Stefan Gessler is an experienced Project Manager with a demonstrated history in industrial IT research. Strong program and project management professional, skilled in international research collaborations and EU research programs related to Internet of Things, Cloud and Mobile Services, Big Data and AI, as well as on DataProtection and privacy by design and by default. Among others, he is a certified Data Protection Officer, with many years of experience in data protection management in an international organization and responsible for GDPR and German BDSG compliance. . He is a Board of Directors Member of BDVA/DAIRO – Big Data Value Association, former member of FIWARE Technical Steering Committee and an ndependent Expert for the European Commission for the evaluation of proposals and review of projects in the EC FP6/FP7/H2020/Horizon Europe research programs. Lastly, he is a member of the German Association of Data Protection Officers (BvD)