François Charlet

Hi, my name is

François.

I am a lawyer specialised in IT law, especially data protection and artificial intelligence.

A passionate privacy and AI professional. I use my practical sense to translate the abstract requirements of data protection and artificial intelligence governance into concrete business applications.

About Me

I am a specialised lawyer and expert in technology law, data protection and artificial intelligence, advising companies and individuals, developing data protection programmes, helping to define a data governance framework and providing training.

I am currently working as Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) & Data Protection Officer (DPO) for Vaudoise Assurances, a Swiss insurance company based in Lausanne.

More than ten years of experience in legal & privacy, and five years in AI law and governance
Wide cross-functional knowledge regarding law, computer science and artificial intelligence
Ability to organise tasks, prioritise duties and meet deadlines
Excellent analysis, research and communication skills
Competent user of MS 365, Libre Office, iWork, Swisslex, OneTrust
Excellent general and technical knowledge in computer science (IT, internet, security, privacy, etc.)

Experience

Vaudoise Assurances
Groupe Mutuel
Court of the Districts of Hérens and Conthey
Lexing Switzerland
Kanzlei Hoesmann
Swiss Embassy to Belgium
SUISA

Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) & Data Protection Officer (DPO) - Vaudoise Assurances

2019 - present

I am currently working as Group CPO/DPO to help the companies achieve their data protection objectives and find solutions to legal, organisational and technical issues. I develop a compliance and privacy management framework; advise, train and raise awareness among employees; map the processing activities across companies; analyse risks for the data subjects; coordinate certain aspects of the company’s security.

Data Protection Officer (DPO) - Groupe Mutuel

2017 - 2019

I worked as a Group DPO. I coordinated and lead a cross-functional GDPR Compliance Committee, mapped the processing activities of personal data across companies, ran DPIAs and identified data protection issues, drafted policies, standard operating procedures and guidance documents and provided advice on governance and policy management.

Ad hoc Clerk (intern) - Court of the Districts of Hérens and Conthey

2016

I worked as a clerk. I have analysed court cases, carried out legal research into Swiss and international law, drafted decisions and judgments in private law (contract law, family law, liability) and criminal law, and taken part in civil and criminal court hearings.

Trainee lawyer / Cantonal Data Protection Commissioner’s Collaborator - Lexing Switzerland

2014 – 2016

I advised cantonal and municipal authorities as well as particulars, pleaded before the courts and appealed decisions, drafted letters, legal opinions, actions and appeals. I also drafted and reviewed commercial contracts, terms of service and privacy policies.

Lawyer (intern) - Kanzlei Hoesmann

2014

I monitored technology and law on a daily basis, drafted letters to the law firm’s clients, published a comparison between the Swiss and German copyright laws on the law firm’s website.

Attaché with the Embassy (academic intern) - Swiss Embassy to Belgium

2013

I actively supported the Embassy’s Advisor, conducted research and drafted reports on different matters, especially the Belgian energetic policy, the environment and the human rights. I also attended the 36th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) as a Swiss delegate and drafted the ad hoc report.

Lawyer (intern) - SUISA

2012

I drafted legal pleadings for the collection of copyright royalties and the conviction of infringers, checked and negotiated contracts, provided legal advice to SUISA members, carried out legal research and monitoring, and analysed decisions and rulings.