Tech Policy Expertise: Data privacy/protection

  • Kirsten Nelson-de Búrca

    Kirsten Nelson-de Búrca is a product policy manager at Mozilla, where she leads work on ads, age verification, and AI product launches globally – shaping how emerging technologies intersect with public interest and trust. With a background spanning global tech companies, startups, and the non-profit sector, she brings a rare blend of policy insight, operational know-how, and product expertise.

    Before joining Mozilla, she drove global digital policy engagement for a European scale-up, HelloFresh, and at Meta she launched trust & safety product lines and political advertising transparency tools in over 100 markets. She has also advised governments, political organisations, and civil society organisations (UN entities and EU institutions) on leveraging new technologies responsibly, and navigated the fast-moving fintech startup world from a regulatory risk perspective.

    A passionate advocate for responsible innovation, Kirsten speaks about the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of technology, policy, and society – with a focus on AI governance, online integrity (especially when it comes to elections, politics and social issues), and platform accountability.

  • Victoria Baines

    Victoria (they/them) works as Head of Cross-Government Strategy for the National Data Library, a manifesto commitment housed in the Government Digital Service. Prior to this role, they developed the world-leading Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework, leading on areas including biometrics, fraud and inclusion.

    They have also worked as a researcher at the think tank Demos, where they researched a breadth of topics online safety, platform regulation and data protection. Intellectual rigour, relationship-building and a strong sense of social purpose form the bedrock of their work.

    When they aren’t working in the world of tech policy, Victoria facilitates meditation and teaches yoga, primarily in LGBTQ+ spaces.

  • Varuna Mangtani

  • Umera Asmat Rana

    Involved in process of policy driven decisions and forming regulations at government level that shape telecom/Internet landscape in my country. I am also active on regional forums of Internet Governance including APrIGf, APSIG, ISOC islamabad Chapter and pkSIG.

    Involved in educating people on policies and reforms done to make Internet available for everyone as well as safe and protected use of Internet.

  • Sophie Mitchell

  • Sophia Ignatidou

    Sophia is the Group Manager for Artificial Intelligence Policy at the ICO, leading the UK data protection authority’s team of AI policy and technology experts. Her portfolio covers areas such as strategic thinking on AI for the organisation, policy on emerging issues such as generative AI, advising on high-impact regulatory positions such as automated decision-making and cross-regulatory coordination.

    She is the ICO sponsor at the Artificial Intelligence workstream of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF) and has represented the ICO at a variety of international fora. Prior to the ICO Sophia was an Academy Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and a journalist.

  • Shruti Kakade

    Shruti Kakade is an Master of Data Science student at the Hertie School. Having a background in Computer engineering, she is interested in AI Ethics, Digital Governance, Responsible AI & related regulations.

  • Shivani Lodhia

    Shivani Lodhia is a cofounder of Parisi Consulting, where she advises clients in the emerging technology and digital infrastructure sectors, providing practical and trusted guidance. She also advocates for policy changes to support firms in these spaces, as well as issues affecting scaleups, using her Substack and an ongoing programme mentoring emerging talent from Warwick University to tackle and evaluate complex, future-facing industry challenges.

    She recently presented her team’s data and analysis on government engagement with digital infrastructure in the House of Lords at a private roundtable, has participated in high-level discussions on the future of the UK’s semiconductor industry, and has been quoted in Politico and City AM.

    Shivani is also studying for an MBA at Warwick Business School, bringing academic rigour to her work while championing a new generation of policy thinking within the technology sector. She is the CIPR’s Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year 2025.

  • Shahd Asfour

  • Sabrina Steele

    I am passionate about navigating and influencing digital policy as I think it offers an interesting mix of existing and new policies. For example, I enjoy how it offers the opportunity to build evidence and create novel solutions or apply existing legislation/regulations where they work in a similar sector.

    I currently work as a senior associate at Inline Policy, providing policy and regulatory analysis and political strategy for innovative tech businesses across the tech sector. I previously worked at the ICO where I led on data protection and generative AI, engaging with and influencing some of the largest tech firms. Prior to this, I worked at DSIT on various digital related policy areas including the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill.