Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization

Joint media release:

  • The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs
  • The Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, Minister for Trade and Investment

26 September 2013

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb today announced that Australia has nominated Dr Francis Gurry for re-election as Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

WIPO is the United Nations agency responsible for overseeing global efforts on the use of intellectual property (including patents, copyright, trademarks and industrial designs) as a means of stimulating innovation, creativity and economic development.

First elected as WIPO Director General in 2008, Francis Gurry is currently the most senior Australian in the United Nations system.

"Francis Gurry is a distinguished Australian who is well respected for his outstanding contribution to the development of the international intellectual property (IP) system," Ms Bishop said.

"As WIPO Director General, Dr Gurry has worked with Member States to help strike the right balance between protection of IP and access by users, and has implemented significant organisational reform," Mr Robb said

"His most recent achievement was overseeing the adoption of the Marrakesh Treaty on copyright exceptions for the visually impaired."

Ms Bishop and Mr Robb said Australia would be urging WIPO members to vote in support of Dr Gurry's re-election for a second six-year term. Elections for the position are due to take place in May 2014.

Media enquiries