The PICCASO Awards, delivered in partnership with GRC World Forums, are delighted to unveil the shortlist for the 2026 awards, celebrating the individuals, organisations, products, and services setting the benchmark for excellence in privacy, information security, compliance and AI across Europe.
Marking their fifth edition, the PICCASO Awards Europe continue to recognise those making a lasting impact on the industry through innovation, leadership, and a commitment to building trust in an increasingly complex digital world. This year's awards attracted more than 400 nominations, and the shortlist includes150 organisations representing the very best of the privacy, security, compliance and AI community.
Across 24 award categories, the shortlist showcases a diverse range of achievements, highlighting outstanding leadership, forward-thinking initiatives, impactful communication, and excellence in areas including data governance, AI ethics, compliance, and cybersecurity. Together, the finalists reflect the expertise, passion, and innovation driving the profession forward.
Delivered by PICCASO in partnership with GRC World Forums powered by Emerald X, the awards form part of a wider commitment to championing ethical leadership, encouraging meaningful conversations around governance and responsible innovation, and recognising those helping to shape the future of trust and accountability
The winners will be announced at the PICCASO Awards Europe ceremony on the 2nd of December 2026 at Grosvenor House, London, where leaders from across the industry will gather to celebrate the outstanding contributions of this year's finalists and honour those raising the standard for privacy, security, and compliance across Europe.
Rising Star: SME
Declan McDermott, IE Domain Registry CLG
Pooja Pandya, NSIT-IFSCS
Tea Mustac, SafePorter Secure Limited
Aurelia Brzezowska, UK Cyber Security Council
Rachel Sadler, Genistar Ltd
Maria Carolina Moraes, The National Lottery (Premier Lotteries Ireland)
Arohi Naik, SQR
Aakash Suri, AS Privacy & AI Solutions Ltd
Rising Star: Large
Johnathon Thorpe, Volkswagen Group Ireland Limited
Joy Majebi, East Midlands Airport
Artur Davydenko, Meta
Lefteris Vagenas, Copper Technologies
Seçil Bilgiç, Cohesity
Eleni Moutesidi, GFT
Katy Holt, Liverpool John Moores University
Ana Flavia Sales, Degreed
Georgia Philippou, TLT LLP
Kate Whitesell, Fortive Corporation
Katie Clarke, Brightwell Pensions
Author/Creator of the Year
Simon Pillinger, Pillinger Privacy
Ron De Jesus, Mine
William Moore, Shoosmiths
Sofia Carroll, Infobric Ltd t/a MSite
Rob van Kranenburg, IoT Council
Barry John Moult, BJM IG Privacy
Tim Turner, 2040 Training
Cristina Vannini-Goodchild, CVG Solutions
Inspiring Communications Award
Admiral Group
BDO UK
Michaela Kyriakopoulou, Greek Yellow Pages
Amadeus IT Group, S.A.
ODPA
HP Inc.
Ashantel Lachhani, Wellcome Trust
Darcy Lauren Ledwidge, MHR
Dan Sullivan, Fortive
Yokogawa Corporation
Best Privacy Culture Improvement Award
Vantage Towers AG
Meili Travel Technology
Wales Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information
Tsaaro Consulting
Shell Data Integrity Community
Digital and Data Law (Team) at GEA Group AG
PRINGO team at Fortive Corporation
Ecctis Limited
Best Privacy Programme Award
Xeneta AS
Sandoz AG
Wales Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information
Digital and Data Law (Team) at GEA Group AG
PRINGO team at Fortive Corporation
BlackRock
Bridging the Privacy & Security Gap
DataGuard
Cristina Costache, Noventiq Holding PLC
Anna Popowicz-Pazdej, Dentons/University of Wroclaw/WSB Merito University
Duality Technologies Inc.
Alexandre Horvath, Cryptix AG
Julie Armindo Kremp, Remerge GmbH
Onur Korucu, DataRep
Digital and Data Law (Team), GEA Group AG
Ecctis Limited
Sustainability and Privacy Initiative
Informu Solutions Ltd
Green Climate Fund
Digital and Data Law (Team) at GEA Group AG
Data Governance & Record Management Programme of the Year
Wales Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information
Green Climate Fund
Cognizant Worldwide Limited
Information and Records Management Society
GEA Group AG
JP Morgan Chase
HP
Most Innovative Platform/Software of the Year
Obeng Ltd
DataGuard
Phaselaw
AXAXL
Duality Technologies Inc.
SafeRecall
XpertDPO Limited
Assuric
Fieldfisher LLP
DE&I Leadership Excellence Award
Group Corporate Governance DEI Working Group at Admiral Group
Marilia Aires, Nova Compliance Lab
Muge BULAT ÇETİNKAYA, Borusan Pipe
Enbarr Enterprises Ltd
Sanjeev Manaktala, Capgemini Invent
Compliance Champion of the Year
Declan McDermott, IE Domain Registry CLG
Varsha Sujata Pullut, VP Business Solutions Ltd
Chris Linnell, Bridewell
Sorie Mansaray, Euroclear Bank Sweden
Mayank Karnawat, True Potential LLP
Marilia Aires, Nova Compliance Lab
Andrew Thomas Bosz, Green Climate Fund
Bright Anyanwu, Yellow Card Inc
Alyson Cooling, Hemsley Fraser Ltd
Tania Palmariellodiviney, Data Privacy Simplified Ltd.
Emily Gooday, Genistar Limited
InfoSec Champion of the Year
Asif Iqbal, MCB Islamic Bank Ltd.
Emem Umoh, Zenith Bank (Ghana) Limited
Sean Palmariellodiviney, Data Privacy Simplified Ltd.
Ruhi Shah, Capgemini Invent
Zahra Zohoor, Nationwide Building Society
Privacy Champion of the Year
Giovanna Fragala, independent advisor
Lola Badejoko, Depop
Dolika Dhar, Barclays Bank UK plc
Chris Linnell, Bridewell
Marilia Aires, Nova Compliance Lab
Marcelo Canha, Organon Pharmaceuticals
Oliver Hennessy, BDO
Evelien Visser, Shell Plc
Rahul Bhardwaj, EXL
Cristina Vannini-Goodchild, CVG Solutions
Ralph O'Brien, Serious Privacy Ltd
Callie Loveridge, States of Guernsey
Responsible AI Governance Initiative or Leadership: SME
Titi Akinsanmi, Demistef.ai
Waqar Gillani, Superbutler Holding Limited
Thierry Burnens, Chabrier
Dr Nithin Thomas, Klarytee Ltd
Jennifer Walsh, Thorn & Berry Corporate Solutions
Responsible AI Governance Initiative or Leadership: Large
Privacy Team at AS Watson Group
Cristina Noventiq, Noventiq Holding PLC
Digital Trust Office at Amadeus IT Group, S.A.
The PSAI Office at Harness
Mayank Karnawat, True Potential LLP
Nathaniel Jones, Darktrace
Kimberley Miles, Howden
Sandy Tsakiridi, The Coca-Cola Company
Sandoz PDE Office
Tharishni Arumugam, AON UK LIMITED
Andrew Thomas Bosz, Green Climate Fund
Safeguarding Children's Data Award
Elcin Biren, Swiss Cyber Smart
classroom.cloud, NetSupport
Education Data Hub at Derbyshire County Council
Baker McKenzie
Outstanding DPO: SME
Declan McDermott, IE Domain Registry CLG
Thelma Oshone Okorie, Yellow Card Financial Inc.
Joson Lim, Yello Hotel
Marta Dunphy-Moriel, Dunphy-Moriel Legal Services Ltd
Alexandru Gheorghe, Inperspective Business SRL
Rob Long, One West (Bath & North East Somerset Council)
Outstanding DPO: Large
Niamh Howard, Dornan Engineering Ltd
Loreto Reguera, Bridgestone
Raz Edwards, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Augustine Kogevinas, Fraport Greece
Paula Majcher-Guzik, TAURON POLSKA ENERGIA JOINT STOCK COMPANY
Kam Ahumibe, Group 1 Automotive UK
Darren Scott, Sandoz
Marcelo Canha, Organon Pharmaceuticals
James Keenan, St James Place
Shah Baig, Aptia UK Limited
Industry Network of the Year
Information & Records Management Society
Kazient Privacy Experts and Privacy Pros Academy
JPAC initiative at Shoosmiths
Freshfields LLP
National Association of DP and FOI Officers (NADPO) NADPO, NADPO
TrustWorks Privacy Community, TrustWorks
Law Firm of the Year
Dentons LLP
TLT LLP
Shoosmiths LLP
Fieldfisher
Panetta Law Firm
Latournerie Wolfrom Avocats
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Stephenson Harwood's Data Protection Team
ISO 27001 / ISMS Team of the Year
Boo Consulting Limited
Cryptix AG
BDO UK
Capgemini Invent
Silverstone Technologies
Cybersecurity / InfoSec Team of the Year
Technology Management Center of Yerevan City
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.
Capgemini Invent
NormCyber
ZeroThreat Inc
Compliance Team of the Year
Liverpool John Moores University
Dornan Engineering Ltd
Data Privacy Simplified Ltd
Green Climate Fund
Bnode
Conde Nast
Evalian
Genistar Ltd
Decalex Digital SRL
Privacy Team of the Year
Admiral Group
Chiesi Group
Tata Consultancy Services
Cheshire West Recycling Ltd
EXL
Bridewell
Wales Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information
Sandoz
PRINGO team at Fortive Corporation
Telia Eesti AS
Zurich Insurance
Recognition of Excellence
Raz Edwards, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Tanya Popeau, Livesynthesis
Dave Parsons, Wales Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information
Barry Moult, BJM IG Privacy Ltd
Kelvin Kirby, Technology Associates
David Campos, Zurich Insurance
About the PICCASO Awards
The PICCASO Awards celebrate and honour the individuals, organisations, products, and services driving progress in privacy, information security, and compliance. They are more than just an awards programme - they are a catalyst
for a values- and ethics-led movement, inspiring the industry to build trust and accountability at every level.
For any enquries please contact:
heather@grcworldforums.com