Privacy & Information Security Law Blog

On Tuesday, September 27, 2011, the European Privacy Officers Forum (“EPOF”) celebrated its 10th anniversary with a gala reception at the BELvue Museum in Brussels. EPOF is composed of EU-based data protection compliance officers and internal legal counsel from over 30 multinational companies and public-sector institutions who meet three times a year in Brussels to exchange ideas and to hear presentations by data protection authorities and other government representatives. The gala, which was attended by approximately 100 people, featured opening remarks from Peter Hustinx, European Data Protection Supervisor, the Honorable William E. Kennard, U.S. Ambassador to the EU, and Paul Nemitz, Director of Fundamental Rights and Citizenship of the European Commission.

Since its launch on November 8, 2001, EPOF has become the premier organization focusing on pan-European data protection and compliance issues that limits its membership to privacy officers of companies and government entities. Over the years the forum has welcomed speakers from numerous European data protection authorities, EU institutions (such as the European Commission, the European Data Protection Supervisor and the European Parliament), and from non-EU countries such as Israel, the People’s Republic of China and the United States. Hunton & Williams serves as the secretariat for EPOF.