Michael Burnett

Chief Privacy Officer / Special Counsel - Privacy, Data, Cyber and AI | Law Council of Australia - Privacy Law Committee Member

Greater Sydney Area

About

Michael is the Chief Privacy Officer at PwC Australia. His practice involves advising senior management on a broad range of privacy-related issues, data protection and commercialisation, cyber, and AI. Michael has extensive experience in advising major corporates on privacy and cyber law, and working with both domestic and international regulators on complaints, investigations and major regulatory enforcement action (including enforceable undertakings). He has advised clients across both the Australian public and private sectors on the application of Commonwealth, State and international data protection laws (including GDPR and APAC privacy laws); managing data / cyber incidents and mandatory notifications to regulators; the application of sector specific privacy and data protection codes; health privacy; privacy risk analysis; and cross-border and other international privacy issues. Michael has also advised clients in the media and communications sectors on a range of regulatory and commercial issues including online content regulation, broadcasting and telecommunications law, e-payments systems, and digital media buying and commercialisation services. Michael has a keen interest in law reform and international regulatory trends, and has extensive experience in engaging with Government and regulators on law reform processes. Prior to joining PwC, Michael worked as a Special Counsel at Westpac Banking Corporation, a Senior Legal Counsel at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Equifax Australia, Woolworths Ltd, a Senior Lawyer in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications Practice at Gilbert +Tobin Lawyers, and as a Senior Lawyer in the Legal Services Group of the then Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy in Canberra.

Experience

  • Chief Privacy Officer at PwC Australia
    Aug 2024 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

  • Special Counsel at Westpac Group
    Jul 2023 - Aug 2024 · 1 yr 2 mos

  • Senior Legal Counsel - Privacy at Westpac Banking Group
    Feb 2021 - Jul 2023 · 2 yrs 6 mos

  • Senior Legal Counsel - Data Governance at The Commonwealth Bank
    Aug 2018 - Feb 2021 · 2 yrs 7 mos

  • Legal Counsel at Equifax - Australia
    Nov 2017 - Aug 2018 · 10 mos