Licensing Executives Society New Zealand chapter - Chair: Melissa Wong
Welcome to our April newsletter!
We are excited to bring you the latest updates and news from the Licensing Executives Society of Australia and New Zealand (LESANZ). As we move into the second quarter of the year, we have some exciting developments to share with you.
First and foremost, we are thrilled to introduce Sue Muggleston as the newly appointed LESANZ President for the term 2023-2025. Sue brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, and we are confident in her leadership as we continue to strive towards our mission of advancing the practice of licensing and commercialisation of intellectual property in the region.
In addition, we extend a warm welcome to Michelle Polglase, who has joined the LESANZ New Zealand committee. Michelle's knowledge and insights will be invaluable in driving our initiatives in New Zealand and furthering our mission to promote best practices in licensing and IP management.
We also have some exciting educational webinar events coming up that we encourage you to mark in your calendars. In Australia, we have a session on R&D tax incentives and innovation, scheduled for 3 May 2023. In New Zealand, we have a session on Plant Variety Rights, scheduled for 17 May 2023. These events promise to be informative and engaging, and we look forward to your participation.
Lastly, we are delighted to share highlights from the recently concluded 2023 LESANZ Annual Conference. The conference was a resounding success, bringing together industry experts, practitioners, and thought leaders from the licensing and IP community.
Thank you for your continued support, and we hope you find this newsletter informative and valuable. Don't hesitate to reach out to us with any feedback or suggestions. Here's to a successful April!
This month’s newsletter highlights:
Introducing Sue Muggleston, the newly appointed LESANZ President (2023-2025)
Welcoming Michelle Polglase to the LESANZ NZ committee
Upcoming Events:
- Australia: R&D tax incentives, innovation & your IP, 3 May 2023
- New Zealand: Plant Variety Rights: Seeds of change & growing NZ’s potential, 17 May 2023
Highlights from the 2023 LESANZ Annual Conference
LESANZ welcomes Sue Muggleston, the new LESANZ President
We are pleased to announce that Sue Muggleston has assumed the role of President of LESANZ (Licensing Executives Society Australia and New Zealand) for a two-year term. As the IP Manager at Plant & Food Research, Sue brings a wealth of experience in technology transfer, IP, commercialisation, and business development.
Sue's association with LESANZ spans almost two decades, having joined the organization when she transitioned into an IP role as part of a mid-career change. Over the years, she has served as a regional committee member, a trainer for licensing courses, and has been on the LESANZ Board for the last 10 years, progressing from Trustee to Vice President and now President.
As LESANZ approaches its 50th Anniversary next year, Sue is eager to celebrate the organisation's achievements and position it for success in the next 50 years. The pandemic has brought about significant changes in the way we work and communicate, and Sue is committed to understanding how LESANZ can deliver optimal value to its diverse membership in the post-pandemic environment. Revitalising membership and activities will be a key focus as Sue takes on her role as President, and she looks forward to hearing thoughts and ideas from the LESANZ community.
Outside of work, Sue has a passion for gardening, preserving produce from her garden, and trying her hand at various creative endeavours such as cheese and gin making, card making, and jewellery making. She also enjoys traveling, with her most recent adventure being a trip to Antarctica earlier this year.
Under Sue's leadership, LESANZ is poised to continue its legacy as a leading organisation in the field of licensing and IP in Australia and New Zealand. We extend our congratulations to Sue Muggleston on her appointment as LESANZ President and wish her all the best in her endeavours.
LESANZ welcomes Michelle Polglase to the NZ committee
We are delighted to welcome Michelle Polglase as a recent addition to the LESANZ (Licensing Executives Society Australia and New Zealand) NZ committee. Michelle brings a wealth of experience in business and management, with a proven track record of working in high-growth publicly-listed global technology companies.
Michelle's background in the tech sector has led her to various roles within New Zealand's innovation ecosystem. She has served as the former Programme Director for CreativeHQ's FinTech Accelerator and the University of Canterbury's Centre for Entrepreneurship, showcasing her deep understanding of the startup landscape and her passion for supporting founders with their capital strategy.
Currently serving as the Commercialisation Programme Manager at KiwiNet, Michelle is based in Christchurch and plays a pivotal role in driving commercialisation efforts for cutting-edge technologies. Her keen interest in aerospace is also evident as she holds a recreational pilot's license, reflecting her enthusiasm for emerging industries and technologies.
With Michelle's valuable expertise and passion for innovation, we are confident that she will make significant contributions to the LESANZ NZ committee. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Michelle Polglase as she embarks on this new role.
Australian R&D tax incentives, innovation & your IP, 3 May 2023 | Webinar
In many cases, R&D activities will produce intellectual property. Understanding the implications of IP development and protection decisions on the availability of the Australian R&D Tax Incentive could result in access to critical cash flow.
The R&D Tax Incentive is the Federal Government’s most consistent financial encouragement for innovative development in Australia. Naturally, such innovation often results in the development of valuable IP, providing a competitive advantage in the market.
Join Matt McCarthy, Senior Manager in the Deloitte Global Investment and Innovation Incentives team, and LESANZ NSW Committee for an engaging and thought-provoking workshop.
Click this link to sign up here.
Plant Variety Rights: Seeds of change & growing New Zealand’s potential, 17 May 2023 | Webinar
This 1.5 hour webinar will discuss the new Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 – what it means for users, how it will change the future, and discuss what may be next.
The new PVR Act gives effect to the provisions of UPOV 91, without New Zealand becoming a full signatory to UPOV 91. This approach allows New Zealand to meet its obligations under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) while also following the recommendations from the Waitangi Tribunal report on the Wai 262 claim.
The event includes intellectual property and plant variety experts from New Zealand’s horticultural sector.
Click here to sign up and learn more about our talented speakers.
Highlights from the 2023 LESANZ Annual Conference: Connecting Country to Global
The much-awaited 2023 LESANZ (Licensing Executives Society Australia and New Zealand) Annual Conference was held on the 9th and 10th of March at the scenic Waurn Pond Estate, part of the Deakin University campus in Geelong, Australia. The conference marked the first "in person" event since the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic and was well-attended by delegates from a diverse range of organisations.
The conference was formally opened by outgoing president, Mark Pullen, and the first presentation was given by Andrew Burgess from Cobram Estate Olives. Andrew's captivating talk delved into disrupting centuries-old olive grove designs and the development of new olive harvesters. Cobram Estate's intelligent application of IP to all aspects of their business, from the nursery to bottling, showcased their mission to produce the world's best extra virgin olive oil, aligning with the conference theme of "connecting country to global".
The conference featured a dynamic format of presentations and panel discussions, providing ample opportunities for attendees to ask questions and engage in discussions. The Agri-tech session brought together representatives from SproutX and Growave, shedding light on the exciting and challenging landscape of startups in the agricultural technology sector. The session on Collaborating for Commercial Success highlighted the impact of Deakin University on the manufacturing landscape, with presentations from Formflow and Carbon Revolution, showcasing technologies with roots traced back to Deakin. The Founder of Carbon Revolution left attendees envious with their cutting-edge carbon fibre wheels used by luxury car manufacturers such as Ferrari.
A panel discussion on Indigenous Cultural Knowledge and IP provided valuable insights into the progress and challenges faced by indigenous peoples in both New Zealand and Australia. The session on IP Licensing 2023, presented by a partner from King Wood Mallesons, provided intriguing insights into recent cases in Australia and overseas.
The conference dinner, held at the picturesque House of Jack Rabbit overlooking Port Phillip Bay, served as a perfect intermission. The evening kicked off with a wine tasting, followed by a mussel cooking demonstration, and culminated with a sumptuous meal and engaging conversations among attendees.
The second day of the conference took a skyward turn with presentations from the Director of Regulatory Operations at the Australian Space Agency and the Chief Product Officer from Fleet Space Technologies, discussing the latest in space regulations and IP. The session on IP in the digital era delved into the challenges and opportunities of the digital landscape, with one presentation providing intriguing insights into Chat GPT and its potential impact on operations.
Throughout the conference, the Waurn Ponds staff provided delectable food, and ample time was allocated for networking and discussions.
Mark Pullen closed the conference by introducing the incoming president, Sue Muggleston from the New Zealand Institute of Plant and Food Research, who announced that the 2024 conference would be held in Sydney and would mark the 50th anniversary of LESANZ. The conference team is already busy developing plans to entice everyone to Sydney in March 2024, and as a reminder of how short 50 years can be, 2024 also marks the 50th anniversary of the Rubik's Cube. See you next year!
Roz Murray, IP Advisor, Plant & Food Research