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WIPR Influential Women in IP 2019
www.worldipreview.com
IP office interview: Philippines
Super women
Josephine Santiago, director general of the
Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines,
talks about the importance of IP and how Miss
Universe sparked an interest in waning traditions.
ince its establishment in 1998, four
directors general have headed the
Intellectual Property Office of the
Philippines (IPOPHL).
S
Two of the four chiefs have been women. Even at
the very beginning, when the first director general
was a woman, the executive committee was split
evenly between the genders.
Josephine Santiago, director general of IPOPHL,
says: “The same stands true today, as half of my
executive committee are strong-willed female
directors. I see many other female leaders at the
helm of other IP offices. This is surely an indication
that the IP sector is way ahead of its time.”
For women to progress in their chosen field
and to promote IP knowledge, it’s important to
see female thought leaders and influencers, says
Santiago, who highlights Miss Universe as a catalyst
for change.
Filipino-Australian Catriona Gray, who was
named Miss Universe 2018, is a person who may, at
Instilling
efficiency in
backlog reduction
and reviewing
internal policies
in a targeted
way is a clear
objective of mine.