Despina Spanou

Despina Spanou serves as Principal Adviser on Cybersecurity at the European Commission, coordinating cybersecurity policy across various initiatives since September 2003. Spanou has held multiple key roles, including Head of Cabinet for Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas and Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity, contributing to cybersecurity strategies and policies within the EU. Earlier positions included Director for Consumer Policy and Principal Adviser for Policy and Communication in health and consumer services. Spanou's legal expertise was developed through experience at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and a legal internship at the Court of Justice of the European Union. An accomplished academic, Spanou holds a Ph.D. in European Law from the University of Cambridge and certificates in Cybersecurity from Harvard Kennedy School and ongoing studies in Artificial Intelligence at Columbia Business School.