I have significant experience advising clients on the establishment of research centres, research funding, collaborative research and technology licensing arrangements. I regularly undertake due diligences and audits for clients prior to the commercialisation of technology and provide strategic IP protection and commercialisation advice.

I have a detailed understanding of the policy, probity and process frameworks which apply to public sector clients and have been a key adviser to government on significant major projects and procurements (particularly those with a technology focus), statutory powers and governance issues.

I have also advised the higher education sector for nearly 20 years on a wide range of commercial and regulatory matters, including compliance with higher education legislation.

I hold an honours degree in both law and science (genetics) from the University of Melbourne and a Masters of Intellectual Property Law at the University of Melbourne.

Education
BSC (Hons-Genetics), LLB (Hons), LLM

• Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New
• Ausbiotech, member
• Licensing Executives Society of Australia and New

• Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand, Member
• Licensing Executives Society of Australia and New Zealand, Member
• Ausbiotech, Member
• Victorian Women Lawyers

• MinterEllison advises on commercialisation of Genomical
  

  The Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance's commercialisation of its clinical platform, Genomical, signifies major progress in broadening access to genomic testing.

• Federal Court decides scope of Crown copyright laws
  

  First judicial interpretation of section 183(1) of the Copyright Act clarifies the scope of the exception to copyright infringement.

• Regulatory changes and developments relating to TEQSA
  

  In a year of widespread higher education reform, universities must track TEQSA changes to inform risk management and quality assurance.

• 2024 Higher Education regulatory reforms guide
  

  Our Education Consultants and Lawyers combined a wealth of knowledge to explore regulatory reforms crucial for higher education. Access the insights below.

• Foreign bribery risks in Australia's tertiary education sector
  

  As Australia’s tertiary education sector adapts to workforce demands, global competition and immigration policy, hence facing increased bribery risks.

• Workplace reform impacting Australia's higher education sector
  

  Discover the major implications for universities resulting from the 2024 development in industrial relations and changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act).

• Developments in research integrity: Australian universities
  

  Research integrity in Australia is self-regulated, therefore there's growing support for the introduction of greater regulatory oversight.

   

• Hidden risks of AI and open-source software
  

  AI and open-source technologies present new legal, compliance, and operational risks that organisations cannot afford to ignore.

• Navigating transnational education: tips and traps
  

  Australian universities can benefit from transnational education, but successful implementation requires careful structuring and navigation of a complex regulatory environment.

• Guide to 2025/26 higher education regulation
  

  Our education legal and consulting specialists have combined their extensive knowledge to explore significant regulatory issues - both current regulations and upcoming reforms affecting the higher education sector.

• Unlock innovation: research and commercialisation in NFP
  

  In this article, we explore why universities must take into account ACNC charity and tax concession requirements when structuring their research and commercialisation activities.

• Navigating emerging insurance risks in Australian universities
  

  A guide for academic institutions on mitigating emerging risks through strategic insurance, legal and executive team cooperation, and governance frameworks.

• Strengthening the regulation of transnational education in Australia
  

  The introduction of the new Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025 (Cth) is set to introduce significant changes to transnational education in Australia

• Manners maketh the copyright infringer: Court awards $60,000 'additional damages' for defendants' behaviour in copyright case
  
• Patent licences - some guidance from the courts
  
• Trade mark infringement in online advertising
  
• Inspiration or infringement in copyright law
  

  The popular US hit 'Blurred Lines' has been the subject of allegations of copyright infringement for the song's similarity to two other songs, Marvin Gaye's 'Got To Give It Up' and Funkadelic's 'Sexy Ways'.

• Unfair contract terms regime extended to 'small business contracts' - implications for IT contracts
  
• Exclusive patent licences and standing to sue - a green light for commercial 'work arounds'
  
• Is 'reproduction' for copyright infringement a chicken & egg debate?
  
• Victorian Government releases IP guidelines for the public sector
  

  The Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) has released version 1 of the Intellectual Property Guidelines for the Victorian Public Sector (guidelines). The release follows the working draft of the guidelines that we reported on in November 2013.

• CCA changes: repeal of IP exemption and new small business powers
  

  A new bill passed on 18 February 2019 amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) by repealing the historic IP licensing exemption. It also facilitates small businesses pursuing private litigation against anti-competitive conduct under the CCA.

• All that glitters is not protected by copyright
  A recent court decision reminds us that contractors who are engaged to perform work that may involve generation of copyright will own that copyright in the absence of an agreement assigning it.
• Universities need to act on the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme
  

  The newly introduced FITSA reform requires universities to act to ensure that their activities are appropriately screened and registered. Since the act was introduced, no university has registered, raising questions about their compliance.

• A new era for IP in higher education under Australian competition law
  

  Changes to Australian competition law will change the way IP rights holders control their IP. For universities, whose activities often include the development and commercialisation of IP, these changes – in conjunction with other recent reforms to Australian competition law – will require a new approach to identifying and assessing competition law risks.

• COVID-19 and recent developments in the health regulatory space
  

  The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in the promotion and sale of various products which may be used to combat the virus. By stepping up to manufacture, advertise and supply products such as hand sanitiser and disinfectants, companies are also stepping into the regulatory framework for therapeutic goods. 

• Higher education third party provider viability risk during COVID-19
  

  Where universities and other higher education providers rely on third parties to enrol or deliver courses to students on their behalf, it is important they consider and plan for the financial, practical and regulatory risks that may be associated with potential insolvency of the third party.

• MinterEllison supporting delivery of COVID-19 emergency ventilator program
  

  MinterEllison is delighted to be supporting Grey Innovation with implementation of its emergency ventilator program, being undertaken in response to the COVID-19 emergency situation.

• Higher Education in Focus: University Webinar Series
  

  Our higher education team provide specialist legal and consulting services based on an in-depth understanding of the complex, unique and high-risk opportunities and challenges facing clients within the sector.

• What universities need to know about cyber risk
  

  We outline recent developments and the key steps that higher education providers can take now to mitigate the risk of a cyber attack.

• Australia's Foreign Relations Act: Institutional autonomy of foreign universities
  

  The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) recently released guidance on the concept of institutional autonomy that may affect Australia's public universities.

• Fearless Girl caught in corporate crosshairs
  

  This recent case is a timely reminder for businesses to obtain targeted legal advice when entering agreements relating to the use of intellectual property to ensure that the terms properly address what uses are permitted and restrictions are imposed.

• Non-fungible tokens and digital assets - what's the deal?
  

  The art world is abuzz as a bizarre and potentially lucrative new market has emerged for digital artists known as non-fungible tokens (or NFTs). People operating in the digital marketplace need to understand the rights attached to NFTs so that they can trade with confidence.

• Circumventing patent rights in a COVID-19 world
  

  Using a pandemic lens, this article discusses changes to the Crown use provisions and compulsory licensing provisions under the Patents Act that came into effect last year.

• A 'patent box' for Australia - what does it mean and how will it work?
  

  The 'patent box' tax incentive, proposed in the Federal Government's budget on Tuesday, has been heralded as a major boost for Australian medical and biotech manufacturing. But what does it mean and how will it work? We provide a brief overview of the government's proposal, and discuss some key aspects that will need to be considered as the scheme is developed.

• Recent UK cases have implications for how climate change policies are administered in Australia
  

  While Government policy decisions are generally regarded as non-justiciable, and beyond the realm of legal challenge, a unanimous decision by the Irish Supreme Court illustrates the real potential for challenge to the manner in which climate change-related policies are administered, on both statutory compliance and human rights grounds. We consider the potential implications of that decision for Australian government entities, and make key recommendations to guide the review of current administrative decision-making frameworks.

   

• MinterEllison advises the Victorian Government on cutting edge battery project
  

  MinterEllison has advised the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning on a grid scale battery project to improve electricity supply and increase power to the State's energy grid. The 300 MW/377 MWh battery will be the largest lithium-ion battery in the southern hemisphere.

• MinterEllison advises Tasmanian Government on delivery of multiagency government radio network
  

  MinterEllison advised the Tasmanian Government on the delivery of its multiagency government radio network, Tasmanian Government Radio Network (TasGRN). A contract for the work was signed by the State Government and Telstra Corporation Limited on 23 December.

   

• COVID-19: additional funding and further restrictions
  

  On 29 March, the Prime Minister announced further restrictions and additional funding to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• COVID-19: How will Australia's public health emergency powers affect you
  The Federal, State and Territory powers to respond to public health emergencies in Australia have been exercised more thoroughly in the past six months than ever before.
• Federal Government introduces legislation for Patent Box tax scheme
  

  The much anticipated 'patent box' tax scheme, first proposed in last year's Federal Budget, has taken a further step towards implementation, with the Government introducing draft legislation into Parliament on 10 February 2022.

   

• End of an era: Repeal of s51(3) of the CCA and implications for your IP
  

  A new bill, if passed, will repeal the IP exemption in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), requiring IP rights holders to ensure that the conditions in their licensing arrangements do not contravene the anti-competitive conduct prohibitions in that Act.

• Insights from session on 'Practical drafting tips on clean energy clauses
  

  Australia continues to have a fluctuating clean energy landscape. This ongoing state of flux highlights the importance of future proofing carbon clauses in energy supply and associated contracts.

• MinterEllison supports DELWP on $50m battery storage projects for Western Victoria
  

  MinterEllison has advised Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) on its Energy Storing Initiative (ESI) - a funding program that will deliver two large-scale battery storage projects for grid constrained areas in Western Victoria.

• The future of Australia's higher education sector: Unravelling the Accord Interim Report
  

  The Australian Universities Accord Interim Report has now been released, raising immediate issues that should be given due consideration by the sector.

• Cultural icons, fair use and AI - the Prince decision and the future of copyright
  

  The US Supreme Court has handed down its significant decision for a high profile copyright case, Andy Warhol Foundation For The Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith et al

• Risk management: Corporate PPAs - A Continuing Trend
  

  Corporate PPAs are an increasingly important part of a corporate’s risk management strategy and there are various structural and resourcing issues that corporates need to consider.

• University mergers - the next response to a challenging environment?
  

  Australian public universities continue to operate in a challenging environment, with relatively low public funding levels (compared to other OECD countries), increasing competition for students (from both the public and private sector) and significant regulatory constraints and compliance obligations.

  In the past five years we have seen a range of steps taken by universities to address these challenges - including sharing of research infrastructure, third party teaching arrangements, leveraging of campus property assets and establishment of branch campuses. Although we have also seen some universities acquire campuses from other higher education providers (both public and private), there has not been a university merger in Australia…yet.