Two Years of Partnership: WISP and Privacy Bootcamp
For two years, WISP has partnered with Privacy Bootcamp to open doors for women and underrepresented communities in privacy, AI governance, and cybersecurity. What began as a scholarship has become one of the most sought-after opportunities in our community — members apply in numbers that far exceed the places we can offer.
Why It Matters
Privacy Bootcamp delivers rigorous, practical IAPP test preparation, and the scholarships awarded cover the full range of certification tracks — CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPP/C, CIPM, CIPT, and AIGP. WISP brings a community of women and underrepresented folks already doing the work. Together, the partnership removes the cost barrier that too often stands between talented individuals and the credential that would let them advance. Over two years, our scholars have consolidated careers, changed roles, and taken on specialist work in privacy and AI governance.
Why Members Seek It Out
Certification is expensive, and the return is real. For many members, the scholarship is the difference between intending to certify and actually doing it. With Privacy Bootcamps prep courses, it allows scholars to take their IAPP exams with confidence.
It covers whichever track fits the person — from CIPP/US for those working in the US legal landscape to AIGP for those moving into AI governance.
It meets people at every career stage — newly qualified solicitors, career changers, and experienced practitioners alike.
It is practical, not theoretical — training members apply immediately in their organisations.
It connects them to a community of leaders across privacy, cybersecurity and emerging tech.
Looking Ahead
As AI governance moves from principle to regulation, demand for credentialed folks in these fields will only grow. WISP is proud to continue this partnership — and grateful to every member who has applied, been selected, completed their IAPP prep course, taken their exams, and carried what they learned back to their organisations.
Charani Charithma Patabendige
Charani Charithma Patabendige joins the WISP community from Sri Lanka, where she is excited to deepen her understanding of internet governance through the lenses of law, national security and conflict analysis. Through the AIGP and WISP scholarship, she looks forward to strengthening her skills in cyber diplomacy and multi stakeholder engagement. She hopes to amplify women's voices in internet governance and contribute to inclusive, gender-sensitive, rights-based legal frameworks for cybersecurity and digital policy.
Arlene McMahon
Arlene McMahon is looking forward to building on her practical GDPR and privacy experience in the healthcare sector and deepening her knowledge of European privacy law and the evolving privacy landscape. Having recently qualified as a solicitor, following a career as a barrister and in-house legal and regulatory adviser, she sees the scholarship as an opportunity to consolidate her experience through CPD and keep her legal knowledge current.
Merve Nur Askar Menge
Merve Nur Askar Menge is excited to deepen her expertise in prompt engineering, fine-tuning and responsible AI practices through the AIGP certification. With this education, she looks forward to mastering how to design and deploy innovative, ethical generative AI solutions for real-world impact.
Eleesia Hernandez
Eleesia Hernandez aims to leverage her STEM background at the intersection of innovation, law and people, with a particular passion for emerging technology issues where intellectual property and privacy law overlap. Her goal is to help drive responsible AI initiatives, and the CIPP/US certification provides a strong foundation for that work.
DJ
DJ is excited to learn privacy management through the WISP scholarship, joining a community of women building practical expertise in privacy and security. The programme supports members at every stage of their careers, from first structured steps into privacy management to experienced practitioners deepening specialist knowledge
Beth Do
Beth Do is excited to deepen her expertise in AI governance and legislation with the Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP) certificate. As AI systems move from experimentation into regulated environments, she is building the knowledge to work confidently across both the technology and the legislation shaping it.
Khadija Syada Taki
Khadija Syada Taki is excited to deepen her understanding of privacy law and governance, strengthen her ability to assess privacy risks in AI and autonomous systems, and learn practical ways to build privacy into security programs. She also looks forward to connecting with women working across privacy, cybersecurity and emerging technology.
A Scholar's Perspective: Sharpening Privacy Skills for Clients and Firm
One scholar is excited to sharpen her skills in managing privacy for her clients and her firm, joining the WISP community to strengthen the practical privacy expertise she brings to client work. The scholarship reflects WISP's commitment to supporting members wherever they are in their careers, including those who prefer to keep their participation private.
Ade
Ade is excited to deepen her knowledge of AI governance, privacy and cybersecurity risk, especially how organisations are adapting their GRC programs to emerging technologies. She is looking forward to strengthening her professional network, learning from women leaders in cybersecurity, and gaining practical insights she can apply to her next role in privacy, risk and information security.
