WO/CC/52/2 Add Page 7 WIPO E WO/CC/52/2 Add ORIGINAL

wo/cc/52/2 add. page 7 wipo e wo/cc/52/2 add. original: english date: september 24, 2004 world intellectual prope

WO/CC/52/2 Add.
page 7
WIPO

E
WO/CC/52/2 Add.
ORIGINAL: English
DATE: September 24, 2004
WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
GENEVA
WIPO COORDINATION COMMITTEE
Fifty-Second (35th Ordinary) Session
Geneva, September 27 to October 5, 2004
Advice on appointments to posts IN THE SPECIAL AND
HIGHER CATEGORIES
Document prepared by the Director General of WIPO
1 Regulation 4.8.(a) of the WIPO Staff Regulations and Staff Rules
provides that “Staff members shall be appointed by the Director
General; however, appointments to posts in the Special and Higher
categories (grade D.1 and above) shall be made taking into account the
advice of the Coordination Committee.”
2 The Director General intends, if the Coordination Committee agrees,
to appoint five staff members to grade D.1 and one new recruit to
grade D.2. The five staff members in question occupy key positions in
the Secretariat. The duties and responsibilities of each position
correspond to those for which the grade of Director is appropriate.
One post is currently vacant and the upgrading of five posts was
approved with the 2004-2005 budget (ref. WO/PBC/7/2). A description of
the duties of each position and brief biographical details of the
staff members and a new recruit who are proposed for promotion to
grade D.1 or grade D.2 respectively, are set out in the following
paragraphs.
Senior Director-Advisor for Legislative Activities
==================================================
3 The Senior Director-Advisor for Legislative Activities provides
advice to the Director General on all legislative matters of WIPO in
the field of intellectual property, including,
inter alia, the preparation of diplomatic conferences convened under
the auspices of WIPO and the participation of WIPO in activities
relevant to intellectual property. The Senior Director-Advisor
provides counsel on the modernization of the legislation and related
infrastructure of developing countries and countries in transition to
market economies, as well as on legislative reform linked to treaties
administered by WIPO and the development of future international norms
regarding intellectual property. The Senior Director-Advisor advises
on the follow-up of activities of all WIPO Standing Committees and
other bodies related to intellectual property rights.
4 Grade D.2 corresponds to the responsibilities of the Senior
Director-Advisor for Legislative Activities, who reports to the
Director General.
5 Mrs. Michèle Weil-Guthmann, a national of France, will take up her
duties with WIPO on January 1, 2005. Since 1998, she has worked as a
Legal Advisor at the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations
Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva. In this
capacity, Mrs. Weil-Guthmann is a member of the French Delegation to
the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, President of the WIPO
Geneva Group and participates actively in meetings of WIPO governing
bodies. Furthermore, she is responsible for negotiations with the
United Nations Compensation Committee and for following-up on
negotiations of the Tripartite Commission on Gulf War Missing. Before
her assignment to the Permanent Mission of France, Mrs. Weil-Guthmann
was Vice-President of the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris,
France; during this period she was also President of the Division and
Head of the Paris Enforcement Judge’s Unit. From 1994 to 1997, she was
Senior Judge at the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Nanterre, France,
President of the Division (civil and criminal litigation), and also
President of the Legal Aid Bureau, at the same tribunal. She was
Vice-President of the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Thonon-Les-Bains,
France, from 1989 to 1994, President of the Division (civil and
criminal litigation) at the same tribunal and also Deputy Director for
traineeships of the École Nationale de la Magistrature. As a trained
Magistrate, Mrs. Weil-Guthmann worked for the French Ministry of
Justice, Commercial Law Office from 1981 to 1984 and also assumed
responsibilities as Rapporteur of the Refugee Appeals Committee. From
1978 to 1981 she was an Examining and Civil Judge at the Tribunal de
Grande Instance of Melun, France. Mrs. Weil-Guthmann was employed as
an intellectual property attorney from 1988 for one year, with the law
firm Baker & McKenzie, in Geneva. She worked for WIPO as a consultant
from 1984 to 1988, where she dealt with legislative matters, including
the production of legal brochures. Mrs. Weil-Guthmann obtained a
Master’s Degree in Private Law and a Postgraduate Degree in Law (diplôme
d’études approfondies en droit) from the Université de Paris,
Panthéon-Sorbonne. She also holds a Barrister’s certificate, and a
Diploma of the École Nationale de la Magistrature; she speaks French
and English.
Legal Counsel, Office of the Legal Counsel
==========================================
6 The Office of the Legal Counsel has responsibility for tasks
associated with the depositary functions of the Director General in
relation to WIPO-administered treaties and agreements. It gives advice
to Member States, the Director General and the Secretariat on legal,
constitutional and administrative questions concerning WIPO. The
Office of the Legal Counsel provides secretariat services to the
Assemblies of the Member States and to meetings of any governing
bodies, as well as to diplomatic conferences and other WIPO bodies in
relation to credentials, rules of procedure and administrative and
final clauses. It is responsible for accreditation of
intergovernmental, international and national non-governmental
organizations with WIPO. The Office of the Legal Counsel represents
the Organization in legal cases or in staff appeals before the
internal Appeal Board and the ILO Administrative Tribunal. It reviews
the conformity of contracts between the Organization and suppliers and
other enterprises with the legal regulations of the Organization and
with applicable law. Relations with the Host State, including
questions of privileges and immunities of the Organization and of its
staff members, fall under its responsibilities. The Office of the
Legal Counsel acts as the focal point for Group Coordinators.
7 Grade D.1 is in line with the responsibilities of the Legal Counsel,
Office of the Legal Counsel, who reports to the Director General.
8 Mr. Edward Kwakwa, a national of Ghana, commenced his duties at WIPO
in December 1996, as Assistant Legal Counsel, Office of the Legal
Counsel. Following internal restructuring, he was appointed Assistant
Legal Counsel and Head, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Section,
Office of Legal and Organizational Affairs and PCT Systems, in
February 2002. He was promoted to Deputy Legal Counsel in January
2003, and following a further internal restructuring, was appointed
Acting Legal Counsel in December 2003. Prior to joining WIPO, Mr.
Kwakwa worked for UNHCR and for WTO as a Senior Legal Adviser and a
Legal Affairs Officer respectively. Previously, he was employed as the
International Legal Adviser to the Commission on Global Governance in
Geneva, and as an Associate at O’Melveny & Myers, an international law
firm in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kwakwa holds a Doctorate in International
and Comparative Law (J.S.D.) and a Master’s Degree in International
Trade and Investment Law (LL.M.) from Yale Law School, Yale
University, a second Master’s in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
(LL.M.) from Queen’s University, Canada, and a Bachelor’s Degree in
Law, Politics and Sociology (LL.B. Honors) from the University of
Ghana. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut and
the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C., United States of America
and has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Fletcher School of Law
and Diplomacy, Tufts University, United States of America; he is the
author of numerous articles and publications on international law
subjects. Mr. Kwakwa has also served on the Executive Council of the
American Society of International Law, and on the Editorial Boards of
the African Journal of International and Comparative Law, the African
Yearbook of International Law and the Governing Council of Africa
Legal Aid. He speaks English and French.
Director, Information and Promotion Division, Sector of Trademarks,
Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications
9 The Information and Promotion Division aims to promote awareness and
knowledge of the international system for trademarks, industrial
designs and appellations of origin, with the aim to enhance adherence
to it by new contracting parties and optimal use of the Madrid, Hague
and the geographical indications systems by the private sector. The
Division develops related information, promotion and training
material, and designs information and promotion programs for
government officials from interested countries and for users and
potential users of the systems. The Division is responsible for
organizing seminars and other related training programs.
10 Grade D.1 corresponds to the responsibilities of the Director,
Information and Promotion Division, who reports to the Assistant
Director General, in charge of the Sector of Trademarks, Industrial
Designs and Geographical Indications.
11 Mr. José Graça Aranha, a national of Brazil, joined the
Organization initially in May 1993, as a Consultant, before being
appointed in November 1994, as Program Officer, Development
Cooperation and External Relations Bureau for Latin America and the
Caribbean. He was appointed as Senior Program Officer in April 1996
and was transferred to the International Registrations Department in
May 1998. Mr. Graça Aranha left the Organization in July 1999, in
order to become President of the National Institute of Industrial
Property (INPI) in Brazil. He returned to WIPO in January 2004, as
Acting Director, Information and Promotion Division, Sector of
Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications. Mr. Graça
Aranha lectured at the University Cândido Mendes, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, from 2000 to 2003, and at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil, from 2001 to 2002. Mr. Graça Aranha was the
Manager of the PluriAnnual Plan of the Government of Brazil on
intellectual property matters, from 2000 to 2003, and a Counsellor of
the Superior Council of Technology and Competitiveness of the
Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP), from 2000
to 2003. Before joining WIPO in 1993, Mr. Graça Aranha worked as an
Attorney-at-Law in Rio de Janeiro, specialized in patents and
trademarks, and as a Coordinator of Strategic Affairs, Ministry of
Science and Technology, in Brasilia, Brazil. Mr. Graça Aranha holds a
Degree in Law from the University Cândido Mendes, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, and a Master’s Degree in Intellectual Property Law (LL.M) from
the Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, New Hampshire, United States
of America; he is a member of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB). Mr.
Graça Aranha is the author of a book on the Madrid Protocol on the
International Registration of Marks and of several articles on matters
related to intellectual property, public policies and foreign trade.
He speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.
Director, Economic Development Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
==============================================================
12 The Economic Development Bureau for Asia and the Pacific is
responsible for developing, coordinating and executing WIPO’s
technical assistance program in the region in the fields of industrial
property, copyright and neighboring rights. The Bureau develops and
maintains contact in the region with senior government officials in
charge of intellectual property, as well as the intellectual property
user community in both the public and private sectors, and regional
and sub-regional organizations. In this regard, it promotes and
strengthens the development, modernization, administration and
utilization of the intellectual property system for the economic,
social, cultural and technical advancement of the Asia and Pacific
region. The Bureau achieves this by focusing, inter alia, on the
interrelationship between intellectual property and competitiveness,
technology, investment and trade. It supports the formulation of
policies on intellectual property issues of emerging concern and
assists in the enforcement of intellectual property rights. The Bureau
also negotiates with the donor community to mobilize extra-budgetary
resources for WIPO’s development cooperation program in the region.
13 Grade D.1 is in line with the responsibilities of the Director,
Economic Development Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, who reports to
the Deputy Director General in charge of the Economic Development
Sector.
14 Mr. Ranjana Nalin Abeysekera, a national of Sri Lanka, took up his
duties with the Organization in August 1998, as Senior Counsellor,
Sector of Cooperation for Development, Cooperation for Development
Bureau for Asia and the Pacific. He was promoted to Deputy Director in
June 2003 and to Acting Director, Economic Development Bureau for Asia
and the Pacific, in March 2004. Prior to joining WIPO, Mr. Abeysekera
served as
Minister-Counsellor of Economics and Commercial Affairs from 1995 to
1998, and as First Secretary from 1989 to 1992, at the Permanent
Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office and Other
International Organizations in Geneva. During his term of office in
Geneva, Mr. Abeysekera was Sri Lanka’s Alternate Governor to the
Common Fund for Commodities in 1990 and 1991, and from 1996 to 1998,
he was the Coordinator and spokesman for the Asian Group in WIPO. He
also served as spokesman of the Asian Group and Group of 77, on
Commodities and Restrictive Business Practices, within the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Mr. Abeysekera
was Head of the Research and Development Division, Department of
Commerce, Sri Lanka, from 1992 to 1995, where he closely interacted
with trade and development, as well as intellectual property
multilateral agencies. For 22 years he was a member of Sri Lanka’s
Overseas Trade Service. He was assigned to Cairo from 1981 to 1987,
where he worked as, inter alia, Sri Lanka’s Trade Commissioner,
promoting trade relations with several Arab countries, including Iraq,
Jordan, Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic and Sudan. From 1975 to 1976,
Mr. Abeysekera was a University Lecturer in Economics at the
University of Sri Jayawardanapura, Sri Lanka, and a Guest Lecturer on
Development Economics and International Trade from 1976 to 1980 at the
University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He is a founding member of Sri
Lanka’s Inventors Association and has participated and served as a
resource person in numerous national, regional and international
conferences, seminars, symposia, workshops, etc. Mr. Abeysekera holds
a first class honor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Sri
Jayawardanapura, Sri Lanka. He also has a Diploma in Trade Policy from
the World Trade Organization (WTO), and post-graduate certificates in
International Trade from the Carl Duisberg Society, Germany, and the
University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
Director, PCT Legal Division
15 The PCT Legal Division ensures the development, implementation and
execution of the PCT legal framework, and helps provide PCT users and
prospective users with relevant PCT legal information, advice,
assistance and training. It is responsible for the implementation of
all reforms adopted by the PCT Assembly. The PCT Legal Division also
provides legal advice to the International Bureau in the resolution of
problem situations that occur during the processing of international
applications. The Division is responsible for the production of PCT
publications, such as portions of the PCT Gazette, the PCT Applicant’s
Guide, the monthly PCT Newsletter and the content of the PCT website.
In order to provide assistance to PCT users and prospective users, the
PCT Legal Division additionally maintains an information service. The
staff members of the PCT Legal Division regularly participate as
featured speakers and lecturers at PCT seminars and training sessions
throughout the world.
16 Grade D.1 is in line with the responsibilities of the Director, PCT
Legal Division, who reports to the Director of the Office of the PCT.
17 Mr. Matthew Richard Bryan, a national of the United States of
America, joined WIPO in September 1992 as Legal Officer, PCT Legal
Division. He was promoted to Senior Legal Officer in August 1995, then
to Senior Counsellor in February 2000. Following an internal
restructuring, he was appointed as Head of the PCT Legal Resources
Section, PCT Legal Division in April 2000, and as Head of the PCT
Legal Service in January 2003. Following the restructuring which
resulted in the creation of the PCT Legal Division in August 2004, Mr.
Bryan was appointed Acting Director. During his service with WIPO, Mr.
Bryan has traveled widely, teaching and providing training about the
PCT in some 36 countries, including 16 developing countries. Among his
responsibilities, Mr. Bryan currently serves as the main PCT
representative to the American Intellectual Property Law Association
(AIPLA), to the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM),
and is responsible for PCT relations with the Trilateral Offices (United
States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the European Patent Office
(EPO) and the Japanese Patent Office (JPO)). Before joining WIPO, Mr.
Bryan served as a Law Clerk at the United States Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit to Judge Randall Rader and to Senior Judge Marian
T. Bennett. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities (emphasis in
Spanish Literature) from Brigham Young University (BYU), United States
of America, and a Juris Doctor from BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School,
where he served on the Moot Court Board of Directors and as Director
of National Moot Court Team Competitions; he was elected to the
National Order of the Barristers and Inn of Court I (George Sutherland
Inn). He has been a member of the State Bar of California since
December 1990. Mr. Bryan speaks English, Spanish and French.
Chief Information Officer
18 The Chief Information Officer oversees the activities of the IT
Division and of the PCT Information Systems Division. The IT Division
is responsible for the management of the WIPO IT infrastructure
systems, including WIPONET, the systems supporting the Human Resources
Management Department, the Finance Division and the WIPO Academy, as
well as the effective deployment of Internet and Intranet
technologies. The IT Division is also responsible for the development
and implementation of WIPO’s IT Security Policy. The PCT Information
Systems Division ensures the support and ongoing development of all
computer systems that support the activities of the Office of the PCT,
including the recently deployed Communication on Request system, the
PCT-SAFE electronic filing system and the computer systems that have
been developed to support the reform and revision of the International
Patent Classification. The PCT Information Systems Division includes
WIPO’s Standards and Documentation Service, which oversees the
establishment and subsequent revision of WIPO Industrial Property
Standards and Guidelines.
19 Grade D.1 is in line with the responsibilities of the Chief
Information Officer, who reports to the Deputy Director General in
charge of PCT and Patents, the Arbitration and Mediation Center, and
Global Intellectual Property Issues, and also to the Executive
Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Development,
and the WIPO Worldwide Academy.
20 Mr. Neil Bruce Wilson, a national of Australia, commenced his
career with WIPO as a Consultant in August 1991, and in August 1994,
was appointed as Advisor, International Registrations Division,
dealing exclusively with the automation of the procedural aspects of
the WIPO-administered Madrid and Hague Agreements. He was instrumental
in the design and application of the modern information technologies
that were introduced into those international registration procedures
during the 1990s. Mr. Wilson was promoted to Senior Counsellor in
February 1999, and thereafter in January 2000, was promoted to Head,
Computerization Section, International Registrations Department.
Following internal restructuring, he was appointed Head, Applications
Development and Support Section, IT Services Division in September
2000, and was subsequently appointed Head, IT Services Division in
March 2001. Mr. Wilson’s roles within the IT Services Division enabled
him to acquire significant insight into the full spectrum of the IT
services that WIPO offers to both its internal and external client
base. In July 2003, following further internal restructuring, Mr.
Wilson was appointed Acting Director, PCT Information Systems
Division, where he assumed responsibility for the support and
development of the IT systems that meet the ongoing requirements of
the Office of the PCT. In March 2004, Mr. Wilson was appointed Acting
Chief Information Officer of WIPO, at which point he assumed
responsibility for both the PCT Information Systems Division and the
IT Division. Prior to his engagement with WIPO, Mr. Wilson studied
Economics at the Australian National University, before continuing his
education at Canberra College of Advanced Education, Australia, where
he studied Information Systems. He has had a long career in
information technology in Australia, working in both the private and
public sectors, where in the latter, he completed a series of
assignments for the Australian Patents, Trademarks and Designs Office
(now IP Australia) enabling him to gain an early insight into
industrial property issues. Mr. Wilson is English mother tongue and is
proficient in French.
21 The WIPO Coordination Committee is invited to advise the Director
General in respect of the intended appointment and promotions referred
to in paragraphs 4, 7, 10, 13, 16 and 19, above.
[End of document]