Who we are

The Professional Standards Board (the Board or PSB) is established under section 227A of the Patents Act 1990. The Board administers the regulatory and disciplinary regimes for Patent and Trade Mark attorneys in Australia.

The Board usually meets three times a year to consider applications for approval of qualifications; exemptions, discipline and complaint matters; and accreditation matters relating to institutions and providers of accredited courses.

The Board does not register patent and trade marks attorneys. That function is the responsibility of the Designated Manager (S200A). The Designated Manager is appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. The Designated Manager is Mr Philip Noonan, Director General, IP Australia.

IP Australia provides the Secretariat services to the Board.

All correspondence relating to the Board should be addressed to the Secretary.

Direct contact with the chairman or members of the Board will delay the Board's deliberation as they will refer issues to the Secretary.

The chairman or Board members acting individually have no power to act or make decisions on matters contained in the provisions of the patents or trade marks legislation.

What we do

The PSB considers and determines -

• academic qualifications required to become patent and trade mark attorneys
• accreditation of courses that satisfy subject requirements under the regulations
• exemptions from requirements of a topic group or groups based on prior study
• professional conduct of patent and trade mark attorneys
• disciplinary matters including the procedure for complaints and the role of the Board in proceedings

Board structure

The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research appoints members of the Board who are chosen for their relevant expertise. The current Board commenced its 3-year term in September 2007.

• Prof. Carrick Martin (Chair) NSW
• Ms. Karen Sinclair Patent & Trade Marks Attorney VIC
• Dr. Mark Horsburgh Patent & Trade Marks Attorney QLD
• Prof. Jill McKeough Academic NSW
• Ms. Margaret Brown IP User Representative QLD
• Ms. Anne Makrigiorgos Patent & Trade Marks Attorney VIC
• Mr. John King Patent & Trade Marks Attorney WA
• Mr. David Webber Patent & Trade Marks Attorney VIC
• Ms. Julie Ballance Patent Attorney NZ
• Mr Philip Noonan (Ex-officio) IP Australia

Back Row (left to right): Julie Balance, Dr Mark Horsburgh, Karen Sinclair, Philip Noonan, John King, Prof Jill McKeough.

Front Row (left to right): Anne Makrigiorgos, David Webber, Margaret Brown, Prof Carrick Martin.

The Board has established the following four sub-committees

• Qualifications
• Exemptions
• Discipline
• Accreditation

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The Secretary

The Secretary to the Board, Ms Jane Turbayne, and her administrative assistants Ms Krishna Gupta and Ms Elizabeth Falkiner, are employees of IP Australia.

Please contact the Secretariat for any questions or concerns about the Board not covered on this web site.

Meetings

Board meetings are conducted at a place and location determined by the Chair. Meetings are generally rotated between states having Board members though meetings with large amounts of documents tend to be held in Sydney.

Generally, the Secretary will advise members of details and send out an agenda in the week before the meeting.

The Board may also meet by phone or video conference when appropriate.

The Board usually meets three times a year.

Legislation

The legislative provisions for administrative arrangements, including the constitution of the Board, appointment and conduct of meetings, is provided in regulations 20.32 to 20.40 of the Patents Regulations 1991.