about me

"Being transparent is giving clear, understandable information, without unnecessary adornments that can generate doubt. Being transparent is talking clearly with our interlocutors, expressing the truth, being objective. Being transparent is not hiding anything from our work team." (L. Teixidó Cabezas)

My name is Francisco, and I'm proud to carry two surnames: my father's, "Garcia," and my mother's, "Garrido." I was born on April 1, 1990, in Villalba del Alcor, a tiny village in the heart of Andalusia, surrounded by sunflower fields, a vast blue sky, and the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Since I was a child, I've shown a particular interest in learning and languages. At 20, I decided to do an Erasmus exchange at the University of Trento, where I would hone my knowledge of the Italian language and law. I would then discover the wonderful South Tyrolean culture, love, and the majestic mountains of Alto Adige, which I've gazed at every morning for about 14 years. South Tyrol and I are one.

My passion for learning and personal and professional growth has led me, over the years, to take on numerous challenges. Specifically, at the age of 24, I obtained the qualification as a European Lawyer in Spain, and in 2020, I earned a PhD in Administrative Law from the University of Trento with honors (110 cum laude). Over time, I have specialized in the decision-making and compliance processes of private companies and large corporations operating in sectors of public interest, such as pharmaceuticals, the environment, health, and food.

Over the years, I have served as a privacy consultant and certified DPO for public entities and medium-sized private companies, holding positions of responsibility and leadership in strategic planning, activity coordination, and team management. My motto has always been: "demonstrate trust, professionalism, and transparency to the client."

I currently serve as Partner and Legal Counsel at Himmel Advisors , a South Tyrolean firm specializing in corporate compliance. In this capacity, I support my clients in managing various organizational models and implementing current regulatory requirements, including data protection, whistleblowing, corporate administrative liability (Legislative Decree 231/2001), the NIS2 Directive, and the Artificial Intelligence Regulation.

I speak several languages: Italian, Spanish, English, German, French, and Portuguese.

My dedication to personal and professional growth has allowed me to interact with various organizations:

Since 2024, Member of the Board of Directors of Young Entrepreneurs of Confindustria – Alto Adige
Member of the National Artificial Intelligence Agency since 2024
From 2022 Expert of the European Data Protection Board List ( reserve list )
Civil mediator registered in the register of mediators of the National Mediation Chamber of Rome since 2022
Member of ASSODPO since 2022
Lawyer since 2014

Certifications:

DPO Certificate - UNI CEI EN 17740:2024, UNI/TS 11945:2024, SCH73 CEPAS current standard (Cert. No.: 531)
AI+ Healthcare™ Certified. AI Certs - Certification No: 94462d2c540f
Artificial Intelligence - EITCA
Privacy Officer - UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012 (Cert. n°: CDP_522)

In my free time, I enjoy exploring antiques, with a particular interest in Bavarian porcelain. I also enjoy immersing myself in reading, expressing my creativity through painting, and letting myself be carried away by the melodies of the piano.

My clients say I'm a 'pragmatic', 'transparent', and 'skilled' professional in implementing initiatives that make organizational models more usable.