Niall Cavanagh was appointed Deputy Commissioner, Principal Regulatory Lawyer in the Data Protection Commission in Ireland in July 2022.

Niall qualified with an honours degree in Computer Science from Queen’s University Belfast in 1991. He worked in the private sector for the first 12 years of his career, within international telecommunications companies as a Systems Manager, Lead Developer, Business Analyst and Programme Manager. In 2001, he was enrolled as a Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Engineers of Ireland (now Engineering Ireland) and was a member of the Institute of Business Analysts and Consultants from 1998 to 2003.

He was called to the Bar of Ireland in 2005 and practised as a Barrister at Law until 2017. His general practice covered both civil and criminal cases, appearing at all levels, including the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

In December 2017, he joined the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Ireland as an Assistant Commissioner, in the role of Senior Legal Adviser. In 2018, he was appointed head of the Breach Notification, Assessment, Inquiries and Investigations Unit.

Niall represented the Data Protection Commission as a designated technical expert on the Schengen Evaluation of Sweden in 2022.

In his current role he applies his legal and technical experience in leading a Large Scale Inquiries and Investigation Unit for the delivery of: