Our experts
Elly van Viegen
“Give me a job that suits me and I’ll never have to work again!”
Someone once drew my attention to this quote by Confusius. It dates from ± 500 years B.C. and as far as I am concerned it is still very relevant! How beautiful it is when work makes you so happy that you don’t feel like you’re at work!
After my studies I started my career at Randstad by chance. I liked my role in recruitment so much that it set the tone for the rest of my career. And still, after more than 20 years, I find making the connection between people and organizations, expertise and need, challenge and development, but especially between people, the best part of my job.
In the meantime I have looked around enough and now I think it is time to stand on my own two feet. In Lex Digitalis I can put all my entrepreneurial drive, my interest in people and my passion for recruitment into action. That makes me happy!
Besides work, I’m happy with: walking and skiing in the Dolomites, sailing, running through the dunes, a cup of coffee in the spring sun, a good glass of wine (Italy is my favorite!), a good conversation and especially enjoying life with my beautiful family.
Paul Dam
“Don’t claim as a right, what you can ask for as a favor.”
More than 20 years ago I started my career as a data analyst and software developer. From my passion to realize solutions not only technically, but also legally and socially accepted, I broadened my view and studied law next to my work. My technical and legal background now help me to build bridges.
Especially when others say that ‘it’s legally impossible’ or ‘privacy blocks everything’, I get a lot of satisfaction from working with cyber security experts, developers and data analysts to come up with a solution that is possible, legally as well. For me, the slogan stands for the power of collaboration.
I get pleasure from: enjoying a run, cycling together in the mountains, skiing with the family and enjoying extensive cooking and dining.
Nelleke Eijsenga
“If you do what you say, you are not lying!”
With the original idea as a 10-year-old to become a judge, I have since ended up in employment mediation via a detour with my HBO Law degree. The personal contact, fast switching between person and desire, but especially being able to mean something for someone else, make me feel very comfortable in my role as mediator.
After very different roles with former employers, I have now taken the step to start my own company, Lex Digitalis. The perfect combination of my education and work experience! Working in total freedom and being able to mean something for others, the way I think it should be: personal, punctual, genuinely interested, honest communication and going the extra mile.
I get pleasure from: good food (luxury with a star/home in a shabby Asian restaurant), traveling, hiking, biking, history, documentaries, my dog Bram and of course my partner Leon.
Irma Smeding
“Hard work puts you in a position where happiness can find you.”
During my studies in International Business Administration, I first came into contact with law via an introductory course. Out of interest and innate curiosity I started studying law after that bachelor’s degree and obtained my master’s degree in it. After 2 studies, bachelors and a master, you can say that my motto comes from a piece of “experiential expertise”.
Through electives and internships I gradually discovered my passion for privacy and data protection. Because of the combination of studies, I look at things from a legal and business perspective. In my view, within the privacy domain, a golden combination! This allows me to support clients in a relevant way, so they can focus on their core business. Getting stuck in issues and puzzling out solutions is what drives me.
Besides the beautiful challenges at work, I get excited about: going on adventures with friends, road trips (on- and off-road), sunsets, cars, a good house party and being active in sports.
Nienke Koorn
My love for privacy started when I was working at WeTransfer. Here I saw – at the time still working as a team manager – the opportunity to prepare the entire company for the arrival of the AVG. What started as a temporary part-time project has now grown into a great career.
In recent years I have had the opportunity to solve many exciting privacy issues, both as a permanent employee and on a freelance basis. This varied from setting up privacy policies for start-ups, to training a range of different teams, and most recently to supporting the GGD teams that fight Corona in the Kennemerland region.
My goal in every project is to find a pragmatic solution together, one that works for the people on the floor and, of course, is in line with applicable laws and regulations. My background in the business ensures that I have a good understanding of where legislation can hold the business back, and more importantly how to fix it. In addition, I don’t like to draft policy from behind a desk; I prefer to learn how things work and what could be better through conversations.
When I’m not busy with privacy, I love exploring nature with my wife and son. I like to try out new vegetarian recipes on my family and friends, doing odd jobs in our home, or lazily watching a series on the couch.
Leandra Beerendonk
“Not to the left? Not going right? Then straight ahead! We always find a way! “
As a child I already had a highly developed fighting spirit against everything that felt as unjust, from this arose my desire to be able to do something for others through my work. During my law studies, my preference quickly turned to areas of law in which the dependency relationship (e.g. government – citizen, employers – employee) is central. Privacy law, but specifically data protection, stole my heart because it is a dynamic and versatile profession. I can put my passion for pioneering, developing and transferring knowledge into it, and I find challenge in the versatility and rapidly changing digital world.
I advise on both operational and tactical levels. Because I gained my work experience as a self-employed person in SMEs and as a consultant in the public sector, my view on data protection within organizations is broad and pragmatic. I like the broad scope of my work. Working as a privacy consultant requires me to immerse myself in all kinds of processes and legislation, from deploying cameras to getting tax returns and benefits done. I don’t like unnecessary fuss, so I get to work with a no-nonsense mentality and some Brabant sobriety. It gives me energy when I have found the solution to a complex issue or when I have been able to make a valuable contribution to someone’s view on data protection.
When I am not working I am probably walking my dog, having drinks with friends, playing a board game, reading a book or watching Netflix on the couch.
Jantien Hovingh
”Everyone has the right to live their own life.”
Every person is allowed to be himself, but must have the opportunities to do so.
In the physical world, this is already difficult: how often we are guided by what (we think what) others think and behave accordingly. You still have some say in that yourself, in the end you are usually judged by what you do and show.
In the digital world this can be different, for example if an organization is interpreting data about you. What if your identity is only determined/framed based on data the other person has about you? What if your actions are then totally constrained based on a limited set of data that do not relate to you as a total human being? The moment digital data determines reality, it dehumanizes. I want to contribute to a human society in which everyone can participate as a human being.
After law school, I started working in the health and welfare sector as a policy maker and spokesperson for people and organizations in health care. This closely matched my motivation to give a voice to people (with an illness) in the consultation field between care providers, insurers and government to ensure the human dimension in policy. I have subsequently worked at various government organizations and in health care as a lawyer, privacy consultant and FG.
Ensuring humanity in the use of data is a guiding principle in my privacy work. Together with organizations, I strive to shape privacy protection and self-determination in a pragmatic way. I find it important to also keep those with whom I work hooked and involved in this topic. I help shape the open standards of the General Data Protection Regulation pragmatically in the broad context of privacy protection and the protection of the right to self-determination.
I like to spend my free time with my family. Together with them I enjoy undertaking activities. I also enjoy being outdoors, hiking, being creative, outdoor art and visiting cities and museums. If there is any time left over I like to row or skate and I love to read and make things.
Tijn Iserief
”If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room”
After several internships and side jobs at former employers, I took the step to start working as a Junior Privacy Consultant at Lex Digitalis. My interest in privacy and data protection started during my studies and increased even more during the writing of my bachelor thesis. After following the minor ‘Law, Innovation & Technology’ at the University of Utrecht, I started the master in Information Law at the UvA. After gaining theoretical knowledge, Lex Digitalis turned out to be the perfect place to gain practical experience.
I find it fascinating to take a critical, legal look at our information society. In my opinion, it is important that a privacy lawyer not only has knowledge of law, but also of the effects of digitization of our society on law. Big data, algorithms and artificial intelligence play a major role in our information society. Digitization affects our human rights and at the same time the intersection between law, technology and privacy is an area that is constantly evolving.
What I find attractive about consultancy is the variety of assignments. Lex Digitalis handles a wide range of types of assignments, which makes me feel completely at home. Moreover, my colleagues are very strong and experienced in terms of content, so I learn a lot about the field. I am eager to learn and always looking for ways to expand my knowledge and expertise, hence my quote. I look forward to joining the Lex Digitalis team. Although privacy is often seen as an obstacle preventing anything, I enjoy working with my colleagues to identify the interests of the parties involved and to come to a (privacy-friendly!) solution.
I enjoy: good food, hanging out with friends, traveling, reading, playing the piano and working out.
