The Role of the Data Protection Officer (DPO)

Welcome to “The role of the Data Protection Officer (DPO)” webinar on Thursday, 15th January 2026, at 10:30-11:00 EET (UTC+2, Helsinki time) 8:30-9:00 GMT (UTC +0, Dublin time).

The role of the Data Protection Officer (DPO) is a critical part of an organization’s data protection and governance framework, yet it is often misunderstood or only revisited when an issue arises.

As organizations grow, restructure, adopt new technologies, or expand their use of data, the expectations, risks, and demands placed on the DPO role can change significantly. For example, DPOs are called on to interpret the power of AI to guide members of the organization in understanding the full impact of their decisions.

In this webinar, we will break down the core responsibilities of the DPO under GDPR, clarify what the role looks like in practice, and explore how AI adoption is changing expectations, risks, and priorities for DPOs inside organizations.

What you’ll learn:

• When a DPO is required and what the role actually entails under GDPR
• The difference between the DPO’s legal responsibilities and operational expectations
• Common challenges DPOs face in real-world organizations
• How the risks and governance around AI adoption impacts DPO oversight

Join us for a practical discussion that refreshes how the DPO role should function in today’s organizations and what good oversight looks like going into 2026.

The webinar speakers will be Privaon’s Senior Data Protection Specialist, Gail Maunula (CIPP/E, CIPM) and Data Protection Specialist Gail Chalmin. Please send your pre-questions related to the webinar topic via the registration form.

The event is aimed at DPOs and data professionals.

This webinar is free of charge, but please remember to register in advance.