WIPO Director General

The Australian Government welcomes the appointment of Francis Gurry to serve a second six-year term as Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

WIPO is a United Nations agency that contributes to global efforts to promote the use of intellectual property as a means of stimulating innovation, creativity and economic development.

Dr Gurry is an eminent Australian. He has served in a senior UN role as Director General of WIPO since 2008. The Australian Government nominated him for re-election in September last year. In March, WIPO's 83-member Coordination Committee nominated Dr Gurry to serve again in the role. On 8 May, WIPO members appointed Dr Gurry as Director General for a second term.

This appointment recognises Dr Gurry's achievements and demonstrates confidence in his capacity to serve the interests of WIPO's diverse membership. Dr Gurry now has a renewed mandate to continue working with WIPO members to strengthen the international intellectual property system and deliver on the organisational reform he initiated during his first term.

The Australian Government congratulates Dr Gurry, and expresses its appreciation to WIPO members for their contribution to this outcome.