Ernani is Senior Counsel at Mastercard, where he's legal lead for the company’s EU AI Act compliance program. With a deep background in privacy and emerging technologies, Ernani contributes to shaping Mastercard’s strategic approach to AI and privacy regulation. Prior to this role, he spent three years in Mastercard’s Data Protection Office, advising on complex, high-risk privacy matters and overseeing the global program for individual privacy rights requests.

Before joining Mastercard, Ernani served as Policy Assistant in the Cabinet of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) in Brussels, contributing to policy discussions at the intersection of technology, regulation, and fundamental rights. He also worked as Legal Officer at BEUC – The European Consumer Organisation – where he focused on AI and privacy from a consumer protection perspective. Ernani brings hands-on experience navigating the evolving landscape of EU privacy and AI regulations.