Our experts

Cosimo Monda

Cosimo Monda is the Director of the Maastricht European Centre on Privacy and Cybersecurity (ECPC), which has been established in 2016 at the Law Faculty, Maastricht University.

At ECPC his work has a strong European and international outlook in the field of privacy and cybersecurity, steering an interdisciplinary group of researchers, academics and professionals active in areas of fundamental rights, data privacy, transparency and confidentiality, IT, data security, and more. Cosimo Monda has a longstanding experience in designing executive education, certification courses and online learning modules for professionals who are required to deal with new regulations and on-going developments in the privacy and cybersecurity market. Before joining Maastricht University, he was working at the European Institute of Public Administration, as Senior Lecturer and Head of Information, Publications, and Marketing services. He holds a Law Degree obtained at the University of Bologna.

His fields of expertise include Data Protection and Cyber security, EU Information Management; Transparency and access to documents; EU Agencies; EU decision-making procedures and Institutions and EU law. 

Paolo Balboni

Paolo Balboni (PhD) is a Professor of Privacy, Cybersecurity, and IT Contract Law at the European Centre on Privacy and Cybersecurity (ECPC) within the Maastricht University Faculty of Law. His main research focuses are cybersecurity, data management/sharing and data protection as a corporate social responsibility, which together can be used to help organisations responsibly further their economic targets and at the same time positively contribute to the development of a fair data-centric society.

Qualified lawyer specialized in ICT, Privacy & Cybersecurity admitted to the Milan Bar and registered to the Amsterdam Bar. He is a Founding Partner of ICT Legal Consulting (ICTLC), an international law firm, and ICT Cyber Consulting, a company specialized in information/data security. Prof. Dr. Balboni is a Recommended Lawyer ranked by The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 in the areas of Data Privacy and Data Protection and Industry Focus: TMT. He is the Chairman of the European Patent Office (EPO) Data Protection Board, Member of the EUMETSAT Data Protection Supervisory Authority, Member of the Europrivacy Board of Experts, Member of the European Commission’s Expert Group on B2B data sharing and cloud computing contracts, and of the Cloud Security Alliance’s AI Safety Expert Group. 

Yazan Al-Masri

Yazan Al-Masri is a renowned Cybersecurity and Privacy advisor, helping organizations develop an effective Information security and Privacy Programs. Yazan is a regular teacher in Maastricht University's Advanced Master in Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Management. He holds a Masters Degree in Information Security and Digital Criminology with 25 years of international level experience in Information Security, Data Privacy, Business Continuity & Risk Management, IT Service Management, IT Infrastructure and Project Management. He has a proven track record of implementing complex cross-functional IT Security strategic initiatives, Network Infrastructure as well as IT service Support/delivery strategies to support corporate mandate.

Renato Opice Blum

Digital Law, Data Protection, Artificial Intelligence and Information Security professor at INSPER/ESPM/FAAP/EBRADI/Mackenzie; President of IASP’s  Commission on New Technologies, Neurorights, and Artificial Intelligence Studies; Director of FIESP’s  Department of Defense and Security; Member of the Council EuroPrivacy, FIESP and FECOMERCIO; Attorney, Economist and MS from Florida Christian University; Executive Chairman at Opice Blum Attorneys at Law. Author of several works on the topics that he works.

Renata Queiroz

Renata is a Partner in the GovTech practice at Baptista Luz Advogados. She holds both a Ph.D. and a postdoctoral degree from the Law School of the University of São Paulo (USP), with a focus on the role of the Data Protection Officer (DPO). Her research led to the publication of the book "Data Protection Officer: Regulation and Civil Liability", published by Quartier Latin in 2022. She holds certifications from the IAPP (CDPO/BR) to act as a DPO in Brazil and from Maastricht University (ECBC-B) to act within the European Union. In the field of education, she is a Guest Professor in the Master’s Program in Business Law at the State University of Londrina (UEL), and also teaches in the Postgraduate Program in Business Law Applied to the Digital Era at UEL.

Fernando Bousso

Partner and Head of the Technology, Data Protection, and Media & Entertainment practices at b/luz. Lawyer with over 17 years of experience in law and technology. Certified as a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP), Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E), Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), and Certified Data Protection Officer/BR (CDPO/BR) by the IAPP. Holds a Master’s degree in Computer and Communications Law from Queen Mary, University of London, and a Master’s in Privacy, Cybersecurity, Data Management and Leadership from Maastricht University. Recognized as a leading lawyer in Technology and Innovation by major international publications. Co-author of works on Technology, Privacy, and Data Protection.

Joyce Groneschild

Joyce Groneschild is the Deputy-Director of the European Centre on Privacy and Cybersecurity (ECPC) at the Faculty of Law. Joyce is a strategic marketing specialist with a strong focus on value co-creation. She has a longstanding experience in running executive education programmes for professionals, managing large projects and developing executive programmes to fit organisations’ needs globally.