The Year Ahead, What Really Matters in 2026

The Data Protection Made Easy podcast is back for the first episode of the year, and we are starting 2026 by looking ahead at what genuinely matters for data protection and privacy professionals.

Hosted by Catarina Santos and Caine Glancy from Data Protection People, this opening session is designed to help you step into the new year with clarity. Rather than adding to the noise, the conversation will focus on what organisations should actually prioritise, what trends are worth paying attention to, and what can safely be deprioritised for now.

Whether you are a regular listener or joining the podcast for the first time, this episode is a great way to reconnect with the community and reset your focus for the year ahead.

What This Episode Will Cover

The beginning of the year often comes with an overwhelming volume of predictions, regulatory commentary, and urgent sounding guidance. In this session, Catarina and Caine will unpack what they are seeing across their work with organisations and explain how that translates into practical priorities for early 2026.

The discussion will explore the emerging themes likely to shape the year, where organisations should be focusing their time and resources, and the common distractions that can pull attention away from meaningful compliance activity. The aim is to provide grounded, experience-led insight that helps you make confident decisions rather than react to headlines.

Meet the Hosts

Catarina Santos is a Data Protection Consultant Manager at Data Protection People, working closely with organisations to navigate regulatory change, embed good governance, and respond to complex compliance challenges in a practical way.

Caine Glancy is Data Protection Support Manager at Data Protection People and works directly with organisations on day-to-day data protection issues, helping teams handle real world questions, risks, and regulatory expectations as they arise.

Together, they bring a balanced perspective that reflects both strategic planning and operational reality.

About the Data Protection Made Easy Community

The Data Protection Made Easy podcast is more than a weekly episode. It is a growing community of data protection professionals, privacy practitioners, and governance leads who come together to learn, share experiences, and stay connected.

By joining the community, you can attend live podcast sessions, ask questions during the discussion, and connect with others working in similar roles across different sectors. Sessions are designed to be accessible, practical, and relevant, whether you are dealing with strategic planning or hands on compliance challenges.

The community is free to join and open to anyone with an interest in data protection and privacy.

How to Join

The podcast is hosted live every Friday at lunchtime. You only need to register once to attend live sessions, and you will receive a joining link ahead of each episode. If you cannot attend live, recordings are made available so you can catch up in your own time.

This first episode of the year is an ideal opportunity to get involved, particularly if you are new to the podcast or returning after the break.

Who This Session Is For

This episode will be particularly valuable for Data Protection Officers, privacy and compliance professionals, governance and risk leads, and anyone responsible for setting or influencing data protection priorities within their organisation.

If you are looking for a clear, realistic view of what 2026 holds, and how to approach it with confidence, this session is for you.