Dr. Sven Herpig is Lead for “Cybersecurity Policy and Resilience” at the European Tech Policy Think Tank interface (formerly: Stiftung Neue Verantwortung). His research areas include the IT security of machine learning and free software, operational norms for active cyber defense and state surveillance software, and the analysis of Chinese campaigns. Before joining interface, Sven Herpig worked for the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Office for Information Security, among others. He is currently active in several German and international committees, such as the National Cyber Security Council.

Sophie in ‘t Veld (NL, 1963) started working as a political advisor in the EU in 1994. She was first elected to the European Parliament in 2004, and served four terms until 2024. She was a member of the European liberal democrat group (ALDE/Renew), and its Deputy Leader (2014-2019) and leading the Renew team in the EP LIBE committee. She was member of the Dutch social liberal party D66 and joined the pan-European party Volt in 2023. Sophie in ‘t Veld is staunchly pro-European and a leading voice on democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights. From 2018 onwards she chaired the European Parliament Democracy, Rule of Law, and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group that had been set up at her initiative. She was also the architect of the annual Rule of Law Report, the most comprehensive annual health check of the democratic rule of law in Europe. In ’t Veld was the rapporteur of the European Parliament inquiry (“PEGA committee”) into the abuse of spyware. Other policy work covers a wide range of issues, including privacy and data protection, LGBTI rights, gender equality and reproductive rights, asylum and migration, as well as state aid, pensions rules, golden passports and sanctions against Russia. In ’t Veld laid down her vision on European integration and parliamentary democracy ao in her online publications “The Scent of Wild Animals” (2021) and “Naked Power” (2023), and in her book “Een Europees ID” (Prometheus Amsterdam, 2017)

After Climate Change Law studies Lori focused on intelligence powers at La Quadrature du Net, conscious that environmental protection would challenge the national security status quo. Later, Lori studied at the Oxford Internet Institute to refine Data Rights’ vision, while leading the data protection compliance programme of Oxfam. Today Lori leads Data Rights, a litigation and advocacy non-profit focused on surveillance, sustainability, and interoperability.

Anna Buchta is Head of Unit “Policy & Consultation” at the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), coordinating the work of the EDPS on providing advice to the EU legislators on legislative and policy proposals relevant to data protection. She has extensive experience in data protection and privacy regulations and litigation before the Court of Justice, notably in several cases concerning data retention, national security and PNR. She was one of the institutional rapporteurs on EU data protection for the FIDE2021 Congress (reports available here: https://fide2020.eu/fide-2020/topics/). She represented the EDPS in the High-Level Group on Access to Data for Effective Law Enforcement co-chaired by the Commission and the Presidency of the Council. Previously, Anna worked at the European Commission, among others on data privacy in electronic communications. Before that, she was a researcher at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Law and ICT (ICRI, currently CITIP) at KU Leuven (Belgium) and worked as a lawyer in private practice. Anna has a master's degree in Law from the University of Warsaw (Poland) and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from KU Leuven.