Women in IP annual event 2025!
Inclusivity in IP: Ten Years On, Ten Ahead
1 October 2025, 5.30 pm arrival for 6.00 pm start
Kilburn and Strode, London and online, plus regional networking events
On behalf of the IP Inclusive Women in IP committee and Events Focus Group, we invited you to the Women in IP Annual Event 2025. This was an in-person event in London, with 8 other regional events also taking place in locations across the UK at the same time. The regional events watched a live-stream of the panel event hosted in London, followed by in-person networking and drinks for all events. There was also the option to dial in remotely too.
On Wednesday 1 October 2025, we hosted a panel discussion, followed by audience Q+A, where we discussed the experiences of women working in IP over the last 10 years, and looked ahead to the next 10 years (it’s IP Inclusive’s 10 year anniversary after all!). Many factors, including intersectionality, means that each person’s experience is unique. We therefore heard from a diverse panel of people working in the IP professions – in terms of experience, role, ethnicity, route into profession etc. as well as gender to gain an ally perspective. There were be lots of different view points, and so there was something for everyone in the audience to relate to and learn from. Attendees joined us as we looked back on what has changed and what we have achieved, and looked to the future to ask the question – how can IP Inclusive achieve their mission?
Everyone was welcome – all roles, all genders. Please also think about bringing someone with you who has not attended an IP Inclusive or Women in IP event before.
Meet the Panel
Marianne Privett
Marianne is a Partner and Patent Attorney in the Chemical and Life Sciences team at Venner Shipley. She has been a keen supporter of IP Inclusive initiatives since it started 10 years ago, leading to her role as co-leading IP Ability since it started in 2019. Marianne seeks to be an ally to a diverse range of people, making sure she educates herself about the experiences of others through reading books, listening to podcasts, attending webinars and in-person events, etc. Her efforts in diversity were recognised in WIPR’s inaugural ‘Diversity Champions’ list.
Tom Leonard
Tom is a European and UK patent attorney, and a partner in the Life Sciences and Chemistry team at Kilburn & Strode’s London office. With nearly 20 years in the profession, he specialises in biologics, EPO oppositions and appeals, and due diligence. He is a member of the BIA Intellectual Property Advisory Committee and co-founder and current co-secretary of IP Out, the LGBTQ+ community of IP Inclusive. Tom has also recently helped establish a similar LGBTQ+ network in Boston. Beyond his legal work, he teaches a weekly adult jazz dance class at the Central School of Ballet, a class he has run for the past 15 years.
Rina Sond
Rina Sond is founder of boutique IP consultancy Intangen and a former law firm partner. She advises clients across consumer products, tech, healthcare and manufacturing on commercial and IP matters. Rina also partners with patent and trade mark firms, providing fractional support for complex IP contracts and capacity management. She serves as a part-time senior lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire and sits on the IP Inclusive Advisory Board.
Lois Child
Lois is an Associate in the Video Games team at Lee & Thompson. She is a committee member for IP Futures and IP Ability, with a passion for raising awareness of invisible disabilities.
Olivia Buckingham
Olivia is an in-house patent attorney at Riverlane, a Cambridge-based quantum engineering company, and she is also an IP&ME committee member.
Our audience
This event was open to all IP professionals, regardless of gender, role or career level. We encouraged all attendees to consider inviting a colleague along, particularly someone who hadn’t been involved in IP Inclusive before.
Regional Networking Events
As well as being held in person and online, we were delighted to be able to offer you the chance to watch the panel event with a number of hosts across the country and then enjoy some refreshments and networking. We are very grateful to all our hosts, without whose support this wouldn’t be possible.
Below, you can chose from Belfast, Brighton, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Oxford or Southampton. For online, please see the London registration option.
***Please double check you are registering for the event you want to attend***
Belfast
In Belfast we are kindly hosted by Ansons.
Brighton
In Brighton we are kindly hosted by DMH Stallard.
Cambridge
In Cambridge we are kindly hosted by Marks & Clerk.Â
Edinburgh
In Edinburgh we are kindly hosted by Brodies.Â
Liverpool
In Liverpool we are kindly hosted by Hill Dickinson.
London (and online)
In London we are kindly hosted by Kilburn and Strode. Please also book here to attend online.
Manchester
In Manchester we are kindly hosted by Brabners.
Oxford
In Oxford we are kindly hosted by Dehns.
Southampton
In Southampton we are kindly hosted by D Young and Co for the panel event, and will then move to The White Star Tavern for networking and refreshments.
Cost
These events are free. So are all our resources.Â
That said, we do need money to keep the show on the road, so if you are able, please consider choosing a voluntary donation ticket. For more information, visit the IP Inclusive fundraising page.
If you have any access requirements, please get in touch with us at [email protected] and we’ll do what we can to help.