Diversity & inclusion with the IP Offices: a holistic approach

Attendees joined leaders at the highest levels of the IP ecosystem to discuss joint approaches to diversity and inclusion.

Here in the UK’s IP professions, we’re doing what we can to improve equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). But we operate within a global IP system. The guardians of that system – the intellectual property offices – have their own role in ensuring that its many different users have equal access to IP protection and to appropriate professional advice.

So what are the IP offices doing? What steps are they taking to improve diversity among IP rights holders? How can we work with them to widen accessibility of the IP frameworks we cohabit? And what can we learn from the measures they’re taking to promote inclusion among their own staff and nurture diversity throughout the IP ecosystem?

Representatives from the UK IPO, EPO, WIPO and USPTO shared updates and ideas in a lively panel discussion, chaired by the inimitable Gwilym Roberts of “Two IPs in a Pod” fame. Andrea Brewster from IP Inclusive also spoke about its role in the UK’s IP professions and the need for more holistic approaches to EDI.

Our panellists were:

• Andrea Brewster, Lead Executive Officer, IP Inclusive
• Lisa Jorgenson, Deputy Director General (Patents & Technology), WIPO
• Valencia Martin Wallace, Deputy Commissioner for Patents, USPTO
• Penny Phillpotts, Director of People and Place, UK IPO
• Gwilym Roberts, Chair, Kilburn & Strode
• Roberta Romano-Götsch, Chief Sustainability Officer, EPO

This online event was led by IP Inclusive’s senior leaders’ think tank, but was open to all IP Inclusive supporters.