The Examination Board for the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection ("PC.dp") is comprised of the following data protection and privacy experts:


peter-carey-consultant-charles-russell

Peter Carey
Solicitor
Head of the Examination Board

 


Peter Carey is a data protection lawyer and Head of the Examination Board of the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection.

Peter is the author of the best-selling book on data protection, Data Protection - a Practical Guide to UK law (6th Ed. Oxford University Press) and he is described by the British Computer Society as ‘one of the Europe's leading data protection experts.

Peter was a Consultant with London law firm Charles Russell Speechlys for 12 years (2000 to 2012), and Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics (2011-13).

 



Robert Bond, Bristows

Robert Bond
Senior Counsel
Bristows



Robert Bond  is a Partner at Bristows. He has specialised in technology law for over 37 years and is also a well recognised expert and author in the legal fields of TMT, ecommerce, data protection and cyber security. He is a member of Tech UK Big Data and Analytics Council and the United Nations Privacy Advisory Group, is on the advisory Board of the Data Protection Academy of Malaysia, and is an Ambassador for Privacy by Design. He is named in the National Law Journal's list of 50 Governance Risk & Compliance Trailblazers, listed in the top 10 in “the Who’s Who of Information Technology Lawyers 2014” and also in "Best Lawyers in UK 2016”. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.



Kate Brimsted

Kate Brimsted
Partner
Shoosmiths



Kate Brimsted
is a Partner at Shoosmiths. Kate has over 20 years experience as an adviser to companies and organisations on data privacy regulation, information law and cyber security.  With clients drawn from many sectors - in particular, financial services, fintech, technology, real estate and infrastructure - this helps Kate provide lateral solutions and recommendations which are pragmatic, proportionate and grounded.
 
Kate's practice includes personal data-critical projects, data sharing agreements, DPIAs, as well as global compliance strategy implementation (including international transfers, data retention, operationalising responses to SARs, and contentious SARs). Kate also advises on Cybersecurity including data breach prevention, breach response and post-breach advisory.

 



PDP Training | Grant Campbell - Partner - Brodies

Grant Campbell
Partner
Brodies LLP



Grant Campbell is a Partner at Brodies LLP, where he leads the firm's non-contentious information law practice, recognised by the Legal 500 for its "competitive edge". Grant is an expert in data protection law and advises a wide range of public and private sector clients on all aspects of data protection compliance at both micro and macro organisational level.

Grant contributes to Privacy & Data Protection Journal and Freedom of Information Journal and has had articles and commentaries on information law published elsewhere, in particular in the technology industry press.



Peter Given

Peter Given
Partner
DAC Beachcroft


 

Peter Given is a Partner at DAC Beachcroft.

Peter has previously undertaken secondments to a global US-based bank, a global US-based insurer, and a major European pharmaceutical organisation. In these secondments Peter supported the internal legal teams on data protection and privacy matters and in one secondment acted as the organisation’s interim EMEA head of privacy.

Peter has co-authored the Electronic Communications chapter for Data Protection – a practical guide to UK law (6th Edition, Oxford University Press).

Peter regularly contributes articles to the 
Privacy and Data Protection Journal.



Emily Gibson, Barrister

Emily Gibson
Barrister


Emily Gibson is a practising barrister. She specialises in the areas of EU Law, particularly data protection law, intellectual property law and competition, and in commercial law and arbitration. She has advised and acted on a range of data protection issues for individuals and data controllers.

A former lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, Emily has published widely and is a regular presenter at conferences and seminars. Emily is a graduate of UCC, King’s Inns and King’s College London.

She was called to the Irish Bar in 2001 and the New York Bar in 2003.

 


 

Paul Lavery

Paul Lavery
Partner
McCann Fitzgerald

 

Paul Lavery is a Partner and the Head of the Technology and Innovation Group in McCann FitzGerald. Paul is a specialist adviser on a data protection, information technology, intellectual property, e-commerce, confidentiality and freedom of information issues.

Paul is heavily involved in advising a number of private sector and public sector clients on their obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including carrying out data protection assessments and audits and completing data inventories in order to advise clients on what changes to processing activities, data protection notices and agreements to ensure compliance with GDPR.


 

Emma Martins

Emma Martins
Chief Commissioner
Data & Marketing Commission

 

Emma Martins has worked in data protection for over 25 years. Starting her career as a data protection officer in the public sector, she moved to work in the regulatory office for Jersey, Channel Islands, in 2002.


Since then, she has been Commissioner for Jersey and, since 2018, for the Bailiwick of Guernsey where she worked with a team responsible for implementation, oversight, and adequacy assessment for the new GDPR standard. Her fixed term in that role finished in December 2023. In January 2024, Emma was appointed as Chief Commissioner for the Data and Marketing Commission.

 



Minakaran Negin, Allen & Overy

Negin Minakaran
Senior In-House Lawyer
Allen & Overy

 


Negin Minakaran is a Senior In-House Lawyer in Allen & Overy LLP's Practice Protection Group. She advises on a wide range of legal, risk and compliance matters, including policies, company secretarial and partnership affairs, commercial contracts, intellectual property rights and data protection law.

Before joining the Examination Board, Negin herself completed the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection.



Sarah O'Neil - Allen & Overy LLP

Sarah O'Neill
Senior Risk & Compliance Lawyer
Addleshaw Goddard

 


Sarah O'Neill is a Senior Risk and Compliance Lawyer for Addleshaw Goddard LLP. She advises the practice on issues relating to legal and regulatory compliance and other wide ranging risk issues that may have an adverse impact on the firm, including data protection, confidentiality and IT security matters.  
 
Prior to that Sarah was a Risk Management Lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and a Senior In-House Lawyer at Allen & Overy LLP.



Suzanne Rodway Royal Bank of Scotland

Suzanne Rodway
Group Head of Privacy
RBS

 

Suzanne Rodway is the Group Head of Privacy for the Royal Bank of Scotland. She has responsibility for bank secrecy as well as worldwide oversight of the group's compliance with privacy and data protection laws.

She trained with global law firm Linklaters, where she qualified in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications practice. She later moved in-house within Linklaters to advise the firm on its own privacy and information risk management issues. Until her recent move to Royal Bank of Scotland, Suzanne was the Chief Privacy Officer at NBC Universal. Suzanne is a Member of the Editorial Board of Privacy & Data Protection Journal.

 



ashley-roughton

Ashley Roughton
Barrister

 


Ashley Roughton is a Barrister specialising in data protection. He was counsel in many of the leading data protection cases of the past decade including Smith v Lloyds TSB and Johnson v Medical Defence Union, and he regularly advises both individuals and data controllers in relation to proceedings before the Court and the Tribunal.

Ashley's client base includes institutions as well as individuals and he also advises in relation to compliance, data sharing and cross border transfers. He is a regular contributor of practical articles to the journal Privacy & Data Protection.

Ashley is also an examiner in commercial law at the University of London.

 


 


Oisin Tobin

Oisín Tobin
Partner
Mason Hayes & Curran

 

Oisín Tobin is a Partner in Mason Hayes & Curran's Technology and Privacy and Data Security teams and Head of our San Francisco office.

Oisín focuses on advising and defending leading technology companies. He has particular experience in formulating and implementing global privacy and data transfer strategies, advising on the development and rollout of innovative technologies and acting for businesses under investigation by European data protection authorities or engaged in privacy-related litigation.

Working between Dublin and San Francisco, Oisín also counsels technology companies on their international expansion plans. He has a reputation as the go-to lawyer for commercially driven privacy and technology law advice in difficult cases and represents many of the internet’s best-known companies.

He is a contributor of articles to Data Protection Ireland.

 


 


Damien Welfare, Cornerstone Barristers

Damien Welfare
Former Public Law Barrister

 

 


Damien Welfare came to the Bar in 2001 after a career in Local Government. He specialises in freedom of information, data protection and the Environmental Information Regulations.

He appears in the Information Tribunal, advises on all aspects of information law, and speaks and writes regularly on information law matters. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Freedom of Information Journal.



olivia-whitcroft-solicitor

Olivia Whitcroft
Solicitor
OBEP


Olivia Whitcroft is a solicitor and has worked in the field of data protection for 18 years. Having led the data protection practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP for several years, she now runs her own legal practice, OBEP, specialising in data protection and technology laws. She previously Olivia enjoys assisting her clients with their data protection frameworks, including assessing risk and finding practical solutions in the context of their specific situations. She finds the intricacies of data protection exciting, and seeks to inspire others to feel the same. Olivia is a Member of the Examination Board for the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection.

 
 

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Testimonials

 

"The quality of the modules was excellent. The videos were informative and helped my understanding of the materials. The on-demand access worked well for me as it allowed me to plan a set time each week in my work schedule (or in my own time if I chose to)."
Derek Payne
Chief Pharmacist’s Office
Boots UK Limited

 

"I am very pleased I did the distance learning version of the qualification, as it meant I could fit study in around my work (and home) commitments much more flexibly. Whenever I submitted a query, e.g. regarding the self-assessment questions, the response was always very prompt and explained things clearly. The learning materials were really good. The videos complemented the written materials perfectly."
Claire Morrissey
Data Protection Officer
University of London

 

"I found the materials easy to use, helpful and informative. The self-assessment questions are very useful. I really appreciated the freedom of managing my learning time through the distance learning programme so that I could work round my work and home commitments."
Fay Clancy
Senior Officer
National Crime Agency

 

"The Distance Learning Programme is excellent. In terms of motivation to study, I found this relatively easy to do."
Andrew Lanigan
GDPR Compliance Manager
Capita

 

"The content was well structured and comprehensive. The videos are definitely a welcome addition. The exam was interesting in that the questions ensured you read the question/scenario fully and thought about the answer as opposed to merely testing your knowledge of the GDPR."
Vikki Chivers
Sales Data Manager
Shell

 

"This qualification programme has been incredibly helpful in my role. It has increased my knowledge and ability to apply the law to situations I encounter in the workplace, as well as my confidence in decision-making. It has also increased the trust my colleagues have in me as their DPO."
Danielle Metcalfe
Information Governance and Data Protection Officer
Children's Hearings Scotland

 

"The materials were very good, everything was clearly explained in the videos and in the written material."
Mark Foley
Data Protection Advisor
BBC

 

"I really enjoyed the structure –the breakdown of topic areas and the way these were divided into bite size modules and the flow between the modules worked well. The self-test questions at the end really helped to get a feel for likely style of exam questions and allowed testing of content learnt."
Amanda Blacker-Laybourn
Head of Legal and Governance
Border to Coast Pensions

 

"As someone who was new to privacy in 2020, the positives for me included the straightforward but detailed nature of the material, the fact that I could pace myself and complete the course gradually, and able to take time to apply to practice was very valuable. I am now working in a DPO role for a complex global organisation and have found the qualification to be a key element that has enabled me to improve my knowledge and confidence over time."
Tracy Cherrington
DPO
Acacium Group

 

"I found the eLearning qualification to be very manageable, materials relevant and sufficiently comprehensive. Most helpful were the video tutorials and mock questions. These brought the technical understanding together in my head to enable practical application."
Iryna Marner
Legal Counsel
Allianz Insurance

 

"I found the material to be very accessible and the distance learning option worked well for me."
Nicholas Jupp
Assistant Director
Home Office

 

“I really enjoyed the Programme. It was easy to access, the course materials were excellent. All the technology worked smoothly. Any queries I had were dealt with efficiently by friendly staff. I would definitely recommend taking PDP courses to others.”
Candice Pressinger
Senior Security Consultant
Elavon

 

“I thought that the eLearning qualification was very well structured. It was great to have videos alongside the material. The content is high quality and user-friendly.”
Justyna Suldecka
Senior Data Protection Consultant
Judicium Education

 

“I thought the eLearning course materials were very thorough and a good mix of both reading materials and interactivity with the videos. The self-assessments were really helpful with regards to the application of the learnings in real life scenarios.”
Kirsty Steel
Quality Manager
Axa Health

 

“The PDP learning materials were of a high quality, well-structured, broken up into a logical module pathway which built on earlier topics, and supplemented by the video summaries.”
Joe Hewson
Knowledge and Information Manager
MHRA

 

“The eLearning materials were excellent and I liked the way that the test questions made me think things through - and therefore did a much better job of preparing, both for the exam and for real world questions.”
Andrew Jackson
Head of Data Protection
ATOS

 

“I enjoyed the eLearning qualification programme and found the video material very helpful and clear.”
Hannah Bridle
Legal and Compliance Officer
Sonocent

 

"To sum up, I’d say PDP provide high quality learning materials and are always available to answer queries, and passing an exam gives you confidence in your role that you do know what you’re talking about!"
Samantha Donigan
Head of Assurance
Stockport Homes

 

"I found the distance learning programme very useful as I could get cracking straightaway in my own time. The videos I found very useful, as they brought the subject to life."
Carver Tedstone
Quality Auditor
The Royal British Legion

 

"I found the eLearning programme very convenient. I was able to review modules in my own time, and take the exam in the comfort of my own home."
Grace Kelly
Risk and Controls Officer
Dixons Carphone

 

"I was very pleased that I had passed the examination for the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection. I found the Distance Learning option suited my learning style and particularly liked the ability to work at my own speed."
Nicola Young
Complaints and Information Disclosure Officer
University of Portsmouth

 

"I have very much enjoyed learning from home as I could fit the learning around other commitments, juggling my time as needed. The reading material content was well supported by the videos, which broke up the learning and both materials were very concise."
Leigh Fyson
Senior Specialist Data Protection
DST Systems

 

"The eLearning qualification programme was very helpful to me, very relevant."
Helen Williams
Data Protection Officer
NHS Dorset

 

"The course was great, I genuinely enjoyed the materials and feel as though the qualification was challenging and so carries weight – I certainly feel confident to improve practices in my organisation."
Mike Hyden
Caseworker
JustUs

 

"Having the ability to study towards a Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection using the distance learning programme was really helpful. Due to my many other commitments, being able to study at my own convenience was invaluable. The course content was clear and concise and provided all the necessary information required to sit the exam. The accompanying videos were well presented."
Alan Jarrett
Data Protection Practitioner
Home Office

 

"The written materials are of good quality and explain the modules in clear and plain English. The remote learning was perfect for me as I am currently on mat leave and therefore I completed the training during the evenings. The materials are of good quality and explain the modules in clear and plain English."
Michelle Embrey
Risk and Quality Manager
Payzone

 

"I thoroughly enjoyed the course, the modules and videos were very well put together. I would highly recommend this course to anyone considering or performing a practitioner role."
David Hardman
Cyber Assurance Expert
Ports of Jersey

 

"I really enjoyed the flexibility of being able to study in my own time which was one of the things that attracted me to the programme. The advantages of not having to travel into London at the crack of dawn on a busy commuter train, find the venue and then settle down to learn were huge from my perspective, it was also a huge advantage not having to take whole days out of the office. Learning in smaller chunks meant that I could process and apply the information more easily."
Elizabeth Barber
Records Manager
Kent Country Council

 

"The Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection Distance Learning programme is perfect for individuals wishing to expand their knowledge on EU data protection law at their own pace, wherever based. The course modules set out the subject matter of the GDPR in a clear and simple manner, allowing for a thorough understanding not only of the spirit of the law, but also, of how it should be applied in practice."
Roxanne Meilak Borg
Data Protection Officer
University of Malta

 

"I found the eLearning programme excellent… and user-friendly; the online exam certainly put my knowledge to the test."
David Coker
Data Protection Officer
Department for Transport

 

"I found the eLearning qualification programme extremely valuable and learned a great deal. In an ever changing field this allowed me to study and achieve this qualification at a pace to suit me and attain the most current level of knowledge and confidence I need to undertake my role. Thank you for such an accessible and informative programme."
Lucianne Pharoah
Records Manager
Dorset Police

 

"I think the quality of the learning aspects of the programme (materials and videos) were very good, well-structured and easy to follow."
Yuliya Prokopyshyn
Solicitor
Stephenson Law

 

"I found the videos and written materials accessible and easy to use.."
Ian Wallis
Data Protection Practitioner
Home Office

 

"The Distance Learning Programme has afforded me a global perspective on issues of data privacy. Having successfully completed the course, I feel further equipped and empowered to provide expert advice to public officers and members of the public on matters of data privacy. Indeed, I am delighted to join a cadre of globally recognized data protection professionals."
Chadwick Noel
Freedom of Information Officer
Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

 

"I’m so pleased that I passed, it’s made my month! I really enjoyed the course, and found the videos very helpful. Learning from home was fine. I got into a good rhythm with it and felt I was able to control my learning a lot more."
Poppy Offer
Data Protection Specialist
Just

 

"I found the course practical, informative and very well run. I am delighted I took the time out to complete the course and to have been successful in passing the PC.dp."
Louise Colgan
Data Protection Officer
Central Bank of Ireland

 

“At Microsoft, we believe that for organizations to succeed, they must be able to deploy technology that their employees and customers trust. We chose PDP for our training because having a thorough understanding of data protection laws and ensuring compliance is a key part of that trust."
Angela Wing
Attorney
Microsoft

 

"If you are looking for a specialised course and a formal qualification in Data Protection, then this course is exactly what you need. The distance learning method involving video lectures and course material is comprehensive and allows you to study at your convenience and from the comfort of your home. I highly recommend PDP."
David Cauchi
Head of Compliance
Malta Data Protection Commissioner's Office

 

"I am a Deputy Data Protection Officer with some years of experience in data protection. This course has reinvigorated my zest to learn and I am already booked on a marketing course later in the year. The online version allowed me to work and learn at my own pace and use much of the content in context to aid the learning experience"
Amanda Hillman
Deputy Data Protection Officer
Home Office

 

"I really enjoyed this programme. The portal was easy to use and navigate. The course materials and videos were clear and easy to follow; I also found the signposts to additional reading material very helpful in giving context to the topic. I enjoyed the flexibility of being able to study at my own pace and also at a time convenient for me."
Hayley Meads
Data Protection Analyst
Rathbone Brothers Plc

 

"The distance learning method of videos, hand-outs and test Qs worked very well for me. I had chosen this type of programme as it was a huge advantage to be able to do this at my own pace, fitting my learning around my work commitments and not having to travel. It was a challenging exam - which was definitely a very good thing! I would certainly recommend this Programme."
Diane Lambert
Information Governance Officer
Horsham Council

 

"I found the eLearning qualification programme to be really well structured. I liked the combination of the videos and the self-study material."
Katie Machin
Compliance Officer
Leeds Arts University

 

"I chose to undertake the whole of the eLearning programme over a 5 day period within 1 week, with the exam immediately after. This worked better for me than utilising the allowed 6 month period. The material in modular format worked well with the videos and self-assessments."
Karen Andrews
Data Protection Lead
Department for Work and Pensions

 

"The flexibility of eLearning has been key to me being able to continue my learning. The material and especially the test questions at the end of each module help to consolidate the learning done via the videos, which are pitched at the right level and not too legalistic. I would recommend this to anyone interested in gaining their qualification in this subject."
Jan Provost
Information Rights and Complaints Manager
Charity Commission