Patent and Trade Marks Attorney

Helen joined the intellectual property profession in 2009 because of her passion for innovation and cutting-edge technology. 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, second-life battery 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.

Qualifications

Master of Industrial Property (University of Technology in Sydney), 2013
Registered Australian and New Zealand Patent Attorney, 2011
Registered Australian Trade Marks Attorney, 2010
Bachelor of Engineering with First Class Honours specialising in Mechatronics Engineering (University of Auckland), 2007

Memberships

The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia

Service location

Melbourne

Service areas

Patents, Designs

Expertise

Clean Technology
Elec. Engineering
ICT & Software
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Technology and Devices
Physics

Specialities

Automation and robotics
Machine Learning and image classification
Sensor technology ("smart" products)
Processes and systems
Medical devices
Control systems
Engineering and manufacturing processes
Automotive technology
CNC machines
Image processing
Audio signal processing
Embedded systems
Computer systems
Mechanical engineering
Artificial intelligence