Presenters

Mark Summerfield, IP and Technology Consultant, Patentology
Dr Mark Summerfield is a registered Trans-Tasman Patent Attorney, specialising in patent law and practice in the fields of digital and computer systems, information and communications technologies, and computer software. Mark provides consultancy services on patents (including drafting and prosecution), IP strategy, and related matters in his specialist technology fields. He is also currently a PhD candidate at the Melbourne Law School where he is investigating applications of natural language processing technologies to the analysis of patent claims with application to patent law and policy. He worked for over a decade with one of Australia’s leading boutique IP firms advising individuals, companies and research institutions on management and protection of their intellectual assets. Since 2010 Mark has maintained a blog (patentology.com.au), where he writes regularly on local and international issues relating to innovation, patents, law, policy and the IP profession. He speaks regularly on topics related to patents, IP and digital technology, and lectures on Australian patent practice at the University of Melbourne.


Jane Perrier, Executive Consultant, DCC Ventures
Jane is a passionate advocate of the role of intellectual property in stimulating ideas, growth and adaptive change. She is a creative, strategic thinker and problem solver, focused on client centric outcomes which balance business objectives and risk. Jane co-leads DCC’s consultancy practice, helping clients leverage value and mitigate risks associated with intangible assets at an enterprise level. She is the former General Counsel, Intellectual Property, and Special Counsel Technology, Innovation & Intellectual Property for Telstra Corporation Limited where she led teams for over 20 years advising on IP, innovation, technology, data and commercialisation issues. In 2019 (after leaving Telstra) Jane co-founded a joint venture start-up with Davies Collison Cave’s ASX listed parent, Qantm Intellectual Property Limited. The start-up was subsequently rolled into DCC. Jane has broad experience advising and collaborating with boards, senior leaders, government agencies, regulatory and industry bodies. She is a former appointee and consultant to the federal government’s former Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP), and is currently a member of the Law Council of Australia’s IP Committee. She has authored multiple submissions on IP and innovation, and is regularly invited to present on these issues including as a guest lecturer at the University of Melbourne. Jane is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is a former not-for-profit company secretary and board member, including as advisor to the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police. She is currently a non-executive director and audit & risk committee member on the board of a Victorian Government company.