Jiri Balek, AIGP, CIPP/E, CIPM, FIP

Jiri is passionate about guiding companies through the complex landscape of data privacy and ethics by translating global regulations into actionable strategies and fostering a culture of responsible data use, particularly with new technologies like AI. He is a seasoned professional with proven experience in governance and risk management strategies that meet both business goals and regulatory requirements.
Jiri is currently a Data Privacy & Ethics Manager at Celonis. In this role, he ensures compliance with global privacy regulations. He is also responsible for maintaining the Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) and leading the development of internal policies on Responsible AI and ethical data use. In addition, Jiri serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Global Skill Development Council (GSDC).
Prior to Celonis, Jiri was a Data Privacy Counsel at Publicis Groupe, where he tackled contractual and regulatory privacy challenges tied to innovation. He also served as a Data Privacy Manager at Novartis, where he managed the company's privacy program across multiple countries, including identifying and treating privacy risks. His experience also includes his time as a Group Legal Counsel at Seznam.cz, a.s., where he handled negotiations on data retention topics with public authorities and advised on the data privacy aspects of digital platforms.
Jiri holds a Ph.D. in Business Law from Charles University, with a dissertation focused on the role of a supervisory board within a business group. He also completed the Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and participated in a Ph.D. Exchange Program at WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business).
Contributions by Jiri Balek
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Digital Harvests: Sowing the Seeds of Compliant AI-driven Web Scraping
Speaker at IAPP Europe Data Protection Congress 2025 -
Under the Mountain: Digging Through the Clutter of Risk Assessment Fatigue
Speaker at IAPP Europe Data Protection Congress 2025 -
European Privacy Network
Speaker at In-Person DACH and Luxembourg Joint KnowledgeNet: 24 Oct. 2024 -
AI Act: Next steps
Speaker at Virtual Prague KnowledgeNet: 13 May 2024