A hybrid IP Inclusive event for everyone – especially allies!
Cambridge & online
23 April 2024, 4 for 4.30 pm
Have you ever been to an IP Inclusive event and thought “Wow! That was so interesting and informative, I want to run a similar session in my office!”? But then, perhaps next to the enthusiasm, a little bit of fear starts to appear. The fear of having to lead or chair a discussion in the office, possibly on a sensitive topic or where people may have differing opinions. The fear that you’re a junior member of the IP profession or your organisation and that you aren’t “senior enough” to lead the discussion. The fear of saying the “wrong thing” and accidentally offending someone. Maybe even the fear of how your colleagues will react and whether anyone will attend an event you organise. By the time you’ve returned home or logged-off after the event, you may have talked yourself out of running the session entirely.
If this sounds familiar, then this event on allyship and leading EDI discussions was just for you! We know many of you are passionate about EDI and want to be good allies. But we also know that it can be really daunting to lead discussions on these topics, more so when they are sensitive or potentially divisive. During this event, we heard from people within the IP Inclusive community, who shared their thoughts on how to take that crucial first step of organising a discussion in your workplace, and then how to lead that discussion with confidence. We also learnt that the rewards of taking that first step vastly outweigh the risks, so it’s definitely worth tackling the fear and embracing your enthusiasm!
Here are a few photos from the event (courtesy of Mills & Reeve, Parminder Lally and Andrea Brewster):
Programme
4 pm – Arrival and registration
4.30 pm – Talk and panel discussion
6 pm – Drinks and networking for in-person attendees
Venue
This event was kindly hosted by Mills & Reeve at their Cambridge office at Botanic House, 98-100 Hills Rd, Cambridge CB2 1PH (a short walk from the main railway station). Or you could attend online if you preferred. Refreshments were provided by Mills & Reeve and Appleyard Lees.
Keynote Speaker
Holly Redman PhD (she/her)
Holly is a trainee patent attorney at Appleyard Lees. She is one of several Equality Diversity and Inclusion ambassadors in her firm and she is a trainee representative on the advisory board of Jonathan’s Voice. Holly feels that facilitating safe spaces for open discussions around diversity and inclusion is vital for promoting a supportive and encouraging work culture. As an ally, she aims to be an active listener so that she can encourage inclusivity, understanding and collaboration. Ultimately, Holly wishes to be a friendly face spreading kindness, acceptance and positivity through the profession.
Panel Chair
Parminder Kaur Lally D Phil (she/her)
Parminder is a patent attorney and partner at Appleyard Lees, specialising in protecting software and AI innovation. Parminder has been involved in IP Inclusive since the very beginning, and helped to set up the Careers in Ideas project. She has spoken at a number of IP Inclusive events over the years on topics such as allyship and intersectionality, and has hosted real-life and virtual Women in IP events in Cambridge. She often shares her thoughts on D&I issues on LinkedIn, including on her South Asian heritage and on mental health and wellbeing. She is particularly keen on supporting under-represented groups and junior members of the IP professions, and being a good ally (and learning how to be one).
Meet the Panellists
Our panellists represent the IP Inclusive communities and will provide perspectives on allyship from a range of under-represented groups. They are:
- Isobel Barry (Carpmaels), IP Out committee co-chair
- Lucy Coe (Mewburn Ellis), Women in IP committee lead
- Lianne Da-Cunha (Forresters), IP & ME committee co-lead
- Marianne Privett (AA Thornton), IP Ability committee co-lead (who will also speak on behalf of our newest community IPause)
- Fionnuala Richardson (Finnegan Europe), IP Futures committee lead
Fionnuala Richardson, IP Futures
Fionnuala Richardson is a Chartered UK and European trade mark attorney. Her practice comprises all aspects of European trade mark, domain name, design, and copyright work, from prosecution to contentious matters. Fionnuala advises clients in the selection, maintenance, registration, enforcement, and portfolio management of trade marks in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and overseas. She has experience filing and prosecuting trade marks under the Madrid Protocol system, as well as handling opposition and cancellation actions before the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
Lucy Coe, Women in IP
Lucy Coe is a Senior Associate, Patent Attorney at Mewburn Ellis LLP. She works primarily in the computer software, physics and electrical engineering sectors, and has particular experience in handling both offensive and defensive EPO oppositions and appeals. Lucy is a strong advocate for inclusion and diversity. She is currently Lead of IP Inclusive’s Women in IP network, having sat on the committee since 2019. At Mewburn Ellis, she is a member of the Inclusion and Diversity Collaboration Group, and is a founding member of the WoMEn (Women of Mewburn Ellis network). Lucy is recognised as a WIPR Diversity 2023 ‘Trailblazer’ – people with a decade or less experience in the IP industry that stand out due to their impressive practice in IP and their determination to promote inclusion and diversity within the sector.
Lianne Da-Cunha, IP & ME
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.
Marianne Privett, IP Ability
Marianne is passionate about improving diversity across the IP profession, having been an active member of IP Inclusive since 2016 and a co-lead of IP Ability since it was founded. A partner in the Chemistry, Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals department of AA Thornton, Marianne heads the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion committee, and leads a wide range of initiatives, partnerships and activities to create and maintain an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and reach their potential. Marianne’s commitment to improving the wellbeing of the profession as a whole and her efforts in diversity were recognised in WIPR’s inaugural ‘Diversity Champions’ list in 2021.
Isobel Barry, IP Out
Isobel is a partner in the Pharmaceuticals team at Carpmaels & Ransford and is passionate about diversity and inclusion. She was a founding committee member of the LGBTQ+ network of IP Inclusive, IP Out, for which she is currently co-chair, and she sat on the IP Inclusive Women in IP committee for 6 years. She has also helped to coordinate several of Carpmaels’ community outreach initiatives and to drive Carpmaels’ extensive D&I programme, including launching an LGBTQ+ network. Isobel has been listed as one of 20 global trailblazers by the World IP Review in 2020, as an influential woman in IP in 2022, and as a WIPR leader and a Diversity Champion in 2023.
Bring a guest!
At IP Inclusive we want to reach as many IP people as possible. Why not invite a guest to attend one of our events 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!
Cost
This event was free. So are all our resources. That said, we do need money to keep the show on the road, so if you enjoyed the event please consider contributing. For more information, visit the IP Inclusive fundraising page.