Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Mr. Francis GURRY, Director General of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Mr. GURRY joined WIPO in 1985. During 1985 to 2008, he serviced in various positions in the Secretariat of WIPO, including Legal Counsel, Assistant Director General and Deputy Director General. Since October 1, 2008, Mr. Francis GURRY has led WIPO as Director General and was reappointed in May 2014 for a second term. Under his leadership, WIPO is addressing major challenges. These include managing the stress on the international patent and copyright systems produced by rapid technological change, by globalization and increased demand; reducing the knowledge gap between developed and developing countries; and ensuring that the intellectual property (IP) system serves its fundamental purpose of encouraging creativity and innovation in all countries. To equip WIPO to meet these evolving challenges, he has led a comprehensive program of organizational change, realigning WIPO’s programs, resources and structures with re-defined strategic goals. Mr. GURRY holds law degrees from the University of Melbourne, a Ph.D from the University of Cambridge and is an honorary professor of, and holds honorary doctorates from, universities in a wide range of countries. He is the author of a number of publications, one of which has become a standard legal text in the UK and is published by Oxford University Press as Gurry on Breach of Confidence. Mr. GURRY speaks English and French.