Bio

Since 24 April 2019, I am Director at the Belgian Data Protection Authority (Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit or Autorité Protection des Données), with as main responsibility President of the Litidation Chamber of this Authority. Since February 2021, I am professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Institute for European Studies, on part time basis. On a voluntary basis, I am member of the Meijers Committee, an expert committee advising the EU institutions and Dutch policy makers on EU law. Before, I worked as consultant and researcher in the area of EU law and privacy, delivering expert advice on the GDPR: legal advice, policy and strategy. My special interest is the interaction between national and EU jurisdictions and in the roles of supervisory authorities (DPAs). Another key domain is ethics and accountability. Until April 2019, I worked on a structural basis for the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (CIPL), a global think tank in Washington DC, London and Brussels, and for Considerati, a consultancy in Amsterdam. I am motivated by a belief in a strong Europe, based on ethical values and effectively protecting. My book “The European Union as Guardian of Internet Privacy” illustrates this. You can access the more or less identical ('essentially equivalent'') Doctorate Thesis at http://dare.uva.nl/document/2/169421. My roots are in the public sector. I worked for a long number of years for the Dutch government, the EU Court of Justice and the EDPS in advisory as well as management roles, focusing on legislation and governance, the EU and its relation to national law, andthe rule of law.