Enhancing diversity in the patent profession how can I help?

Lee Davies, Chief Executive, CIPA

Lee Davies has been the Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) since February 2012. Prior to this, Lee was the Deputy Chief Executive of the Institute for Learning (IfL), the professional body for further education teachers. Lee’s professional background is in engineering (mechanical services) and further education teaching. Lee has experience of the governance of professional bodies, having served as the President of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) in 2011-12.
Lee says that such a varied career, from apprentice plumber to CEO of CIPA, via organisations such as the Highbury College in Portsmouth, the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) and IfL, has left him a little confused about his professional identity. Lee now identifies as an ‘association leader’, although the concept of association leadership is, in Lee’s words, “woefully undervalued and little recognised in the UK”. Lee is a passionate advocate for the association sector and is President and Chair of the Institute of Association Leadership (IAL), where he leads the Chief Executives’ Forum.

Luke McKelvey, In2Science

Mary Skelton, The Access Project

Harry Hodges, The Access Project

Zindzi Sewell, Generating Genius

Vanessa Stainthorpe, HGF

Vanessa has over 25 years’ experience in the patent field. She has a talent for building long-term trusted relationships with clients having IP portfolios at all stages of development, from start-up companies to global corporations with complex interrelated patent cases, universities and spin-outs, always providing commercially focussed and proactive advice.

Vanessa leads HGF’s medical devices team and has substantial experience of drafting and prosecuting patents with medtech and healthcare subject matter, such as drug delivery devices, spinal and other orthopaedic instruments, dental, knee and hip implants, fracture fixators, ventilators, EEG systems, ophthalmic technology, cardiovascular stents and catheters. In addition to medical devices, her other areas of expertise include advanced manufacturing, food technology and energy technology including gas, water and electricity infrastructure.

Vanessa is HGF’s Board Sponsor for DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and has been a Board member since 2020. With a keen interest in improving diversity and inclusion, Vanessa leads the HGF DEI Focus Group. Vanessa has been influential within UK profession-wide IP Inclusive initiative since its inception, leading its North of England network and was appointed to the IP Inclusive Advisory Board in 2021. Vanessa was named as one of WIPR’s Influential Women in IP in 2021 and a Diversity Champion in 2022.

Gwilym Roberts, Honorary Secretary, CIPA

Gwilym Roberts advises clients on all aspects of the patent process including IP audit and capture, IP filing strategies and patent portfolio management techniques. He acts for a range of clients including individuals, SMEs, Universities, and spin outs through to multi-nationals and handles a broad and diverse range of cases before the UK Patent Office, EPO and WIPO.

Laura Ramsay, Dehns

Laura is a European patent attorney recognised in the Legal 500 by her clients as being both innovative and practical in her approach. She regularly represents her clients in EPO opposition and appeal proceedings. Laura is experienced in using oppositions as a tactical tool during disputes and licence negotiations between parties. She is a “Recommended Individual” for the UK in the latest JUVE rankings.

Laura handles patent work in various fields spanning physics, engineering and materials science, including medical devices, renewable energy and aerospace engineering.