Chris has over 40 years of experience in Europe, the USA and Asia/Pacific including senior roles at agencies, brands and marketing technology companies.

Chris launched his career in Los Angeles in TV Production before joining Young & Rubicam NY in 1982. His 12 years at Y&R included 5 years in Asia, from 1989, initially as regional account director for Dentsu Young & Rubicam (DY&R) and then as General Manager of Wunderman Hong Kong before founding the Wunderman office in Singapore in 1992. Chris moved to London in 1994 as European media and sourcing director for Franklin Mint and created his own on-line catalogue company (Living Heritage) in 1998. From 2000 to 2009, Chris developed Emailvision (now Smartfocus) into Europe’s leading email service provider (ESP) in his dual roles of Chief Operating Officer and UK Managing Director.

In addition to his commercial activity, Chris has taken a lead in industry issues including legislation, best practice and education. His industry roles include being Co-Chair of FEDMA, Chair of the JIC Mail board, and seats on the boards of the Advertising Association, Asbof and CAP.

Alan is the Chief Data Officer in Social Security Scotland. He has worked with data for over 35 years in the commercial and public sector as well as through his own consultancy. It’s been a varied career, with his first system analysing “Mushroom Compost” data back in 1986 before starting his Computer Science degree course.

In more recent years, Alan has worked with some of the biggest commercial spatial data organisations in the UK before moving into the public sector and Land Registration Data at Registers of Scotland. Alan has been in his current role for just over a year in Social Security Scotland, looking to maximise the benefits of benefit data.

Debs Connell is the Head of Data & AI Governance at the Weir Group PLC and has over twelve years’ experience in consumer compliance, data privacy operations and Data & AI governance, and is a Certified Privacy Professional with IAPP. Strongly believing in knowledge and clear guidance to support employees in their use of data, Debs has defined and implemented many operational processes, standardising how we interact with customers, handle data queries and track and monitor performance, including designing various frameworks for using data and AI responsibly. Recently she has rolled out data ownership responsibilities across two organisations to embed accountability for data and responsible AI use, concerning both personal and commercial data, acknowledging that data governance can support the adherence and compliance with regulatory obligations across both privacy and AI.

Data protection officer and head of information assurance, a senior leader within Police Scotland.

Kerry has been with Police Scotland since 2017 and is dedicated to governance and data protection with a clear focus on making compliance practical, purposeful and accessible. Aligning compliance with real-world priorities and working to embed governance into day-to-day decision making while fostering a culture of shared responsibility and thoughtful collaboration as well as bringing practical experience across privacy engineering, strategic risk alignment, sovereignty challenges and assurance frameworks.

Prior to joining Police Scotland, Kerry worked at the Scottish Prison Service in information governance, data protection and improvement roles.

Known for simplifying difficult conversations and fostering a culture where governance is seen not as a barrier but as a strategic ally.

Jenny has been with the ICO since 2018. In that time she has worked with a wide range of stakeholders from all sectors in Scotland providing regulatory input and guidance on a national issues and policy proposals. She currently leads the Scottish Affairs team at the ICO.

Prior to joining the ICO Jenny worked at the Carnegie UK Trust on a variety of policy advocacy and research projects including those centred on public service reform and evidence based policy and practice. She has also held a number of third sector roles.

A biologist by training Jenny has spent time in molecular biology research labs and has always had a  love of data.

Her interest is in how data protection can help support the delivery of policy and practice that leads to improvements in people’s lives.

A librarian by trade, Helen has worked in records and information management, IKM, information governance and data protection in public and private sector organisations in Scotland and New Zealand.  Helen was Head of the Knowledge and Information Shared Services branch of the Scottish Government and Chair of the Stats Public Benefit and Privacy Panel, and has a particular interest in the use of AI to facilitate and improve the management of records through their entire lifecycle

Alan is the Chief Data Officer in Social Security Scotland. He has worked with data for over 35 years in the commercial and public sector as well as through his own consultancy. It’s been a varied career, with his first system analysing “Mushroom Compost” data back in 1986 before starting his Computer Science degree course.

In more recent years, Alan has worked with some of the biggest commercial spatial data organisations in the UK before moving into the public sector and Land Registration Data at Registers of Scotland. Alan has been in his current role for just over a year in Social Security Scotland, looking to maximise the benefits of benefit data.

An experienced Data Protection and Information Governance professional, Ali is skilled at translating complex regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for diverse audiences. Her career began in the Scottish Prison Service in 2013, followed by a role at the ICO’s Scotland office as one of its first Regional Lead Policy Officers where she played a key part in raising awareness across Scotland of the incoming EU GDPR. Ali continued her commitment to the public sector by joining NHS Scotland in 2019  where she has worked in both territorial and national Boards on initiatives including leading IG work on COVID-19 vaccinations and the RADAR drug surveillance programme at Public Health Scotland. Now the Data Protection Officer at NHS National Services Scotland, Ali brings strategic insight, regulatory expertise, and a creative approach to problem-solving and framework development.

Liz Taylor is Managing Director of Tkm Consulting & Associates and has extensive experience of working with information governance, data protection and UK freedom of information laws, having worked in the field since 1998.  She also works with knowledge and information management including managing legislative change and implementing best practice.  She is a Fellow of the IRMS, has a Post Graduate Certificate in Data Protection and Information Governance (Distinction) and is currently undertaking a PhD looking at the role of the DPO.

Through her company, Liz provides DPO as a service as well as data protection, records management and freedom of information advice.  Liz has developed data protection qualifications that are certificated and quality assured by the SQA and also delivers a range of other courses including a number of BCS courses in data protection and AI.

Frank Rankin has worked in information governance for over thirty years, including serving as a DPO in Central Government and NHS Scotland before going freelance in 2016. He has been visiting lecturer in Information Governance at the University of Glasgow and has provided consultancy and training in data protection, FOI and records management to a wide range of clients.

Chris has over 40 years of experience in Europe, the USA and Asia/Pacific including senior roles at agencies, brands and marketing technology companies.

Chris launched his career in Los Angeles in TV Production before joining Young & Rubicam NY in 1982. His 12 years at Y&R included 5 years in Asia, from 1989, initially as regional account director for Dentsu Young & Rubicam (DY&R) and then as General Manager of Wunderman Hong Kong before founding the Wunderman office in Singapore in 1992. Chris moved to London in 1994 as European media and sourcing director for Franklin Mint and created his own on-line catalogue company (Living Heritage) in 1998. From 2000 to 2009, Chris developed Emailvision (now Smartfocus) into Europe’s leading email service provider (ESP) in his dual roles of Chief Operating Officer and UK Managing Director.

In addition to his commercial activity, Chris has taken a lead in industry issues including legislation, best practice and education. His industry roles include being Co-Chair of FEDMA, Chair of the JIC Mail board, and seats on the boards of the Advertising Association, Asbof and CAP.

Martin Sloan is a partner at Brodies LLP, a leading UK law firm. Martin specialises in IP, Technology and Data and is ranked by Chambers and Partners in Band 1 for Data Protection and Information Law. Martin advises clients across a range of sectors including financial services, media, food and drink, charities and the third sector, and the public sector. Martin’s data and cyber experience includes advising clients on data protection compliance, the use of AI and innovative technology, data processing and data sharing arrangements, international data transfers and global compliance, handling data subject requests, ePrivacy, and personal data breaches. Martin also advises on cyber risk and resilience and cyber incident response.

James is a DPO and Head of Data Protection and FOI Service at HEFESTIS. His teams offer DPO and FOI shared services and consultancy in these areas. HEFESTIS is a not-for-profit company delivering data protection, governance, information security, and Servicedesk services.

James is an experienced DPO and FOI practitioner; having been the DPO and FOI Manager for local authority, university, and multiple colleges. James still works as a DPO for a university and colleges alongside his HEFESTIS role.

James was awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the ‘Practitioner of the Year’ category of the eCase FOI Awards in March 2024 for his work starting the HEFESTIS FOI service.

Magdalena brings over 15 years of expertise in open data advocacy, research and development, innovation, strategy, and technology. Her impressive background includes roles at the BBC, University of Edinburgh, Digital Curation Centre, and Smart Data Foundry. As Head of Research Growth at Smart Data Foundry, she works closely with senior stakeholders across UK universities, government funding councils, data partners, and NGOs to transform how accredited researchers access private-sector financial data, driving evidence-based policymaking and decision-making. She also plays a key strategic role in leading Smart Data Foundry’s participation as the Financial Data Service (FINDS) within the ESRC Smart Data Service ecosystem.

Dr Paul Nelson is a Medical Doctor , Consultant in Public Health and Clinical Lead for AI and Digital at Public Health Scotland. His work focuses on improving the safe and effective use of data across health and care, with a particular interest in enabling responsible innovation. He has supported projects that explore how to unlock the value of health data for research while protecting privacy and maintaining public trust.

Paul contributes to cross-agency discussions on data governance and ethics, particularly in the context of digital tools and generative AI. He brings experience from national and local settings, working with analysts, clinicians, and policy teams to shape practical approaches to data use that are both lawful and meaningful.