Our Team
Thierry Vandenbussche
Executive Director Privacy Salon, Privacytopia and Directo ad interim of CPDP
Thierry Vandenbussche has been organizing CPDP and Privacy Salon events since 2019. He is experienced for organising events and curating thought provoking exhibitions since the turn of the century when he launched Courtisane, a platform for film and audiovisual arts and later Outlandish (photography), stilll gallery and stilll office. In 2019 he co-curated the exhibition 'Festival of Control', a show actually dealing with issues like privacy and data control. He reinforces the team with vivid enthusiasm and a healthy sense of urgency. Thierry is Privacy Salons Art Director, coordinating both the general management tasks and curatorial projects.
Jonas Breuer
Research and Partnership Manager and Directo ad interim of CPDP
Jonas joins Privacysalon with much enthusiasm as Research and Partnership manager to support the growth and execution of new and existing projects. Before, he has been immersed in critical research on data at the Research Group Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology (SMIT) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research always centred around the question what role ‘normal’ citizens can play in shaping our rapidly datafying cities and societies, and how we can reinforce their agency concretely. His Phd research in particular focussed on data protection rights and data protection impact assessments, and whether these legalistic instruments could make a real difference for citizens in their everyday lives.
Karin Neukermans
Financial administrator
Having built a solid and extensive experience in the field of accounting, in 2016 Karin joined the Privacy Salon. She is currently dealing with administrative and financial matters on part-time basis. The rest of the time, Karin is pursuing her and her husband’s dream – the Finca San Vicente Bed & Breakfast in Colombia.
Christel Simons
Board Liaison
Christel Simons joined Privacy Salon in 2025 as liaison between the board and the organization. She holds postgraduate degrees in Industrial Business Policy (EHSAL, Brussels) and China-EU Cultural Curatorship Studies (University of Antwerp), as well as a master’s in Drama-Directing (RITCS, Brussels) and a bachelor’s in Intercultural Management (Thomas More, Mechelen). Christel has a strong background in strategy, identity development, and operational management. She gained experience in cultural management at Mu.ZEE, Miet Warlop, iMAL, the European Festivals Association, Peeping Tom and Needcompany, among others. She is also part-time project manager of the TEKHNE Creative Europe project at Q-O2, focusing on sound art, inclusion, and technology. With a keen interest in visual, performance, dance, sonic, and digital arts, Christel values artistic excellence as much as engaging with the social and political issues of our time—motivations that brought her to Privacy Salon.
Birte Vingerhoets
Communication and Production lead
Birte Vingerhoets joined Privacy Salon as an intern while pursuing her Masters degree in Digital Media in Europe at VUB. After graduating, she became a full-time team member, contributing her expertise and enthusiasm to the organisation. Birte is the creative face behind our newsletters and social media channels. With a strong interest in privacy and data protection, Birte is committed to raising awareness about these critical issues through engaging and accessible communication. During her internship, she co-coordinated the Avatar.fm radio show at the CPDP.ai conference, a role she continues to expand by supporting similar initiatives at Privacy Salon.
Melis Gürses
Dedicated Tracks Coördinator
Melis holds a Master's degree in Digital Media in Europe from VUB. She has experience as a communications assistant in a media literacy initiative and has worked on a variety of digital projects exploring how people interact in digital environments. Her hands-on experience in digital policies and project communications, combined with her academic mindset and research skills, fuels her commitment to empowering individuals in digital media and helping them navigate it consciously. At Privacy Salon, she provides support in the management and communication of Dedicated Tracks and pre-events for the CPDP Conference.
Ferre Vander Elst
Scenographer & Assistant Curator
As an artist-researcher-curator, Ferre Vander Elst is fascinated by the impact of technology on society and the associated processing of data. In his own work, Ferre draws the analogy between technology and magic, creating fictional creatures that help us re-imagine technological narratives. His tools range from analogue drawing to 3D modelling, (architectural) design and multimedia installation. As assistant curator, Ferre brings together artists with a similar critical approach to technology. As a designer, he nurtures these artists within an appropriate scenography that depicts a multifaceted world. His all-round skillset ensures that every aspect of the exhibition is worked out within this visual and conceptual world.
Tammo De Vries
Production Assistant Avatar.fm
Tammo joined Privacy Salon in 2026 as a production assistant for Avatar.fm, our CPDP conference radio. He holds a bachelor's degree in intermedia studies from the University of Cologne and has worked in journalism, radio, and research communication before moving to Brussels. He is currently pursuing his master's degree in digital media in Europe at the VUB, where he writes his thesis about the implications of platformisation on public service media in Germany. He further explores the intersection of digital media and society, with a particular interest in platform governance and responsible tech.