About the IAPP

María Bardají- Cruz is the Global Privacy Regional Lead for Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine/R&D. An experienced attorney with a deep passion for privacy and data protection, she focuses on data sharing, public–private partnerships, and real-world evidence. In her role, she advocates for frameworks that enable secure and compliant information exchange while balancing innovation with individual privacy. She advises on the design of transparent, trustworthy collaborations and the responsible use of observational data to support clinical decision-making, regulatory submissions, and health outcomes research.

Before joining Johnson & Johnson, María served as counsel specializing in IT and data protection across different law firms. She is also Co-Chair of the IAPP KnowledgeNet Chapter for Cambridge & the East of England.