Event Information
In this special two-part Focus 45 series, we hear from both sides of the table on how the IP profession and IP offices can work together effectively, a dynamic that varies around the world.
In this Part II, we will hear from the other side of the coin. Margaret Tregurtha, Acting Director General of IP Australia, discusses how IP Australia approaches dialogue with the profession: the channels available for engagement, what the office values in those conversations, and how IP Australia’s approach compares with IP offices elsewhere in the world.
For practitioners in jurisdictions where the relationship between the profession and the patent office is more strained, this series offers a valuable window into what productive engagement can look like. And for those who already enjoy open dialogue, a chance to benchmark and reflect.
| Margaret Tregurtha has been part of IP Australia's leadership team since early 2020. Her focus is on ensuring that IP Australia has the right capability to deliver on its strategic objectives, and on working collaboratively both domestically and internationally to support effective IP policy development. Before joining IP Australia, Margaret was A/G First Assistant Secretary of Legal and Compliance in the former Department of Environment and Energy. Margaret has extensive experience in providing legal and governance advice to government across a range of subject matters including education, industry, science, environment and energy. Since 2008 she has held Senior Executive roles in the Commonwealth Government. She was General Counsel of the Department of Industry Science and Resources from 2012 to 2017 and General Counsel of the then Department of Environment and Energy from 2017 to 2019. She has a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (Hons) and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the Australian National University. She is also a graduate of the Australia Institute of Company Directors. |
| Ronelle Geldenhuys is a Partner at Jones Maxwell Smith & Davis and the Secretary of FICPI Australia. She is a registered patent attorney with over 15 years of experience in electronics and software-based inventions, spanning private practice and in-house roles. Ronelle also lectures in Patent Systems at the University of Technology Sydney and was the founding Chair of the ChIPs Australia & New Zealand chapter. |
Part I was held on 16 April. Rohan Wallace, President of FICPI Australia and member of IP Australia's Patent Consultation Group (PCG) and the Computer-Implemented Invention Task Force (CIITF), shared the profession’s perspective. How does FICPI represent the interests of IP attorneys in private practice at the patent office? What makes forums like the PCG and CIITF effective? And what does meaningful stakeholder engagement actually look like from the practitioner’s side? You can watch Part I here.
The webinar will be held in Australia on Thursday, 28 May 2026 at 1:00 PM AEST (UTC+10)
- New Zealand: 3:00 PM NZST (UTC+12)
- Japan: 12:00 PM JST (UTC+9)
- Korea, Republic of: 12:00 PM KST (UTC+9)
- China: 11:00 AM CST (UTC+8)
- Malaysia: 11:00 AM MYT (UTC+8)
- Philippines: 11:00 AM PHT (UTC+8)
- Singapore: 11:00 AM SGT (UTC+8)
- India: 8:30 AM IST (UTC+5:30)
📖 CPD/CLE certificates can be provided.
❤️ There is no charge to attend the FICPI webinar.
🗣️ This webinar will be in English