Catia Zuidema

Catia is an Associate General Counsel and global legal executive operating at the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, product innovation, and enterprise risk. She specializes in building modern, scalable AI and compliance governance programs that enable high-growth organizations to innovate responsibly while expanding globally.

At Harness, Catia serves as Head of Product Compliance, AI, and Employment. In this role, she partners closely with the C-suite and senior cross-functional leaders to define and execute global legal and governance strategy. She leads the Privacy, Security & AI Office, oversees the employment function, manages the company’s intellectual property portfolio, and architects enterprise-wide frameworks addressing AI governance, product compliance, data protection, and regulatory risk. Her work focuses on strengthening operational resilience, reducing enterprise risk, accelerating go-to-market execution, and positioning legal as a strategic business enabler.

Catia brings a board-level perspective to AI governance through her role as an Advisory Board Member of the IAPP’s AIGP Exam Development Board, where she contributes to shaping global AI governance standards and professional certification frameworks. Prior to Harness, she led regional privacy and security programs at Medallia and Binance, and advised multinational organizations on compliance transformation, governance, and risk management at PwC.

She holds advanced certifications across AI governance, privacy, security, and risk, including AIGP, CIPP/E, CIPP/US, CIPP/A, CIPM, FIP, and CC. Catia is a frequent speaker and publisher on AI compliance, governance design, and the legal implications of emerging technologies.

Her professional focus is on helping global and fast-scaling organizations embed trust, accountability, and resilient governance into the core of their technology, products, and business strategy.