About Onur Korucu

Onur Korucu currently serves as Managing Partner, Non-Executive Director, and Advisory Board Member across corporate and academic institutions in EMEA and the US, where she shapes strategies in data protection, cybersecurity, and AI governance. She is also a shareholder in companies specializing in data protection, cybersecurity, and AI automation. Onur was honored by Business Post as one of the “Top 100 Most Powerful People in Tech in Ireland.” Recognized for her groundbreaking contributions, she was awarded the IAPP Privacy Vanguard Award, a highly esteemed honour given to only one individual per continent, which she received for EMEA in recognition of her leadership in privacy and AI governance. She is also a globally recognized TEDx speaker and was named Cybersecurity Leader of the Year at the 2025 The Women in Tech Global Awards. Her professional journey spans leading roles at multinational professional services firms such as KPMG, PwC, and Grant Thornton, where Onur managed cybersecurity and privacy teams across global regions. She has also served as Head of Data Protection and Cybersecurity at international firms and as Senior Group Manager for GRC, Cybersecurity, and Data Protection at Microsoft UK & Ireland. Onur brings a unique multidisciplinary expertise to her work: she is both a qualified engineer and a lawyer with an LL.M. in Information and Technology Law, and she further enhanced her leadership profile with an Executive Master’s in Business Analytics from the University of Cambridge. She serves as a lecturer for Cybersecurity and Data Protection Master’s programs at universities in Dublin, London, and Istanbul, and is a member of the advisory board for the MS in Cybersecurity program at the University of California. As an author and thought leader, she has contributed a book on risk-based global approaches to enhancing data protection and published articles in prestigious outlets such as the Harvard Business Review, covering trends in technology, cybersecurity, data protection, and AI innovation. Onur is a Women in Tech Global Ambassador and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Advisory Board Member and she has successfully held security and privacy leadership roles in multiple geographies as Dublin and Istanbul Knowledgenet Chapter Chair. Her achievements have been further recognized with nominations and awards, including the PICASSO Europe Privacy Award in the Privacy Executive category, GRC Role Model of the Year, Technology Consulting Leader, Cyber Women of the Year, Risk Leader of the Year, and The Technology Businesswoman awards.

Securing trust in a Fragmented World: AI, Privacy and Democratic Resilience

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping society at an unprecedented pace. From automated content moderation to AI-driven social media feeds, recommendation engines, and generative tools, AI increasingly influences public opinion, information consumption, and civic engagement. While these technologies promise innovation and efficiency, they also introduce complex security, privacy, and digital trust challenges that vary across regions, demographics, and regulatory frameworks. In her presentation, Onur Korucu explores how AI can undermine democratic integrity, erode public trust, and expose personal data when governance, security, and privacy measures fail. Through practical examples, Onur will show how organisations can adopt proactive AI governance frameworks, embed privacy-by-design, and strengthen digital trust, transforming AI from a potential societal liability into a strategic enabler of responsible innovation. Attendees will be equipped with practical, globally informed strategies for embedding privacy, security, and ethical oversight into AI initiatives, ensuring that technology strengthens rather than undermines trust in an interconnected world.