Founder & Principal Consultant | Tretower Consulting

Victoria Watts is an accomplished governance, data protection, and compliance leader with over a decade of executive-level experience designing robust, scalable, and risk-proportionate solutions across highly regulated global sectors. Known for her strategic, human-centred leadership, Victoria bridges the gap between stringent regulatory requirements and practical operational excellence, enabling organisations to innovate ethically and securely.

Most recently serving as Vice President, Compliance Officer and Global Data Protection Officer at Premier Research, Victoria established and directed a global privacy programme spanning more than 80 countries. Her remit encompassed enterprise-wide data governance, cutting-edge AI compliance, cross-border transfer architectures, clinical trial data protection, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) quality oversight. Throughout her career—spanning leadership and specialist roles at organisations including AbbVie, Thames Water, and Barloworld—she has embedded end-to-end ethics, anti-bribery, and governance frameworks that withstand rigorous multi-jurisdictional scrutiny.

Victoria is also a recognized industry authority and pioneer in healthcare data privacy. She currently serves as Chair of the Supervisory Committee (COSUP) for CR.GDPR—the official EUCROF-owned monitoring body accredited by the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL) to oversee adherence to the CR.GDPR Code of Conduct for Service Providers in Clinical Research. As Lead Editor and Co-Writer of this landmark transnational code, she collaborated closely with leading European and UK supervisory authorities, including CNIL and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Through Tretower Consulting, Victoria partners with organisations, executive leaders, and emerging professionals to provide high-calibre advisory, governance architecture, and executive coaching. Her approach blends rigorous legal acumen with empathetic, transformative coaching—empowering leaders to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, foster high-performing teams, and drive resilient, sustainable growth.

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Core Areas of Expertise

* Global Privacy & Data Protection: End-to-end design and rollout of GDPR, UK GDPR, and US multi-state privacy frameworks (including state genomic and healthcare data mandates).

* Emerging Tech & AI Governance: Developing responsible, compliant frameworks for AI deployment, digital transformation, and advanced data governance.

* Healthcare & Life Sciences Regulation: Deep subject-matter mastery in clinical research compliance, CRO governance, GCP quality systems, and CTR/FDA standards.

* Corporate Governance, Ethics & Anti-Bribery: Multiregional programmes ensuring transparency, AML compliance, ESG/CSR reporting, and regulatory accountability.

* Executive Coaching & Mentorship: Grounded, empathetic leadership development that equips executives to lead through change and manage high-stakes regulatory risk.

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Credentials & Background

* Education: LLB (Hons), University of Law; M.St, University of Oxford; BA (Hons), Royal Holloway, University of London.

* Professional Certifications: CIPP/E (Certified Information Privacy Professional / Europe), CIPT (Certified Information Privacy Technologist), Practitioner’s Certificate in Data Protection (PDP), ICA Certificate in Anti-Money Laundering.

* Industry Engagement: Frequent international keynote speaker and panellist on patient-centric data ethics, digital transformation, clinical data governance, and international data transfers. Active member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and contributor to IAPP exam and training content writing.