Last year, Moniek Hakkenes joined DMCC Group as a privacy consultant, but she is not new to the industry by now. She previously worked at the Personal Data Authority as a supervisor. PONT | Data & Privacy sat down with her to talk about this step in her career.
Why did you take this step in your career?
I wanted to use the experience I gained at the regulator (AP) in a dynamic environment, where I can advise and guide organizations directly. At DMCC, I get the opportunity to make an impact with diverse types of clients, making organizations more aware of their personal data protection responsibilities and offering practical solutions.
What experience(s) do you bring with you from your previous position that will come in handy now?
From my time at the AP, I bring specific knowledge in the field of the (application of the) AVG. I have gained experience in assessing complex privacy issues, which is also crucial in my new role. Besides substantive knowledge, I also bring knowledge about the supervisory domain, with which I hope to make a valuable strategic contribution with our clients.
What challenges do you see within the IT;- data and privacy domain?
One of the biggest challenges is increasing awareness within organizations regarding security and privacy so that employees at all levels understand the importance of handling data in an ethical and responsible manner. This requires not only training, but also creating a culture where privacy is an integral part of all processes and decision-making. The questions that I think are still not being asked enough: Is this use of personal data in line with my core values as an organization? Does this use enhance customer trust in my brand or organization? Do citizens, customers or donors expect this use of their data and is their privacy respected? Although companies talk about ethics and consumer trust, this has not yet been made operational in the organizational structure of many companies.
What (future) developments/trends do you perceive within the digital domain and which ones should we keep an eye on anyway in the coming time?
I expect the deployment and development of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) to increase tremendously in the coming years. Despite the fact that the application possibilities are promising, organizations experience bottlenecks in practice, due to lack of knowledge or financial resources. Sharing relevant knowledge and experiences in the deployment of PETs between (legal) professionals and organizations, is therefore crucial for this development.
What do you hope to add to the public good with/in your new job?
I hope to help organizations with a practical and workable implementation of the AVG. As far as I am concerned, this starts with the culture within an organization: by increasing privacy awareness within organizations and pushing for transparency, I want to contribute to a society in which people have more control over their data and feel safe in the (digital) domain.
If you were not working in this field, what profession would you have preferred?
I probably would have chosen a profession in which I could also make a social impact, such as within psychology or journalism.
What book/film/documentary/podcast about data & privacy should everyone read/watch/listen to?
1984 by George Orwell remains the absolute classic for me! But The Circle by Dave Eggers is also worthwhile.
