Helen McFadzean

Since then, Helen has successfully obtained patents, trade marks and designs for many businesses in Australia and overseas in a large number of technology areas including machine learning and image classification, battery management systems, automation, smart devices, medical apparatus, manufacturing processes and equipment, subsea mining technology, automotive technology, audio signal processing, embedded software, and control systems.

Helen is experienced in drafting patent specifications, prosecuting patent application in Australia and overseas, providing infringement and validity opinions, conducting searches and providing general IP advice. Since joining Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick in 2017, Helen has developed a further specialisation in artificial intelligence and software patents. In 2019, Helen completed AI Programming with Python, a future skills course from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, where she gained hands on experience building an image classifier using convolutional neural networks, which enabled her to further develop her understanding and appreciation for AI and Machine Learning algorithms.

Before joining the IP profession, Helen worked as a consultant in Ernst & Young’s advisory services, assisting leading global organisations to identify and mitigate business and technology risk.

Clients enjoy working with Helen because she is approachable, informative and upfront with processes and costs. She is also proactive in learning about her clients’ businesses so that the most suitable and cost-effective IP strategy can be developed based on commercial objectives.

Helen is also a Mandarin speaker.