IP Professionals Forum
IP Australia is looking for an attorney to participate in our IP Professionals Forum (IPP). The IPP is a unique opportunity for you to engage directly with IP Australia and a variety of IP-related associations, to gain a more holistic view of the IP landscape and help influence IP policy.
To apply you must be an Australian registered patent or trade mark attorney and not be a member of an IP association.
About the IP Professionals Forum
The IP Professionals Forum is the principal forum for consultation, discussion and information exchange on IP matters that relate to IP professionals.
Meetings will allow for high-level discussion on IP policy, IP management, innovation and the broader IP environment, both in Australia and abroad. Participants will also be notified of IP Australia’s initiatives and consulted on future activities. The IP Professionals Forum will be held biannually, with one meeting in Canberra and a second alternating between Melbourne and Sydney. The first Forum is expected to be held in Melbourne in May 2009.
The successful candidate will:
• be prepared to fund their own travel to attend each meeting;
• not be represented by an IP professional association, including IPTA, LESANZ, LCA, and FICPI;
• be willing to commit to representation for two to three years (four to six meetings);
• contribute meaningfully to agenda items and meeting discussions;
• have extensive experience as a practicing attorney; and
• demonstrate what they can offer the forum.
If you are interested in being a participant on the IP Professionals Forum, you should submit a short expression of interest (no longer than two pages) outlining your experience and eligibility against the criteria listed above.
Expressions of interest can be sent to mdb-customer-engagement@ipaustralia.gov.au
If you have any further questions regarding the IP Professionals Forum, please contact Bill Moullakis on (02) 6283 2794 or bill.moullakis@ipaustralia.gov.au
All expressions of interest should be received by 6 March 2009.
Terms of Reference
Role
The IP Professionals Forum is a principal forum for consultation, discussion and information exchange on intellectual property (IP) matters that relate to IP professionals and practitioners. The focus will be on issues which could impact IP policy, practice and legislation in Australia, as well as issues of significance to the profession.
Terms of Reference
The Forum’s terms of reference are:
• to discuss, review and exchange information at the strategic level on intellectual property issues which may impact on Australian practice, policy and/or law;
• to discuss, review and exchange information on issues of significance to the profession;
• to capture feedback from Australian IP professionals on intellectual property issues of interest to IP Australia; and
• to assist IP Australia in shaping intellectual property policy so that it meets the needs of all stakeholders, including IP professionals, and promotes international competitiveness and innovation.
Membership
The IP Professionals Forum will include representatives from a cross section of professional associations and an independent attorney.
Membership will include:
• five members from the Institute of Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys (IPTA) Executive Committee;
• two members from the Australian Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI);
• two members from Law Council of Australia (LCA);
• one member from (LESANZ); and
• one non-IPTA attorney.
Forum Chair
The Forum Chair will be the IP Australia Director General. The Forum Chair has ultimate decision making power in regards to membership, agenda and operations. The Forum Chair is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the forum and ensuring that it is achieving its objectives.
Forum Administrator
The Forum Administrator will reside within IP Australia (Marketing and Customer Engagement Section). The Forum Administrator will provide secretariat support including coordination of the meeting logistics such as venue and catering.
Meetings
The group will meet twice a year. Meeting dates will be determined approximately three months in advance.
Meeting Venue
There will be two meetings held approximately every six months, one meeting will be held in Canberra and a second meeting will alternate between Sydney and Melbourne. Meetings held in either Sydney or Melbourne will immediately precede the IP Forum.
Agenda Items
All relevant stakeholders will be consulted when collating agenda items. The final decision on agenda items will rest with the Director General IP Australia as Forum Chair. Agenda items will be called for at least one month before the meeting date. Meeting papers will be circulated at least two weeks prior to the meeting. The final agenda will be circulated one week before the meeting.
Minutes
Draft minutes will be completed and distributed to all attendees within two weeks after the meeting.
Note: Minutes of the IP Professionals Forum will also be circulated to members of the Business and Industry Forum and vice versa.
Action Items
The Forum Administrator will identify all action items through the compiling and distribution of the Minutes of each meeting. Responsible parties will be identified and, where appropriate, time frames will be established for completion.
Forum Members Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the forum members to attend the meetings or provide a substitute delegate. It is also expected that forum members will have read the agenda items and information papers prior to the meeting. Each member organisation of the Forum will fund and organise all travel arrangements for their delegates.