21st Annual Data Protection Practical Compliance Conference
 
 
Speaker Biographies

 

Outlined below are the legal and data protection experts presenting at the 20th Annual Data Protection Practical Compliance Conference 2026.

 

Further Guest Speakers in addition to the below to be announced shortly.... 

 

 

Barry Scannell

Barry Scannell
Partner
William Fry

Barry Scannell is internationally recognised as a leading expert in the area of AI law. He advises clients on issues relating to text and data mining, AI copyright infringement, machine learning, and AI ownership. He has expertise in AI specific contracts, licences, and dataset agreements. Barry specialises in advising on the AI Act and other legislation such as the DSA and GDPR from an AI compliance perspective.

Barry was appointed by the Irish Government to Ireland’s AI Advisory Council; has recently completed the writing stage of his PhD on AI and copyright; and is a member of the Law Society of Ireland’s IP & Technology Committee.

Jennifer Noctor

Jennifer Noctor
Partner
RDJ

Jennifer Noctor is a Partner at RDJ and is a member of the firm’s Cyber and Data Protection team, advising companies and state bodies on a broad range of data protection and privacy issues, including data protection litigation, regulatory investigations, data subjects’ rights, in particular advising and managing large data subject access requests.

Jennifer is also part of the Security Incident Response Team and is responsible for assisting clients and advising them throughout the management and investigation of cyber security incidents. She leads and manages large scale data reviews and advises on notifications to the Data Protection Commission, Data Controllers and Data Subjects and how to minimise the impacts of a security incidents.

Ricky Kelly

Ricky Kelly
Partner
RDJ LLP

Ricky Kelly  leads RDJ’s Technology Sector and has extensive experience advising in the areas of Information and Cyber Security, Data Protection, Artificial Intelligence, and ePrivacy. He leads the RDJ 24/7 Incident Response Service team that advise clients in the end-to-end investigation, management and recovery from security incidents, and regularly provides bespoke compliance training to organisations in relation to their implementation of and compliance with their Privacy, Data Protection and Information security obligations. He is also an active member of RDJ’s Dispute Resolution team and offers broad experience advising a range of foreign, national, multi-national and institutional clients in complex disputes before the various Civil Courts of Ireland.

Ruth Hughes

Ruth Hughes
Partner
McCann FitzGerald

Ruth Hughes is Partner in the Technology & Innovation Group. She has significant experience advising clients in the private and public sector on a wide range of commercial contract, IT outsourcing, intellectual property, data protection and freedom of information matters and also provides specialist advice in advertising.

Susan Walsh

Susan Walsh
Legal Director
EY Law

Susan Walsh is a Legal Director in the Technology and Commercial department at EY Law Ireland. She specialises in commercial and technology law, with deep expertise in drafting and negotiating complex, mission-critical IT outsourcing and 
implementation projects. Her practice spans cybersecurity, AI and emerging technologies, digital transformation and outsourcing projects including regulated outsourcing arrangements, as well as data projects.

Prior to joining EY Ireland, Susan was a senior lawyer in the technology team of at one of Ireland’s leading corporate law firms and prior to that held senior legal roles at Macquarie Group and MinterEllison in Australia, advising on high-impact technology and regulatory matters. She has extensive experience supporting organisations through digital transformation, regulatory compliance, and cybersecurity governance, including under GDPR, NIS2, and the EU AI Act, and the Australian equivalents. Susan regularly speaks at industry events on cybersecurity, AI and procurement, and contributes to legal publications on the topics.

Susan leads the following PDP training courses: Data Security & Cyber Security and Cybersecurity for Data Protection Professionals

 

 Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection (PC.dp.)

 

 

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Conference

Contributors

& Sponsors:

 

Data Protection Commission

 

McCann FitzGerald

William Fry

EY Law 

RDJ

 

Data Protection Ireland Journal

PDP Training


 

Conference Testimonials

 

"Excellent day! The presentations provided practical advice that will be useful in my day to day job."
Jason Palmer
AXA Life Europe Ltd

 

"Particularly useful was the guidance on formulation and structure of data protection policies."
Dan McDonnell
Co Carlow VEC

 

"Extremely helpful and well organised"
Jim O’Connell
Douglas Credit Union

 

"Each presentation had something important to reflect on"
Marie Cussen
Comreg


"Content was excellent"
Philip Higgins
ESB Energy Solutions

 

"Very informative and enjoyable. The handouts are very good"
Stephen Nolan
Microsoft

 

"Excellent presentations"
Paul Dawson
Dublin City Council

 

"Good to hear about the new developments. Very passionate speakers"
Ann Smith
Chartered Accountants Ireland

 

"The presenters were very interesting."
Muriel Koyce
Sunbeam House Services

 

"I found the Conference to touch all the relevant areas for practitioners and something that I have no doubt will be utilised within my organisation"
Lynne Martin
Eirecom Limited

 

"Great mix of topics/issues relating to data protection."
Tony Hughes
Waterford Credit Union

 

"Good tips on outsourcing. The lessons learned from breaches was very useful."
Bernadette Ryan
Bord Gais Eireann

 

"Speakers were very knowledgeable and articulate"
Philip Higgins
ESB Electric

 

"It was well put together. Good speakers, content and venue. First class. Thank you."
Danny O’Donoghue
Bishopstown Credit Union


“Excellent conference… really interesting. You covered a multitude of topics which has given me a food for thought!”
Louise Colgen
Central Bank of Ireland

 

"Very useful and informative"
Cathal McDermott
Dropbox

 

"Great event. All speakers and presentations were compelling and relevant"
Brian Short
Irish Continental Group plc

 

"Informative as usual"
Helen Sheehan
Euromedic Diagnostics Ltd

 

"The theory and practical advice given were highly welcomed"
Ann Smith
Chartered Accountants Ireland

 

"The presenters were very interesting."
Judith Fanning
RTE

 

"The practicality of the subjects was brilliant. A real feeling of having learned something to take away and think about"
Nicola Flannery
Paddy Power Plc

 

"Every subject was relevant and current"
Veronica O’Brien
Irish Water

 

"A very useful conference for all DP Practitioners and a great opportunity to share experiences with other practitioners in the field"
Catriona O’Sullivan
University College Cork

 

"This year, I was very happy with all the presentations. Thank you for organising it"
Irina Sharapova
Kerry Group Plc

 

"I found the conference not only to be practical, but enjoyable which was down to the standard and quality of the presenters"
Martina McKenna
Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board