Brigitte Acoca
Head, Consumer Policy Unit, Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD); OECD Committee on Consumer Policy; OECD Working Party on Consumer Product Safety
Biography
Ms. Acoca joined the OECD in 2005, where she is Head of the Consumer Policy Unit. She is responsible for the activities of the OECD Committee on Consumer Policy and its Working Party on Consumer Product Safety related to empowering and protecting consumers in the global and digital transformation, and the green transition. Key work streams focus on addressing dark commercial patterns online, assessing the impact of artificial intelligence and the internet of things on consumer policy and product safety, strengthening online product safety and product recalls frameworks, nudging consumers toward greener choices, and improving the evidence base for consumer policy making, drawing on behavioural insights.
Prior to joining the OECD, Ms. Acoca practiced competition law for five years as attorney in international law firms in Brussels and Paris. She holds a Master of European Institutional and Competition Law from the College of Europe (LLM, Bruges, Belgium) and a postgraduate degree (DEA) in European and Private International law from University Paris II Panthéon-Assas (France).
Speaker session
New technologies as allies for product safety
New technologies can be a great ally for consumer product safety. This panel will present a range of cutting-edge tools designed to enhance consumer product safety, e.g. by detecting dangerous products online, identifying emerging product safety issues and improving product traceability.
Speakers:
- Alan S. Abrahams, PhD - Associate Professor and Associate Director of Executive PhD in Business, Virginia Tech
- Olivier Andrault, Policy officer on food, chemicals and cosmetics, UFC-Que Choisir
- Neville Matthew - General Manager, Australia Competition and Consumer Commission
- Petar Parushev - Policy Officer, Product Safety and Rapid Alert System Unit, European Commission
- Francesca Poggiali – Chief Public Policy Officer Europe – GS1
- Hugo Weber - Public Affairs Director, Mirakl
Olivier Andrault
Policy officer on food, chemicals and cosmetics, UFC-Que Choisir
Biography
Olivier Andrault has more than 20 years of experience in defending the consumers’ right for informed choices, safe food products, cosmetics and detergents. Trained as an engineer in food technology, he worked for 11 years in the dairy industry as quality manager and was later in charge of regulation and public affairs. He has been working for 17 years at UFC – Que. He conducted many studies on food labelling, GMOs, antibiotics, school canteens, price of food products, quality of tap water, food marketing and its impact on children ... He represents consumers’ interests with the administrations and the Parliament at French and European levels.
Organisation
UFC Que Choisir
Consumer organisation
Speaker session
New technologies as allies for product safety
New technologies can be a great ally for consumer product safety. This panel will present a range of cutting-edge tools designed to enhance consumer product safety, e.g. by detecting dangerous products online, identifying emerging product safety issues and improving product traceability.
Speakers:
- Alan S. Abrahams, PhD - Associate Professor and Associate Director of Executive PhD in Business, Virginia Tech
- Olivier Andrault, Policy officer on food, chemicals and cosmetics, UFC-Que Choisir
- Neville Matthew - General Manager, Australia Competition and Consumer Commission
- Petar Parushev - Policy Officer, Product Safety and Rapid Alert System Unit, European Commission
- Francesca Poggiali – Chief Public Policy Officer Europe – GS1
- Hugo Weber - Public Affairs Director, Mirakl
Leanda Barrington-Leach
Head of EU Affairs, 5Rights
Biography
Leanda Barrington-Leach is the Director of International Advocacy & Head of European Affairs at 5Rights, an international NGO fighting for systemic change that ensures the digital world caters for children and young people by design and default. 5Rights has three areas of work: data and privacy, child-centred design and children's rights. Leanda is based in Brussels and was previously Adviser to the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, focused on Strategic Communication and the fight against Disinformation.
Speaker session
New technologies as allies for product safety
New technologies can be a great ally for consumer product safety. This panel will present a range of cutting-edge tools designed to enhance consumer product safety, e.g. by detecting dangerous products online, identifying emerging product safety issues and improving product traceability.
Speakers:
- Alan S. Abrahams, PhD - Associate Professor and Associate Director of Executive PhD in Business, Virginia Tech
- Olivier Andrault, Policy officer on food, chemicals and cosmetics, UFC-Que Choisir
- Neville Matthew - General Manager, Australia Competition and Consumer Commission
- Petar Parushev - Policy Officer, Product Safety and Rapid Alert System Unit, European Commission
- Francesca Poggiali – Chief Public Policy Officer Europe – GS1
- Hugo Weber - Public Affairs Director, Mirakl