Meet the team
Your friendly, professional, and supportive team
Alison Deighton
Director and Co-Founder
Alison is an internationally recognised expert in UK and EU data protection regulation. Alison guides clients through complex privacy problems finding practical solutions that meet business and compliance needs.
Alison has particular expertise advising on overseas transfers of data, including advising on EU and UK BCR applications. Alison also supports businesses with managing significant data breaches, making regulatory reports and advising on remediation actions. She also regularly advises on contractual matters, negotiating and drafting data processing agreements for both controllers and processors. On the compliance side, Alison helps clients to design and implement privacy governance programmes and provides mentoring to DPOs and others starting their privacy careers.
Alison is a member of the IAPP and holds the CIPP/E certification.
Jenai Nissim
Director and Co-Founder
Jenai has been a strategic privacy partner for many organisations, advising on data privacy matters for over 19 years. She advises organisations on global privacy requirements, including the EU and UK GDPR and the EU AI Act, negotiates multi-national data transfer agreements, handles breach investigations, undertakes data protection audits and advises and manages complex data subject access requests, alongside providing data protection training and DPO mentoring.
She also has significant experience advising organisations on data privacy compliance matters having successfully set-up and embedded global privacy programmes for start-ups and global organisations, guiding them to find the right strategy to privacy compliance based on business needs.
Jenai is a member of the IAPP and holds the CIPP/E and CIPM certifications. She also holds the PDP Practitioners Certificate in Data Protection and the ICA Certificate in Compliance.
Claire Saunders
Professional Support Lawyer
Claire has extensive experience advising a wide range of private and public sector clients on data protection matters.
She has helped clients put in place data protection compliance programs, advised on day-to-day matters as well as assisting with innovative projects and urgent issues, such as data breach management. In her current role, Claire supports the team, assisting them in keeping their finger on the pulse in the ever-changing data landscape, ensuring the efficient delivery of high-quality client services.
Lisa Thorp
Director
Lisa has over 14 years’ experience advising on compliance and regulatory matters, including 4 years providing compliance advice on data protection.
Prior to joining HelloDPO, Lisa worked as the in-house DPO for a large global health organisation. While at HelloDPO, Lisa has advised a number of retail and hospitality organisations on data protection compliance and in particular how to protect customer’s personal data when conducting marketing.
Lisa is a member of the IAPP and holds the CIPM certification. She also holds the PDP Practitioner’s Certificate in Data Protection.
Ian Pemberton
Data Protection Compliance Manager
Ian has over 7 years of legal experience. Ian advises businesses on a wide range of data privacy compliance issues and acts as the DPO for a number of clients.
Ian also undertakes data protection audits, carries out data protection impact assessments and provides data protection training.
Stephanie Mussi-Braojos
Office Manager and Executive Assistant
Stephanie has over 11 years of top-level, varied, administrative experience for SMEs within the
Legal, Education, Event Management, and Real Estate sectors supporting C-suite, SLT, managers and teams.
Following her first class degree in BSc Management and with efficiency always being at the forefront of her work, Stephanie aims to optimise productivity through process improvement and effective communication.
Valerie Nyom
Senior Data Protection Compliance Manager
Valerie has over 12 years of expert knowledge of the UK and EU data protection laws, advising in-house on data protection and compliance matters in the UK financial services industry, the acquisition, engagement and loyalty industry and recently in the UK electric vehicle charging industry.
Valerie has extensive experience setting-up and embedding privacy framework including advising on contracts from a data privacy perspective, advising on Legitimate Interest Assessments (LIAs), Transfer Impact Assessments (TIAs), Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), data breaches, the mechanism required for overseas transfers, Supplier onboarding and risk management from a data privacy perspective, interacting with regulators, drafting privacy notices and cookies laws and Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulation (PECR) compliance.
Valerie has set-up, implemented and embedded corporate and data protection policies and procedures, compliance programs including audits and risk management frameworks.
Valerie has a working knowledge of ISO 27001 accreditation requirements compliance and, having gone through ISO 9001 Lead auditor training, is an ISO 9001 Lead auditor.
Sandra Odusola-Stevenson
Data Protection Paralegal
Sandra has a range of experience helping organisations design and implement effective data protection frameworks that align with global regulations and industry standards. She has supported clients across the legal, consulting, technology and financial sectors in achieving compliance with the EU and UK GDPR, UK DPA and ISO 27001.
Her experience includes carrying out DPIAs, reviewing third-party risks, and developing privacy and compliance policies and processes that strengthen accountability and safeguard personal data. Sandra is a member of the IAPP and holds the CIPP/E certification.
Laura Keeley
Data Protection Compliance Manager
Laura has over 7 years of data protection experience working in-house at a UK university advising on compliance and promoting a culture of accountability through a pragmatic approach. Laura has assisted with drafting and review of policies and privacy information, and managed Data Subject Access Requests, Data Protection Impact Assessments, Legitimate Interests Assessments, personal data breach investigations and periodic audits. She is known for being supportive and solutions-focused, prioritising continuous improvement and the reduction of future risk by encouraging early reporting of concerns.
Alongside her role within the DPO team, Laura is training to qualify as a solicitor, enabling her to further support clients by providing data protection legal advice where required. She has also previously worked as an associate lecturer in law and has designed and delivered training to staff across multiple organisations.
Darcy Deighton
Darcy is an avid supporter of all things data protection related and loves protecting personal data. She’s one of the most innovative “technical and organisational measures” we have found so far.
Harry Nissim
Harry is the newest member of the team. Joining Darcy, he helps keep your personal data safe. Harry is a key part of HelloDPO’s wellbeing committee and loves doing yoga with his mummy. You can count on Harry to make an appearance on conference calls (whether or not he is invited to them) …!
Find out more about our sector specialisms in the DPO Directory
Alison Deighton
Jenai Nissim
Ian Pemberton
Ian has over 7 years of legal experience. Ian advises businesses on a wide range of data privacy compliance issues and acts as the DPO for a number of clients. Ian also undertakes data protection audits, carries out data protection impact assessments and provides data protection training.
Lisa Thorp
Lisa has over 14 years’ experience advising on compliance and regulatory matters, including 4 years providing compliance advice on data protection. Prior to joining HelloDPO, Lisa worked as the in-house DPO for a large global health organisation.
Claire Saunders
Claire has extensive experience advising a wide range of private and public sector clients on data protection matters.
Our experience...
Speaks for itself through collaboration with leading global brands such as…
- Tech giants
- Health tech start-ups
- Forward-thinking financial institutions
- Global dating app
- One of the largest entertainment record labels globally
- Shopping meccas
- National broadcasters
- Professional services firms and regulators
Sector specialisms and in-depth experience
Client retention rate and long lasting relationships
Learners who complete our data protection training each year
Don't just take our word for it
“If you’re looking for trustworthy, pragmatic and diligent legal advisors, say Hello(to)DPO! The team has been a great support to Skyscanner on a broad range of privacy and data protection matters, whether advising at a compliance level or on more acute legal issues. You’ll enjoy considerate, timely and helpful advice, provided by professionals with whom it’s a delight to work.”
Gemma Witham
Director of Legal (Privacy), Group Privacy Officer, Sykscanner Limited
Don't just take our word for it
“We have been working with HelloDPO for several years now and I have always found them to be friendly, approachable and above all professional in their approach. I would have no hesitation in recommending them.”
Serena May
Director, Southern HR Ltd
Don't just take our word for it
“We have worked with Jenai, Alison and the HelloDPO team for over 5 years as our DPO and have found their advice and support invaluable. They are pragmatic and flexible in the advice they provide, and assist in making data protection compliance apply in a corporate environment. Working with them is like having additional members of our team, and the relationship has flourished over time.”
Craig Saunders
Head of International Privacy, Aetna Global Benefits (UK) Ltd
Don't just take our word for it
“The team (Jenai and Lisa) provided DPO services and compliance support to our business for over a year, during which they consistently delivered high quality advice and excellent client service. The demands of the hospitality industry are high and HelloDPO adapted to this quickly and seamlessly – they are responsive, knowledgeable, and pragmatic. They are also a pleasure to work with.”
Frasers Hospitality (UK) Ltd
Don't just take our word for it
“We have been working with HelloDPO for nearly a year. The team have been great to work with, highly professional and flexible. Most importantly, they have given clear advice and guidance in what is a very complex area. Well done and we look forward to continuing working with you!”
Ruth Hidalgo
Director, Chartered Accountants Worldwide
Don't just take our word for it
“The HelloDPO team have led us patiently through the intricacies of GDPR over the years, helping us to navigate a careful path to ensure understanding of the rules and therefore compliance with them. HelloDPO are a pleasure to work with and I’d have no hesitation in recommending them to others looking for good, commercial advice in this complex area.”
Sanjay Patel
Finance Director, Cadogan Group Limited
Don't just take our word for it
“We have recently engaged HelloDPO and the team, led by Jenai, has been responsive, practical and generally very helpful when dealing with our data protection queries. We look forward to what’s on track to becoming a great working relationship!”
Federica Cozzani
Senior Legal Counsel, Compre Group
Don't just take our word for it
“Jenai and Emma are amazing to deal with. They strike the right balance between understanding the business needs while doing it’s fiduciary duty to ensure we are on the right track from a legal, ethical and moral perspective. Working with HelloDPO’s guidance over the past 2 years has enabled X-Mode (now known as Outlogic) to be able to navigate complex and at times uncertain waters with GDPR in a strategic and ethical manner.”
Joshua Anton
CEO, Outlogic
Don't just take our word for it
“A great bespoke service, delivered flexibly by absolute experts in a friendly, collaborative and accessible way. I cannot recommend more highly!”
Clare Russell
Interim Head of Legal, Vue UK and Ireland
Don't just take our word for it
“HelloDPO have been brilliant at getting our data compliance into shape. We have come such a long way in our ways of working and they are always on hand to help when we have complicated or urgent issues – they have simply become part of the team.”
Josh Towb
Head of Business Transformation, Jigsaw
Don't just take our word for it
“The HelloDPO team have provided Channel 4 with a wide range of data protection advice over the years. Alison is always delightful to work with, and her advice is pragmatic and set within a commercial context, which is particularly helpful. HelloDPO runs regular DP Confessionals, which provide our team with a valuable wider industry view and a sense of issues which other organisations are struggling with, and the ways in which they are approaching them.”
Rebecca Miller
Channel 4
Let’s chat
Book a free 30 min discovery call with our expert team and we’ll advise how we can help.