Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board - Chair

About the Board

The Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board (the Board) is an independent body established by the Australian and New Zealand governments to regulate the trade marks attorney profession in Australia, and the patent attorney profession in Australia and New Zealand.

It is established under section 227A of the Patents Act 1990 (Cth) and constituted under the Patents Regulations 1991. The Board’s functions include:

• assessing applications for patent attorney qualifications
• assessing applications for exemptions against a topic group
• developing and overseeing the curriculum of studies to assist applicants in meeting their knowledge requirements
• developing guidelines for attorneys to help meet their continuing professional education obligations
• investigating complaints and assessing if an attorney's conduct needs to be reported to the Disciplinary Tribunal
• developing a Code of Conduct
• accrediting university courses that meet the knowledge requirements to become an attorney.

Further information can be found on the Board’s website (www.ttipattorney.gov.au).

Board responsibilities

Board members are responsible for carrying out the Board’s functions under the Australian Patents Act 1990 (Cth). This includes assessing the qualifications and knowledge required for registration as a trans-Tasman patent attorney or Australian trade mark attorney, and maintaining the standards of professional conduct applicable to the profession. Board members are accountable to the Australian Minister for Industry and Science and the New Zealand Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Membership of the Board

• The Board is established under section 227A of the Australian Patents Act 1990 (Cth), and consists of:
• a Chairperson (rotating between a person from Australia and a person from New Zealand)
• the Director General of IP Australia
• the New Zealand Commissioner of Patents
• at least 2 New Zealand representatives of the patent attorney profession
• between 2 and 5 other members.

More information on the Board can be found on its website (www.ttipattorney.gov.au).

Person Specifications

The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is looking for New Zealanders with substantial Intellectual property knowledge and an understanding of the patent attorney profession.

The Chairperson is accountable to the Australian Minister for Industry and Science and the New Zealand Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and must report annually on the performance of the Board’s functions and responsibilities.

The Chairperson is also expected to build and maintain effective and productive working relationships with the secretariat staff, who are provided to the Board by IP Australia.

Specific skills

The Chairperson should ideally have the following specific attributes:

• have an up-to-date understanding and appreciation of the domestic and international intellectual property environment;
• understand how changes potentially impact on the patent and trade marks attorney professions;
• understand the complex technical educational requirements of those seeking registration; and
• understand and appreciate the different stakeholders served, and the benefits delivered to the broader IP system, by a well-regulated IP attorney profession.

The Chairperson should ideally have the following attributes:

• extensive governance experience and the ability to work collegially to get the best performance from the Board, including efficient and effective chairing of meetings;
• the ability to understand and balance different stakeholder perspectives;
• an understanding of, or experience in, best practice government regulation;
• the ability to think strategically, analyse information and understand complex issues;
• the ability to make timely, principled, and analytically-robust decisions;
• the ability to lead peers;
• a high profile and recognition by the patent and/or trade marks attorney professions;
• a high level of integrity and accountability and free from material conflicts of interest; and
• must be a New Zealand resident.

Intellectual property knowledge and an understanding of the patent and trade marks attorney profession, or the clients they serve, is highly desirable. This may include experience in the innovation, commercialisation or technology sectors underpinning the IP system.

Applicants with other relevant backgrounds, such as experience or familiarity with tertiary education accreditation and quality processes or the regulation of similar professions, are also encouraged to apply.

More information

Please refer to the position description for more details.

Applications close on Friday 25 July 2025.

For enquiries about the position, please contact boardappointments@mbie.govt.nz.