Data Governance Africa Founder Ian Olwana has been shortlisted for the Most Outstanding DPO award at the 2026 PICCASO Awards Africa, placing his work in data protection and technology policy among the contributions being recognised across the continent.
The nomination reflects a professional journey spanning data protection practice, regulatory compliance and regional policy development, with a focus on translating legal and regulatory frameworks into practical governance approaches for organisations operating across Africa.
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From Organisational Compliance to Regional Data Governance
Olwana currently serves as Group Data Protection Officer for ROAM and Pulse Africa, where he coordinates data governance and regulatory compliance across multiple African jurisdictions. His work involves supporting the implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of data protection frameworks while addressing the regulatory challenges associated with operating across different legal systems.
Beyond organisational compliance, his work extends to regional policy development. As a consultant to the East African Community, he has contributed to the development of harmonised cross-border data flow frameworks among Partner States, supporting efforts to strengthen regulatory interoperability and facilitate responsible data sharing within the region.
Through Data Governance Africa, Olwana also contributes to research and public discussions on data sovereignty, artificial intelligence regulation, digital rights and the governance of emerging technologies across the continent.
Recognising Data Protection Practice in Africa
The Most Outstanding DPO category brings together seven nominees from different organisations and professional backgrounds, reflecting the growing role of data protection professionals in organisational accountability and the protection of personal data.
The other shortlisted nominees are:
- Abisola Abby Epoyun, Senior Manager, Global Data Privacy and Data Protection Officer at Flutterwave, Nigeria
- Aldan Hakim Tusubira, Data Protection Officer at DGRV, Uganda
- Mrs Drudeisha Madhub, Data Protection Commissioner at the Data Protection Office, Mauritius
- Francisca Igboanugo, Associate at Stren & Blan Partners, Nigeria
- Toulu Akerele, Global DPO at Paystack, Nigeria
- Tobiloba Adewumi, Managing Director at Cyberline Limited, Nigeria
The PICCASO Awards Africa are organised by PICCASO in collaboration with the Africa Digital Rights Hub (ADRH), recognising contributions to data privacy, cybersecurity, compliance and data ethics.
The winner will be announced at the Data Protection Africa Summit 2026, scheduled for 3rd to 6th November in Lagos, Nigeria.
The recognition comes at a time when African organisations and policymakers are increasingly addressing questions of data governance, cross-border data flows and the protection of personal data in a rapidly evolving digital environment.
