Having a strong IP strategy from the early stages of a startup can be the difference between business success or failure. Join our upcoming Jumar Masterclass where we will explore key considerations for small to medium biotech startups when developing their IP Strategy. You will leave this session with:

the knowledge to identify the various types of potential IP in your startup and understanding of how those rights are protected;
understanding of the process and timing considerations to patent your invention and how to navigate potential application pitfalls for startups; and
understanding of how to use IP Australia’s new interactive online tool “IP First Response” to give you practical steps you can take if you think your IP has been infringed or if someone accuses you of infringing their IP.

Brief Agenda:

8:45am: Residents arrive
9:00–9:05am: Welcome and introduction from Camille
9:05–9:20am: Presentation from Louise and Jeff, Solubility
9:20–9:40am: Presentation from Emma
9:40–10:05am: Presentation from IP Australia
10:05–10:25am: Panel discussion
10:25–11:00am: Networking and morning tea

This Masterclass brings together a wealth of IP expertise and the Speakers and key topics being discussed include:

Louise Brunero & Jeff Bergmann – Fellow Jumar residents and IP Commercialisation lawyers at Solubility. Identifying your IP – understanding the nature of IP rights as a “barrier to entry” and the consequences this has for protecting and enforcing your IP right. What makes your IP attractive to investors or potential buyers to your startup?
Emma van Embden – Specialist Patent Attorney & Principal at FPA Patent Attorneys. Patent strategy overview – building your patent portfolio, Australia vs OS filing, process, timing your applications and costs.
[Kelly Hitchens][Speaker TBC] – IP Australia Biotechnology Patent Examiner. Hear about “A Day in the Life” of an IP Australia Biotechnology Patent Examiner. Hear tips and gain insight into common startup missteps in the patent application process.
Brendan Parsons – Strategic Designer at IPA Ventures, IP Australia. Meet Strategic Designer at IP Australia’s innovative pilot ventures unit “IPA Ventures” and take a live walk through IP Australia’s new interactive online tool “IP First Response” with the team who designed it! Learn about the steps SMEs can take to enforce their IP rights or respond to an infringement claim.
Panel Session: Using tailored scenarios and case studies, IPA Ventures will lead a panel discussion by the Speakers to use the IP First Response tool to shortlist IP infringement/challenge responses and then explore each scenario from:
- a patent attorney’s perspective;
- a commercialisation law perspective; and
- a patent examination and opposition hearing perspective.
Audience Q&A

Meet your Speakers

Louise Brunero, Senior Associate at Solubility
Louise has over 15 years of experience as an IP specialist assisting clients in contentious and non-contentious IP matters. Her varied practice has seen her work with a range of clients from boutique primary producers and local start-ups through to big pharma and multinational biosciences clients and government departments. Louise has extensive experience in IP commercialisation including advising, drafting and reviewing licensing, supply and distribution agreements and drafting and negotiating agreements on ownership and exploitation of IP rights. Louise also has an excellent understanding of the Federal Court jurisdiction and court process having worked as a patent litigator for 7+ years and having served as an Associate at the Federal Court of Australia. In addition to her legal qualifications, Louise completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Chemistry.

Jeff Bergmann, Founder and Director at Solubility
During his 30-year career Jeff has covered all aspects of IP commercialisation for clients from multinational and large corporations through to investee companies of venture capital clients, and individual clients in the academic and not-for-profit sectors. In 2007 he established Solubility to specialise in assisting creative clients in IP commercialisation law. In addition to his legal qualifications, Jeff has a strong technical base having completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Pharmacology. Jeff’s IP qualifications include:

Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) since 2011 (one of only ten in Australia, and the only full-time practising CLP in Victoria);
Leading Non-Contentious Intellectual Property Lawyers – Victoria, Doyles Guide since 2019;
IP Transactions Star, Managing IP magazine since 2020/21 (one of only three in Australia);
Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners, IAM since 2013;
Licensing 250: The World’s Leading Patent & Technology Licensing Lawyers, IAM, 2010, -11/12 (superseded); and
Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists, IAM since 2016.

Emma van Embden, Associate Principal at FPA Patent Attorneys

Emma creates and manages patent portfolios for local start-ups and ASX listed companies, research institutes, and large multinational companies in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and materials science sectors. Emma works closely with clients to clearly understand their business objectives so she can provide relevant commercial advice. She provides a coordinated strategic approach to achieve consistent and commercially valuable protection across multiple jurisdictions. Her experience extends to all aspects of the patent lifecycle, including drafting and prosecution of patent applications, evidence preparation for use in opposition proceedings, as well as freedom to operate and validity opinions. Prior to joining FPA, Emma completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, specialising in nanotechnology and biochemistry. Emma’s PhD studies involved the development of biocompatible semiconductor nanocrystals for use as bio-labels in cancer detection.

Brendan Parsons, Strategic Designer, IPA Ventures, IP Australia
With two decades of experience in R&D, product development, innovation and system design across start-ups and the disability sector, Brendan Parsons brings an entrepreneurial mindset to the public sector. At IP Australia's innovation incubator, IPA Ventures, he is helping create IP First Response, a tool supporting SMEs to better manage and respond to IP issues. Brendan focuses on making complex systems more accessible and actionable for Australian businesses, making invisible systems visible and usable for the people they serve.

Alice West, Biotechnology Patent Examiner, IP Australia
Alice is a Biotechnology Patent Examiner at IP Australia, specialising in patent applications and prosecutions in the fields of immunology, cancer biology, microbiology, gene editing, and molecular biology. She previously conducted research on the role of innate immune regulators and the microbiome in gastric cancer initiation, development, and progression, with the aim of identifying potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers. Her technical expertise spans cancer biology, microbiology, immunology, proteomics, genomics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and related areas. Alice also brings a strong understanding of research commercialisation. During her PhD, she worked as the Business Development Administrative Assistant at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research, where she supported the development of commercialisation agreements, managed patent updates, and coordinated the filing of commercial agreements. This experience sparked her interest in intellectual property and led her to complete an introductory subject in IP at the University of Melbourne.

NOTE: You may be photographed or videod while attending this event for marketing purposes: please approach the organiser if you have questions, concerns, or do not wish this to happen.

About

Jumar Bioincubator acts as a first home for biotech startups, providing affordable lab and office space, practical support, and community activities to unlock the potential in early scientific discoveries.

Jumar Bioincubator was established by CSL, WEHI and the University of Melbourne. Together, with backing from innovation investor Breakthrough Victoria and operator Cicada Innovations, the mission is to connect early-stage and scaling biotech ventures with the support they need to progress discoveries towards real-world treatments and therapies and build a critical mass of scientists with the knowledge and confidence to run successful biomedical ventures.