2023 Honorary Advisors

Chair Intellectual Property Rights Experts Group, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Director General Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL)

Rowel Barba is the Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).
 
Prior to his appointment in IPOPHL he served as an Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) where he supervised several offices and attached agencies of the DTI such as the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC), Legal Service (LS), the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), among others.
 
His steadfast leadership is also known in the ASEAN and Asia Pacific regions for he served as the Chairperson of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) from 2021 to 2023 and currently, the APEC IP Experts Group

Attorney. Rowel S. Barba     

Chair

Quality Brands Protection Committee of China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment (QBPC)

CAEFI Vice Chair, QBPC Chair Vice President, Head of IP AMEA Region, ABB Group After worked in IP Dept of Huawei, and then built up and led IP team for Emerson Electric in China, Michael now is working in ABB, and leading IP in Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) Region of ABB. Meanwhile, Michael is leading global IP strategy for Business Area -Robotics &amp; Discrete Automation and global anti-counterfeit activities in ABB. With 23 years’ working as in-house IP professional, Michael has extensive experience and insights in management of IP, including patent, trademark and trade secret. Michael joined QBPC Leadership team as Vice Chair since 2017, and served as QBPC Chair since 2019 till now. Michael was also named by MIP as 50 most influential people in IP in 2020 and listed as a leading IP Strategist in 2023 IAM Strategy 300 rankings.

Mr Michael Ding

President

Turkish Patent and Trademark Office

Born in Eskişehir in 1980, M. Zeki Durak graduated from Akdeniz University, Department of Food Engineering in 2003.
 

During his undergraduate education, he completed a project supported by TÜBİTAK Scientist Training Group (BAYG) and was invited to Cornell University in the United States as a guest researcher for the continuation of his project work.
 
 

He completed his master’s and doctoral studies with a scholarship from Cornell University. After his doctoral education, he worked as a consultant in various companies in America.
 
 

In 2012, he was among the founders of Yıldız Technical University Department of Food Engineering. He received many national and international awards, including the “Award for the Academician Who Made the Most Projects in Total Budget and Number” among Yıldız Technical University academicians.
 
 

He has patents in the fields of food, biotechnology and nanotechnology, as well as many academic publications and studies in his fields of expertise.
 
 

Durak, who served as the Secretary General of Bursa Eskişehir Bilecik Development Agency between 2020 and 2023, has been appointed as the President of the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office as of October 6, 2023.
 
 

Durak is married and has two children.

Prof. Dr. M. Zeki Durak

Commissioner

Dr. Insil LEE, Commissioner of Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) who took office in May 2022 is an intellectual property specialist with 40 year’s professional experience as IP attorney. She is the first woman commissioner from the private sector since the inception of the Office. Prior to her appointment to the Office, she had been president of the Korean Women Patent Attorneys Association (1996-2001), the Korea Association of International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI) (2015-2018), the Korea Women Inventors Association (2019-2022), and Intellectual Property Forum (2021-2022). In 2022, she was selected as one of the “50 most influential people from intellectual property” by a global IP magazine, “Managing IP”, along with Director General of World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a senator at the US Congress, Patrick Leahy, and etc. 
 
Commissioner LEE graduated from Busan National University and earned her LL.M. from the University of Washington in the US and PhD from Korea University.

Dr Insil LEE

Chairman of the Court Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Former Non-official Member of the Executive Council, The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Andrew Liao is a Senior Counsel.  He has carried on an active legal practice as a barrister in Hong Kong since 1975, specializing in intellectual property in the fields of technology and innovation, brands and trade marks, cultural and creative industries including patents for inventions, designs, copyright, trade marks, trade names, passing off, trade secrets, confidential information, trade libel/injurious falsehood, copyright collective licensing, allied rights, pre-emptive remedies, and carrying on a general practice in other civil and commercial matters.  He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1989, and had been appointed Deputy High Court Judge in 1990, and Recorder of the High Court in 2000-2002. Apart from his professional legal practice, Andrew has continuously and actively participated in public service including those concerning intellectual property in Hong Kong.  As a member of the Law Reform Commission and its Copyright Sub-Committee, he was actively and closely involved in the reform of the copyright law, leading to the enactment of the first substantive Copyright Ordinance in 1997.  He was the first Chairman of the Copyright Tribunal when it was established in 1997, and was Convenor of the Hong Kong Bar’s Task Force on Intellectual Property.  In 2001, Andrew was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star for his contribution to the reform of intellectual property laws in Hong Kong.  He was Vice-Chairman of the Working Group on Intellectual Property Trading, Chairman of the Steering Committee on Review of Intellectual Property Issues in the Innovation and Technology Sector, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Review of the Patent System, and Member of the Advisory Committee on Promotion of Arbitration. Andrew has been actively promoting intellectual property, intellectual property trading, intellectual property arbitration and mediation, cultural and creative industries, innovation and technology in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and was the founder and organizer of the BIP Forum (Business of Intellectual Property Forum) as part of BODW (Business of Design Week) in Hong Kong from 2007 to 2011. Andrew was formally a Non-Official Member of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Over the years, while actively practicing at the Bar, Mr. Liao has also actively participated in public service, having been appointed to a large number of public offices performing different public functions. For his exemplary contributions to the public service, he was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM) in 2022.Andrew is currently Court Chairman of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The Hon Andrew Liao, GBM, GBS, SC, JP

Indonesian Intellectual Property Attorneys Association

Suyud Margono, SH., MHum., FCIArb., has been practising laws for more than 23 years  specialising in intellectual property rights and corporate laws.  He is the founder of  SUYUD MARGONO &amp; ASSOCIATES Law Firm since 2003 where he is often sought after as an expert witness in intellectual property cases.  He is also a law professor for postgraduate law studies, an examiner for thesis and dissertation in several universities in Indonesia. Also active in writing law articles, journals and books in Indonesian.   Education &amp;  Training: He obtained his undergraduate law degree from the  Atmajaya Catholic University, Jakarta (1998); entered into a Fellowship program (postgraduate studies) on Intellectual Property Rights  at the  University of Technology Sydney, Sydney-Australia, (2000); obtained his  graduate law degree at the Tarumanagara University, Jakarta (2002);  took his doctorate law degree  at the  Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, 2011.  He passed the Executive Education program for High Level National Leader - (locally known as “PPSA”) 23, held by National Resilience  Institute (locally known as “Lemhannas”) of the Republic of Indonesia 2021 with a ranking of highly recommended future leader.  Other workshops attended: Legal Aid Program, Legal Aid Foundation Indonesia (1998); Receiver in Bankruptcy program, University of Indonesia (1999); Course for Arbitrator and joined the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2006); Course for Mediator, accredited Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia (2007); Intellectual Property Rights Course, University of Indonesia (2005); Intellectual Property Rights Training for Advanced IP Practitioners, HIDA-Tokyo Kenshu Center, Asia Pacific Intellectual Property Center (APIC), Tokyo – Japan, 2012; International Workshop  for Creator and Authors, held by The Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), Seoul, Korea 2017; International Workshops at Asia Pacific Meeting Reproduction Rights Organization held by The International  Federation of Reproduction Rights Organization (IFFRO), Hongkong, 2018.  Research &amp;  Expert Activities:  Expert/ Speaker, Research Team of the National Law Development Agency (locally known as “BPHN”) of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights RI; Expert witness before  Commercial Court  in Intellectual Property cases;  Expert witness before National Police, Public Prosecutor in Intellectual Property and Corporate cases, Expert/Speaker – Training  (public training/ in-house) in Corporate Legal,  Intellectual Property and Dispute Settlement  in several  national training institute.  Expert - National Development of Information Study Center (locally known as ”PSPIN”) (2008 – present);  Expert and Researcher - National Public Policy Center (locally known as ”Pusdiknas”) (2010 – present);   Expert Member, Indonesia Business and Law Development Center (locally known as “PPHBI”) (2014 – present); Researcher Member -  Center Information Study Institute  (locally known as ”LPSI”) (2015 – Present);  Speaker of Business Law and Intellectual Property Rights in the Regional Office of Jakarta  of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights RI (2015 – present);  Speaker of Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights RI  (2019 – present).  Lecturing and Academic Activities: Associate Professor, NIDN: 0328017602,  2001, Lecture Certificate No: 11103102416106,  2011, Accessor: NIRA: 211110310241610623216. Lecturer of Business Law for undergraduate, graduate and post graduate at Tarumanagara University, Jakarta  (2001 –   present); Lecturer of Business Law for GS FAME Business School &amp; Institute, Jakarta (2004 – 2010); Lecturer of the law graduate program at the University of Mpu Tantular, Jakarta (2010 – present),  Dean of Law Faculty at the University of Mpu Tantular  (2021-present); Lecturer of Business Law at the University Multimedia Nusantara, Tangerang (2011 –2019);  Lecturer of the graduate and post graduate studies at the Parahyangan Catholic University; Lecturer of the graduate law program at the University Esa Unggul, Jakarta (2012 – present); Lecturer  of the postgraduate program at the University Marsekal Suryadarma (UNSURYA), Jakarta (2020 – present)  Professional Organizations Activities:  President- Indonesian Intellectual Property Attorneys Association (locally known as “AKHKI”) (2020-Present); Vice President  Indonesian IP Attorneys Association (AKHKI) (2016 – 2020);   Member - Indonesian IP Lecturer Association (locally known as “APHKI”) ( 2019-Present);   Vice Secretary General, Indonesia Mediator Association (locally known as “AMINDO”) (2007 –2012);  Secretary General, Indonesia Mediator Association (locally known as “AMINDO”) (2014 – present); Secretary General of the Center for IP Arbitration &amp; Mediation Agency  (locally known as “BAMHKI”);   Associate member – The Chartered Institute of Arbitrator (CIArb)  (2006 –present), Indonesian Bar Society (locally known as “PERADI”) (2004 – present),  Indonesian Advocate Association (locally known as “AAI”) (1999 –   present), Lecturer, Teacher and Society Forum (locally known as “FORDORUM”) (2018-present), Fellowship of Lecturer Republic Indonesia (locally known as “PDRI”) (2020- present); Notary Regional Supervisory Board (locally known as ”MPDN”), DKI Jakarta (2021 – 2025).  Book Publications (in Indonesian): Arbitration, Mediation and Negotiation (2017); Intellectual Property Rights Law (2015); Legal Entity of Foundation:  Dynamic of Practices, Effectiveness &amp; Regulation in Indonesia (2014), Industrial Property Rights; Indonesian Regulation &amp; Practices (2011), Business Dispute Resolution: Negotiation &amp; Mediation (2010),  Copyrights Law: Theoritical  &amp; Analysis;  Harmonization of Provisions on WTO-TRIPs Agreement (2010);  Commercialization of Intellectual Assets (2010); Anti Monopoly Law (2009); Corporate Law in Indonesia (2008);  Investment Law in Indonesia (2007);  Copyrights Law (2003);  Alternative Dispute Resolution &amp; Arbitration (2001); The Amendment of Indonesian Trademarks Law (2001),  Law on Foundation: Dilemma Between Charitable or Commercial Purposes (2000).

Dr Suyud Margono, SH., MHum., FCIArb.

The International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)

Shoichi Okuyama is a registered Japanese Patent Attorney, Principal of Okuyama &amp; Sasajima. He is currently President of AIPPI. He is also Chairman of NPO Organization Nippon Intellectual Property Translation Association. He holds a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Chicago, a second bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Iowa State University, and a first bachelor’s degree in E.E. from Waseda University in Tokyo. He is former President of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association from 2011 to 2013. He also served as an expert member of the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters organized by the Prime Minister of Japan between 2013 and 2017. He has an award for meritorious services in the industrial property system from the Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office in 2003. He also was awarded a TEPIA President's Award for his contribution to intellectual property academic encouragement in 2008, an Award of Merit from AIPPI in 2011, and a Distinguished Service from the American Inns of Court in 2013. His publications include "Patent Infringement in Japan" (published by the Japan Patent Office), "English Expressions and Example Sentences for Patents" (co-authored and published by Kodansha Scientific), and many others.

Dr Shoichi Okuyama

Chairman

ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation

He has been appointed as Director General of Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Industrial and Commerce since 01 April 2022. He has been appointed as a Chair of ASEAN working group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) since March 2023. He graduated in bachelor’s degree in international Economic from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand and Master Degree of International Economic and Finance from Brandies University, USA.
 
He started working in Foreign Trade Policy Department since 2000 as the negotiation on the accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) membership of Lao PDR, charged in Trade in Goods negotiation and some rules, for instance, import licensing, rules of origin, including TRIPS etc, involved in many draft laws and regulations related to trade policy. 
 
Previously, he was appointed and served as Deputy Director General of Department of Foreign Trade Policy, Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, and Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) of ASEAN-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement, TNC of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and he also worked on the accession to the UN Convention on the Sales of Goods (CISG), actively in negotiated on the Lao PDR’s accession to the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) under the WTO with success at the end of December 2021 and he was also actively in working and putting the Lao PDR’s proposal on the Investment Facilitation for Development prior to the WTO 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

Mr Santisouk Phounesavath

International Federation of Inventors' Association

RolePresident of IFIA / 2014- Present  Committee member of WIPO IAP for selected Best Patent in the framework of the IAP, WIPO Inventor Assistance Program / 2019  CEO of the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival / 2018 – Present Editor of International Journal of Scientific Research in Inventions / 2014 – 2018  IFIA Executive Committee Member / 2008 – 2014  Senior Adviser to the Mayor at the City of Karaj / 2008 – 2013  Head of Young Genius, Youth Organization / 2000 – 2004  Distinction Member of ResearchGate   Member of MIT’s Solve   Member of European Alliance for Innovation (EAI)   Member of Global Innovation Exchange (GIE)   Honorary President of first International Conference on New Research Achievements in Electrical and Computer Engineering / 2015 Honorary President of first International Conference on New Research Achievements in Mechanic, Mechatronic and Biomechanic / 2015 Honorary President of second International Conference on New Research in Civil, Architectural and Urban Management / 2016 Honorary President of second International Conference on New Research Achievements in Chemistry &amp; Chemical Engineering / 2016 Member of the International Invention Jury Board Member of Art Credit Found Member of the House of Literature Honorary Member of the Association of Polish Inventors and Rationalizers Possessing 9 national and international patents Participation in WIPO international workshops and receiving certificates Partner of Croatia International Invention and Economy Forum 2014 Certificate of Introduction to the Patent Cooperation Treaty – WIPO ACADEMY Published more than 10 books and articles in the area of invention and innovation.

Mr Alireza Rastegar

Co-Chairwoman

Dr. Tamar Raz has nearly two decades of experience in technology transfer and an impressive track record of bringing medical innovations from the lab to the marketplace. Prior to joining Hadasit, she served as VP of Marketing and Strategy at Ramot, the technology transfer company of Tel Aviv University. Tamar was the founder and CEO of Allergene Ltd, an Israeli drug development start-up company. She received her MSc and PhD in cell biology from the Tel Aviv University School of Medicine.

Ms Tamar Raz

Etienne Sanz de Acedo joined INTA on July 1, 2013. As CEO, Mr. Sanz de Acedo works with the Board of Directors and Officers to recommend, formulate, and implement policies and programs for the Association; is responsible for the administrative operation of the Association’s offices and the supervision of all staff; and is responsible for the development and administration of the annual budget. Before joining INTA, Mr. Sanz de Acedo was Head of Communications and Member of the President’s Cabinet at the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the EU’s intellectual property agency, where he was responsible for strategic communications and the agency’s corporate image and identity. Before joining the EUIPO, he practiced as an attorney in Spain and taught law at the University of Alicante, Spain. Mr. Sanz de Acedo holds a law degree from the University of Alicante, an LLM in European Community Law from the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium, and an executive MBA from Instituto de Empresa Business School in Madrid. A Spanish and French national, he speaks English, French, Italian, and Spanish.

Mr Etienne Sanz de Acedo

Director General

As Director General since 2018, Michael has led IP Australia on a customer-focused, digital-first strategy. As well as seeing unprecedented growth in IP rights during the pandemic, IP Australia has been a test bed of public sector innovation and digital transformation. Prior to his appointment, Michael spent three years as Chief Operating Officer at the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. He also spent time as acting Chief Operating Officer at CSIRO. Michael’s career across industry, innovation and science policy has included responsibility for implementing innovation programs including the $3B R&amp;D tax incentive; developing med-tech, pharma-bio, small business and industry policy; attracting foreign investment into Australian high- tech industries; leading trade and multilateral negotiations in food, agriculture and energy. From 2012 to 2015, Michael was Minister-Counsellor (Industry, Science and Education) at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC. He also spent five years in Parliament House as a researcher and speechwriter, and two years as an auditor for a large multinational accounting firm. Michael has a Bachelor of Economics and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr Michael Schwager

Director General & CEO

Danish Patent and Trademark Office

Sune Stampe Sørensen is the Director General and CEO of the Danish Patent and Trademark Office under the Danish Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs. He is also board member of the Nordic Patent Institute, board member of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences, board member of the Danish-Chinese Business Forum, member of the Management Board at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and member of the board of the Administrative Council in the European Patent Office (EPO). Previously, he has held various executive positions in the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, and at the Danish Ministry of Finance. Prior to this, he was Private Secretary to the Danish Prime Minister. Sune holds an M.A. in Political Science from University of Copenhagen and Certificat d’Etudes Politiques from Sciences Po in France.

Mr Sune Stampe Sørensen

Daren Tang, a national of Singapore, began his six-year mandate as Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on October 1, 2020. Prior to his appointment as WIPO Director General, he served as Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), driving the strategic transformation of IPOS in support of Singapore’s innovation-based economy.  Between 1997 and 2012, before joining IPOS, Daren Tang held different legal positions within the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore.  In 2016, he received the Public Administration Medal from the Prime Minister's Office Singapore for outstanding efficiency and competence in the service of his country.  Daren Tang is a graduate of the National University of Singapore (Bachelor of Law, Honors) and the Georgetown University Law Center (Master of Laws, Distinction).  He also attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He is fluent in English and Chinese.

Mr Daren Tang

Director

Intellectual Property Division, World Trade Organisation

Antony Taubman is currently Director, Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition Division of the World Trade Organization, with responsibility for the WTO’s programs on intellectual property, competition policy and government procurement. From 2002 to 2009, he was Director, Global Intellectual Property Issues Division of WIPO (including the Traditional Knowledge Division and Life Sciences Program), covering a wide range of programs on intellectual property and genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore, the life sciences, and related global issues including the environment, climate change, human rights, food security, bioethics and indigenous issues. After a diplomatic career, he left the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in 2001 to join the newly-formed Australian Centre for Intellectual Property in Agriculture, at the Australian National University, teaching and researching on international IP law.  From 1998 to 2001, he was Director of the International Intellectual Property Section of DFAT, and in that capacity was engaged in multilateral and bilateral negotiations on intellectual property issues, domestic policy development, regional cooperation, and TRIPS dispute settlement. He authored a training handbook on intellectual property and biotechnology, a monograph on the TRIPS Agreement and a comprehensive study on its implementation, and a range of academic and general publications on international intellectual property law and policy. Postgraduate teaching appointments at several universities include curriculum design and teaching at the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University, and Queensland University of Technology, as well as numerous contributions to other educational and training programs in many countries. In 2008, the Rockefeller Foundation awarded him a Bellagio residential fellowship for his work on TRIPS and public policy issues.  He joined DFAT in 1988 as a career diplomat, and his service included disarmament policy and participation in the negotiations on the Chemical Weapons Convention, a posting in the Australian Embassy in Tehran as Deputy Head of Mission, and a posting to the Hague as Alternate Representative to the Preparatory Commission for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and Chair of the Expert Group on Confidentiality. He previously worked for WIPO from 1995 to 1998, his duties then including development cooperation in Asia and the Pacific, the development of the revised WIPO program and budget, and associated policy development. A registered patent attorney, he worked in private practice in the law of patents, trade marks and designs in Melbourne in the 1980s. His tertiary education has included computer science, mathematics, engineering, classical languages, philosophy, international relations and law, and he has taught ancient Greek philosophy at Melbourne University.