An IP Inclusive Joint Communities event
In person (London) and online
Tuesday 20 May 2025
5.00 – 6.00 pm, followed by in-person networking
As we close our 2023-2025 business plan which focused on Allyship, and celebrate 10 years of IP Inclusive, we will reflect on what we have learnt from our series of allyship events and present “10 Actions for Active Allyship.”
The panel will bring together representatives from all six of our communities to identify practical steps for being a good ally. The discussions will be based on our 2024 Allyship Guidelines, to which all the communities contributed, and we’ll use the outcomes in the next Guidelines update.
The event will be hosted by Carpmaels & Ransford in London and online. There will be an opportunity for networking afterwards.
Meet the panel
Chair – Helen Smith, IP Inclusive
Bio to follow shortly
IP Ability – George Lucas
George Lucas is a patent attorney at EIP in London working primarily in the Life Sciences sector. He was diagnosed at 11 years old with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. He is passionate about EPO oppositions, the importance of neurodiversity, and Dungeons & Dragons.
IP Futures – Doug Jayatilaka
Bio to follow shortly
IP & ME – Bea Malacart and Lianne Da-Cunha
Bio to follow shortly
Lianne is a trainee patent attorney at Forresters, and is currently in the process of qualifying as a UK and European patent attorney. After completing her master’s in Engineering at the University of Cambridge, she now works in the Technology and Engineering division. Lianne has been an active member of Forresters’ Equality and Diversity Group for the past two years, and is passionate about promoting inclusivity and awareness in the workplace. Having been invited onto a podcast with IP&ME to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month in 2023, she is eager to continue supporting ethnic minorities across the IP profession, and has since been appointed onto the IP&ME leadership team.
IP Out – Kevin Rich
Kevin is a European and UK patent attorney based in Stockholm and specialising in the biotech field. Kevin currently acts as co-chair for the IP Out committee, having been a member of the network since he started in the profession in 2018.
IPause – Jane Wainwright
Bio to follow shortly
Women in IP – Michelle Montgomery
Michelle is a UK and European patent attorney working in the chemistry group at Carpmaels & Ransford in London.
Michelle handles prosecution and opposition work at the European Patent Office across a broad range of chemical subject matter – including pharmaceuticals, electronic devices, catalysts, polymers, nanomaterials and industrial processes.
Who’s it for?
Everyone who works in or with the UK’s IP sector is welcome. It doesn’t matter what type of organisation or department you work in, what role you play there or how senior you are, we’d love you to get involved!
Bring a guest!
At IP Inclusive we want to reach as many IP people as possible. Why not invite a guest to come with you – someone in a different role or at a different career level, perhaps; an ally or potential ally; or a colleague who’s not yet involved with IP Inclusive? They’ll be most welcome!
Registration
This event is free. So are all our resources. That said, we do need money to keep the show on the road, so if you are able please choose a voluntary donation ticket or click Donate now!
The allyship series
We kicked off our 2 year focus on allyship with an in person event in Cambridge, “Help! How do I start a conversation on EDI?”, which looked at how to start those difficult conversations around EDI and the importance of being a good ally. In June 2024 we held a webinar “Allyship and preventing sexual harassment” which offered advice on how allies can intervene if they witness inappropriate behaviour in the workplace. “Beyond the lanyard” focused on how allies can go above and beyond to support their LGBQTIA+ colleagues. IP & ME, IP Ability and Women in IP teamed up to offer a lunch and learn opportunity to look “Through a different lens” which was a masterclass on being a better ally. And in November the IP Inclusive Senior Leaders’ Think Tank looked into how the more senior you are the more important and valuable your allyship can be with a hybrid event, “Allyship for Leaders.” In December, we were delighted to launch our Allyship Guidelines, produced in collaboration with all our communities. And we carried on into 2025 with another IP & ME lunch and learn, “Getting off to a good start”, which explored setting and achieving meaningful EDI resolutions.
You can catch up on all these events via our Allyship playlist on YouTube, and there are some great resources on our website.