
“Excellent venue, delegate packs and catering. Very focussed, practical and relevant.”
Albert Chan
Greater London Authority