Ask Women – on Data Protection
Change the narrative with the women experts from the European databases of the ENWE network.
Dear reader,
Welcome to the December issue of our Ask Women newsletter, brought to you by the European Network for Women Excellence (ENWE) in collaboration with the women experts’ databases in our network: 100esperte, Agenda d’Expertes, The Brussels Binder, Expertalia, Les Expertes and Ona Ve.
This Edition’s Theme:
Data protection day (January 28)
Established by the Council of Europe in 2006 and observed each year on 28 January, Data Protection Day calls for greater awareness, responsibility and respect for the privacy rights of individuals in an increasingly data-driven world. It reminds us that the protection of personal information is a fundamental human right — essential for trust, security, and meaningful participation in modern society.
Meet the experts
Below, you’ll find the profiles and contacts of women experts in various fields available for interviews, panel discussions, events, and other opportunities.
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you may have to change the language setting to ENG at the top right of the 100esperte website to view the profiles in English language.
ELENA FERRARI
Full Professor of Computer Science at the University of Insubria in Varese. Her research spans the broad areas of cybersecurity, privacy, and trust. She focuses on developing technologies that enable efficient and effective data sharing without compromising privacy or security. Recently, she has been involved in several research projects, including RAIS, which aims to develop advanced systems for protecting privacy in the Internet of Things.
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PATRICIA PONS TOMÁS
PhD in Computer Science specializing in Human–Computer Interaction and technology for human and animal wellbeing. Award-winning researcher with international experience, active in science communication and initiatives promoting women’s participation in STEM.
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SILVIA RUEDA PASCUAL
Computer engineer and PhD specializing in software engineering, human-centred development and digital innovation. Expert in research leadership, innovation policy and digital transformation, with experience promoting gender equality and STEM education.
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MATHILDE ADJUTOR
Senior Policy Manager in the Brussels office of the Computer & Communications Industry Association and responsible for online intermediaries-related policies and consumer protection, including e-commerce, platform regulation, intellectual property, and product safety and liability. Adjutor previously worked for Lighthouse Europe, where she provided strategic counsel to a wide range of clients on European and French digital policies, specializing in platform and content regulation, copyright, and data protection.
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AMELIA ANDERSDOTTER
Former member of the European Parliament between 2011 and 2014. She has worked with telecommunications policy, data protection, intellectual property rights and standardization of technology. Since 2015 she runs the Swedish NGO Dataskydd.net, which focuses on making data protection easy in law and in practice. In 2016, Andersdotter was a guest researcher on cyber security and consumer rights at the Centre for Internet and Society in Bangalore, India.
Contact nowJENNIFER BAKER:
Baker has been a journalist in print, radio and television for nearly 20 years, the last 8+ specialising in EU policy and legislation particularly in the technology sector — from data protection and privacy to copyright law; antitrust cases to international trade agreements. She is on the editorial advisory board of the Journal of Data Protection and Privacy and was named by Onalytica as one of the world’s Top 100 Influencers on Data Security 2016. She has written for some of the biggest names in the business, ArsTechnica, Computerweekly, Macworld, PCworld and CIO (as part of the renowned IDG News Service team), and The Register.
Contact nowRACHELE CIAVARELLA
Ciavarella currently works as associate consultant in APCO Worldwide’s Brussels office, where she is part of the technology practice. She specializes in developing and implementing advocacy campaigns and the use of broader communications tactics to support public policy goals. In policy terms, she works mainly on data protevtion, cybersecurity, copyright and broader Digital Single Market issues. Before, she gained experience in the “Freedom in the Information Society” Unit of the Research Centre in Information, Law and Society at DG Connect, where she was involved in legal analysis on digital advertising, data protection and cybersecurity dossiers.
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LAURIE-ANNE BOURDAIN
With extensive experience in data protection, information security and risk management, she is involved in several organizations, both in Belgium (CyberSecurity Coalition, Belgian section of Women4Cyber) and internationally (ISC2, Centre for Cyber Safety and Education, IAPP).
Contact nowNOËMIE HONORÉ
Cybersecurity expert who has been working in this field since 2011 for the private and public sectors in Belgium, as well as for European institutions. Her areas of expertise include training in cybersecurity best practices and the role of women in cybersecurity.
Contact nowAURÉLIE VAN DER PERRE
She has been working for over 19 years in legal matters related to new technologies, specializing in personal data protection law and has knowledge and experience in information security.
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MAJA BOGATAJ JANČIČ
Founder and head of the Institute for Intellectual Property, a private research, education, and consultancy institute based in Ljubljana, with a PhD in copyright law. Her research and advisory work focuses on intellectual property – particularly copyright – as well as data governance and artificial intelligence, with a strong emphasis on compliance frameworks such as the Data Protection Act and GDPR in the context of data management and machine learning.
Contact nowŠPELA GRCAR
Attorney, with more than 24 years of professional experience primarily in copyright law, collective rights management, media law, public administration, and data protection. Her work particularly highlights long-standing expertise in personal data protection, advising public institutions, media organizations, and non-profits on compliance, governance, and the responsible handling of personal data in line with European data protection standards.
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ENWE is committed to fostering dialogue, promoting diversity, and amplifying the voices of women experts across Europe. With Ask Women, we aim to showcase the incredible achievements and insights of these talented professionals, helping to bridge the gender gap in the media and beyond.
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