The European Union recently introduced their General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which sets out standards for privacy and the handling of data of residents in the EU. The new regulation is likely to have a significant impact and firms will need to consider what are the effects on their operations both within the EU and elsewhere  and the what response they need to employ so that their handling of personal data fully compliant.

Pierre Folk from Sia Partners will be highlighting the key issues associated with GDPR, including data management implications both within the EU and in other countries including Japan. Pierre will be discussing:

• The core principles of data privacy, and the key issues the GDPR addresses.
• The extraterritorial impact: its effect on firms and individuals outside the EU.
• The key compliance issues associated with GDPR and a high-level analysis of how it compares to the Japanese Act on Protection of Personal Information (APPI/個人情報保護法).
• The concept of “equivalence” between Japan and the EU, and how reconciliation between current existing regulations can alleviate the impact of GDPR on businesses.
• Discuss concrete actions and strategies companies can take to ensure they are compliant with the GDPR.

Pierre Folk

Pierre Folk is a Senior Manager and Head of insurance business development for Asia at SIA Partner’s Hong Kong practice. Pierre covers financial institutions in Asia and Europe, and has covered various regulatory-driven assignments with strong data implications over the past 10 years. He participated in developing Sia Partners' data management methodologies and is currently co-leading GDPR reconciliation efforts in Asia by engaging with regulators across geographies. He holds MAs in Consulting and Financial Engineering from Ohio State University and Audencia Business School.

Alan Wakida

Alan Wakida is the Japan Innovation and Organization lead for Sia Partners, where he works with international and domestic clients on strategic and operational issues. He works with a wide variety of industries in Japan, including: automotive, cosmetic, financial services, and telecommunications. Most recently, his focus is on providing holistic solutions to support firms in jump starting innovation through new ways of working and digital transformation.