Cyber Security and Data Protection Governance

Given the pace of change associated with emerging technology, cyber security is no longer just an IT issue—it’s a boardroom imperative. Directors and senior leaders must understand the governance frameworks that underpin effective cyber risk management and resilience.

Join us for this practical and insightful online workshop, 'Cyber security and Data Protection Governance'. This workshop is designed to equip directors and business leaders with the knowledge and tools to oversee cyber security strategy, data protection, risk, and compliance at the highest level. Led by Dr. Valerie Lyons, Company Director, and Chief Operating Officer, BH Consulting. 

This dedicated workshop will address the key governance responsibilities that a director needs to be mindful of, in particular their upcoming director personal liabilities responsibilities associated with NIS2. It also explores the key questions that directors should be asking regarding the organisation's cyber security and data protection risk-posture.

Who is this Workshop for?

• Company Directors and Board Members 
• Executive and Non‑Executive Directors 
• Senior Leaders and C‑Suite Executives 
• Governance, Risk & Compliance Professionals 
• Directors of SMEs or Public Sector Bodies

Why Should I Book this Workshop?

In today’s boardroom, cyber risk is business risk. This programme equips directors with the insight and confidence to lead on cyber resilience from the top. Participants of the Workshop will:

• Identify and evaluate the key questions boards should ask to ensure robust oversight of cyber security and data protection risks.
• Interpret and apply core accountability frameworks relevant to cyber security and data protection.
• Understand and assess directors’ regulatory obligations in relation to cyber security and data protection, including accountability for compliance.
• Develop and implement board-level strategies for incident response and risk mitigation, ensuring preparedness and resilience.
• Analyse and explain the essential liability and governance requirements introduced by the upcoming NIS2 Directive, and their implications for board members. 
• Gain 3.5 CPD hours. 

Dr. Valerie Lyons Company Director, and Chief Operating Officer, BH Consulting. Author of the best-seller ‘The Privacy Leader Compass’ and included in the ‘Top 100 Women in Cybersecurity in Europe’.

Dr. Lyons is an accomplished and driven cybersecurity and privacy leadership expert. Her career spans over 30 years - working in both cybersecurity and privacy teams. She has worked for several global organisations, such as IBM, KPMG, and ABB, and was former Head of Information Security Risk in KBC Bank for almost 15 years.  Dr. Lyons is the Chief Operations Officer in BH Consulting since 2015. She has an in-depth knowledge of European data protection law and practices, and frequently presents at renowned international security and privacy conferences (such as RSA, COSAC, ISACA and CPDP). She has also lectured in Dublin City University on Privacy, Cybersecurity and Digital Ethics. 

In 2022, Dr Lyons was awarded a PhD in Information Privacy for her research into privacy in the ESG suite. She also holds a Masters in Business Leadership, along with a post-grad in Executive Coaching, and a postgrad in Cloud Computing Strategy. She is a certified CISSP for almost 25 years, and is also qualified as a CDPSE and CIPP/E. She is an honorary fellow of The Irish Information Security Forum (IISF) since 2004 and a member of the European Data Protection Board’s pool of experts.

Q1. What is the Cyber Security and Data Protection Governance workshop about?

This workshop equips directors and senior leaders with the knowledg and tools to oversee cyber security strategy, data protection, risk and compliance at the highest level. It focuses on the governance responsibilites of board members in the context of increasing cyber threats and evolving regulatory requirements. 

Q2. What topics are covered in this workshop?

Key topics include:

• Key governance questions boards should ask about cyber security and data protection. 
• Accountability frameworks and regulatory obligations, including NIS2.
• Board-level strategies for incident response and risk mitigation. 
• Cyber risk as a business risk and its impact on operations and reputation.
• Legal and compliance responsibilites for directors.

Q3. Who is the faculty lead for this workshop?

The workshop is led by Dr Valerie Lyons,Company Director and Chief Operating Officer at BH Consulting. She is a recognised expert in cyber security and privacy, author of The Privacy Leader Compass, and listed among the Top 100 Women in Cybersecrity in Europe. 

Q4. When and where is this workshop taking place?

The workshop will take place on Tuesday, 3rd November 2026 from 9:00am to 1:00pm. It is an online workshop and will be facilitated over Zoom. 

Q5. What is the cost of this workshop? 

The price of this workshop ranges from €385 - €480, depending on IoD Ireland membership status.

6. Is this workshop right for me? 

This workshop is ideal for company directors, board members and senior executives that are responsible for overseeing cyber resilience, data protection, or regulatory compliance within their organisation. 

7. I'd like to learn more about this workshop. Who can I speak to? 

Reach out to our Learning and Education Manager, Gillian Roddie if you'd like to learn more about the Embedding Sustainability Into Strategy workshop. Contact her by emailing [email protected] or calling us at 01 411 0010. 

Is this eligible for CPD?

• Dimension covered: Technical Skills and Knowledge
• Eligible hours: 3.5 hours of Chartered Director CPD. This session may be eligible for other professional body CPD. Check with your relevant professional body.

Accreditation 

• Workshop participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance on completion of the session.

What is the cost?

• IoD members - €385
• Non-members - €480 

Cancellation and refund policy

• Places are confirmed upon full payment. Cancellations with a full refund are accepted in writing to [email protected] until Tuesday, 27th October 2026.  After this date, no refunds are possible, and all fees are forfeited for cancellations or non-attendance. Please note this virtual but live and interactive series requires live online attendance at each session. Unfortunately, recordings will not be available as part of post-session materials.

Group bookings

• Contact the IoD Ireland Learning and Education team on [email protected] or phone +353 1 411 0010.

How do I attend? 

• To reserve your space, book and pay through the “Book now” button.
• Once registered, we’ll send an email to confirm your booking.
• We'll also send a reminder email with a link to access the session closer to the date. You must click the link and confirm your details to receive the direct link to join the workshop.
• The event will take place on Zoom. Download Zoom if you don’t have it already. Please ensure you have a working microphone and camera to take part in our interactive workshop.

Want to connect with fellow workshop participants?

• All workshop attendees will receive a list of all other workshop participants in advance of the session. This will include name, job title and organisation. If you have any queries around this  please contact the Learning and Education team.
• For GDPR reasons, we cannot provide contact details on the attendee list. 

Questions?

Reach out to Gillian, our Learning and Education Manager, if you would like more information about our upcoming workshops by emailing [email protected] or calling +353 1 411 0010.