Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry Richard Marles has announced four new appointments to the Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP), a key advisory panel on Australia's intellectual property system.
Mr Marles said ACIP contributes to the strategic direction of Australia's IP system, provides an important advisory service to the Government and undertakes independent reviews of key IP issues.
"The Rudd Government is committed to maintaining an effective and robust intellectual property system and these appointments to ACIP will bring further experience and depth of knowledge to the council," Mr Marles said.
The new council members are:
- Ms Vicki Tutungi, Chief Executive Officer of microscope specialist Optiscan. Ms Tutungi has held a number of roles at the CSIRO, including Chief of the Division of Manufacturing and Materials Technology
- Dr Derek Rogers, Senior Systems Engineer with SAAB Systems. Dr Rogers has expertise in research and development, technology commercialisation, product management and engineering
- Ms Julia Banks, General Counsel of GlaxoSmithKline Australia. Ms Banks has managed significant intellectual property portfolios for multinational companies in the Asia Pacific Region and
- Professor Brian Fitzgerald, Professor of Intellectual Property and Innovation at Queensland University of Technology.
Mr Leon Allen was reappointed as chair of ACIP.
Appointments to the council are for three years commencing on 1 January 2010.
Further information regarding ACIP is available at www.acip.gov.au. For information on intellectual property, patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights visit www.ipaustralia.gov.au
Media contacts: Pauline Braniff, Marles’ Office, 0419 664 016
Peter Willimott, IP Australia, (02) 6283 2282, 0410 698 391