Imran Chowdhury

About Imran Chowdhury

A proven leader in enterprise Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), bringing over 30 years of experience in Privacy, AI Governance, Cybersecurity, Data Governance, and Digital Accessibility Compliance. Recognized for an integrative approach, Imran excels at designing and operationalizing unified frameworks that blend privacy, responsible AI, data governance, and digital accessibility into the core of organizational compliance strategy.With deep expertise in aligning legal, regulatory, and technical requirements, I have enabled organizations to move beyond mere compliance—embedding trust, transparency, and accessibility across digital operations. My entrepreneurial background and legal education empower me to bridge the gap between business imperatives and regulatory obligations, ensuring scalable and future-ready compliance programs. Specialties:* Privacy & Data Protection (GDPR, CCPA/CCRA, UK DPA, E-Privacy, NIST, ISO 27701, HIPPA, HI-TECH)* AI Governance, Responsible & Ethical AI Compliance (EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, ISO 42001, OECD)* Digital Accessibility Compliance (WCAG, ADA, EU EN 301 549)* Data Governance & Risk Management (DAMA)* Privacy by Design, Data Protection by Default, Accessibility by Design* Cross-Border Data Flow, Data Sovereignty, and Data Residency* ISO 27001/27701 (Lead Auditor & Implementer)* Dispute Resolution, International Arbitration, Mediation* Enterprise Architecture & IT Governance

Experience

1. Global Head of Enterprise Grc, Privacy, Ai & Accessibility Compliance

   Al Jazeera Media Network

   Oct 2018 — Present · Doha, QA

   Architect and lead the integration of Privacy, AI, Data Governance, and Digital Accessibility Compliance into a unified digital compliance framework across global operations- Developed and institutionalized regulatory and industry compliance requirements into operational processes, covering EU GDPR, CCPA, Qatar Law, Turkish Law, and other applicable regulations, as well as standards like ISO 27001, ISO 27701, NIST Privacy and Security Frameworks, and DAMA- Established the Global Data Privacy Office (CONOPS), with over 60 champions across the organization to address growing global regulatory demands- Built and operationalized responsible AI and data privacy controls, ensuring all AI-enabled processes and solutions comply with evolving regulatory landscapes- Directed enterprise data governance initiatives, harmonizing privacy, accessibility, and AI governance within a single policy and audit structure- Advised executive leadership on extending digital compliance frameworks to corporate governance and enterprise-wide risk management, enabling a holistic, sustainable compliance posture- Pioneered the integration of Data Protection by Design and Default (DPBDD) into product and system design, incorporating Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) into service and process evaluations- Conducted regulatory reviews on matters impacting personal data, including privacy, cybersecurity, employment, ecommerce, health data, and data localization, to develop and enforce comprehensive policies and controls- Monitored and ensured compliance across all data governance and protection program facets, effectively addressing organizational requirements, concerns, and responsibilities- Supervised cross-border data governance strategies, addressing legal complexities and establishing policies for seamless data localization and movement.

Education

• Hamad Bin Khalifa University

  Doctor of Law, JD, Law

• New York University - Polytechnic School of Engineering

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Computer Science

  1991 — 1995

Skills

• Process Improvement
• Networking
• Integration
• Strategic Partnerships
• Organizational Development
• Business Planning
• Enterprise Architecture
• IT Financial Management
• Technology Solutions
• IT Strategy
• Web Development
• Web Architecture
• Portfolio Management
• Start-Ups
• Business Process Re-Engineering
• Disaster Recovery
• Cisco Technologies
• Educational Technology
• Business Process Design
• Infrastructure
• Vendor Management
• Vendor Relationships
• IT Management
• Business Alignment
• Strategy
• Telecommunications
• Business Process Development
• Program Management
• System Architecture
• Project Management
• Technical Leadership
• Business Development