David N. Alfred

David is Director and Co-Head of Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity at Drew & Napier and Co-Head and Programme Director of the Drew Data Protection & Cybersecurity Academy. His main practice areas also include Artificial Intelligence and Digital Trust, ASEAN and Global Data Protection Law, and Data Breach Management and Response.

David has over 25 years’ experience advising on legal, public policy and business-related aspects of the digital economy, digital technology, telecommunications and the Internet. He has particular expertise in data law and policy including areas such as data privacy, data protection management, cybersecurity, AI ethics, data governance and digital and cyber regulation. He presently acts as the Data Protection Officer of various organisations including Drew & Napier itself.

As a qualified adult educator, David has developed and conducted a wide range of courses for clients in Singapore and overseas. He often speaks on topics related to his areas of practice and has taught courses up to postgraduate level at local tertiary institutions.

David was previously the first Chief Counsel of Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Commission (from 2013 to 2020). He has also held director-level roles with the Infocomm Media Development Authority and its predecessor, the Info-communications Development Authority of Singapore, where he advised on matters related to international telecommunications, world trade law and government procurement (amongst others).

• MBA (University of Chicago); LLM, LLB (National University of Singapore); BSc (Hons) Computer Science (University of London)

• Advocate and Solicitor (Singapore); Solicitor (England and Wales) (non-practising)

• Fellow of Information Privacy, CIPP/A, CIPM, CIPT (IAPP)

• Senior Accredited Specialist in Data & Digital Economy Law (Singapore Academy of Law)

• Associate Adult Educator; DDDLP, ACLP (WSQ)

• Singapore Academy of Law

• Law Society of Singapore

• Law Society of England and Wales

• IAPP

• David N. Alfred, Development of Singapore Data Protection Law: International Influences and Local Needs [2017] PDP Digest 241

• David N. Alfred and Lanx Goh, Cross-border Issues in Data Protection (Chapter) in Data Protection Law in Singapore, 2nd edition (Singapore Academy of Law, 2018)

• Regulatory Developments in AI, Decentralised Technologies, Data Protection and Cybersecurity in the Asia-Pacific in World Legal Summit (WLS) Special Edition e-zine (co-author 2020)

• David N. Alfred and Janice Lee, Individual Rights under the Amended Personal Data Protection Act: Balancing Individual Control and Organisational Accountability [2021] PDP Digest 205

• Chambers Global Practice Guide – Cybersecurity: Singapore chapter (2021 – 2026)

• Chambers Global Practice Guide – Data Protection & Privacy: Singapore chapter (2025 – 2026)

• International Comparative Legal Guide – Cybersecurity Laws & Regulations: Singapore chapter (2021 – 2026)

• International Comparative Legal Guide – Cybersecurity Laws & Regulations: Expert Analysis Generative AI & Cyber Risk Singapore chapter (2025 – 2026)