Ateneo UDPO Director joins IAPP Asia Advisory Board, strengthening regional privacy leadership

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Last December, Atty Jamael "Jam" Jacob, Director of the University Data Protection Office (UDPO), was formally welcomed by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) into its Asia Advisory Board. He began his two-year term last 1 January. This appointment reflects both the increasing importance of privacy leadership in the region and Atty Jacob’s longstanding contributions to the field.

Founded in 2000, the IAPP is a policy-neutral, non-profit organization dedicated to defining, promoting, and advancing the global professions of privacy, AI governance, and digital responsibility. Its Advisory Boards comprise distinguished privacy and data protection experts who provide strategic guidance, contribute to thought leadership, and support the organization’s mission across different regions.

Membership in the Asia Privacy Board is highly selective. Candidates are chosen to ensure diversity of experience, industry representation, geographic reach, and subject-matter expertise—qualities essential to navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of privacy, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity law.

Atty Jacob’s appointment affirms his stature as one of the country’s leading voices in data privacy. He brings over fifteen years of professional experience in data protection and seventeen years of legal practice. He holds multiple IAPP certifications—CIPP/E, CIPM, and FIP—and is also a Certified Lead Implementer for both Privacy Information Management Systems (ISO 27701) and Information Security Management Systems (ISO 27001).

Beyond the University, he serves as Policy and Legal Advisor to the Foundation for Media Alternatives, a civil society organization advocating for digital rights.

Prior to joining Ateneo in 2017, Atty. Jacob was the first policy head of the National Privacy Commission, where he played a key role in crafting the agency’s foundational regulatory framework, including the implementing rules of the Data Privacy Act.

Today, he continues to lead UDPO not only in ensuring the school’s compliance with data protection regulations, but also in establishing a culture of privacy and accountability within the Ateneo community.