[A2k] Video of WIPO DG Nominee Francis Gurry meeting with Civil Society

Wed May 21 07:54:35 2008

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Dear Friends and Colleagues,

as many of you know, on Tuesday May 13th Francis Gurry from Australia
was selected by the WIPO Coordination Committee to be the nominee for
WIPO Director-General put forward to the WIPO General Assembly in
September 2008.  It was a close vote in a process that, while still not
fully transparent, seemed to reflect a move towards more openness, some
credit for which is due to Mrs. Hilde Skorpen, Norwegian Chair of the
Committee, and her staff.

Mr. Gurry was one of 7 candidates who met with civil society and a video
of his presentation, question and answer session, and concluding remarks
is available at
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5335079108122076983&hl=en
<http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5335079108122076983&hl=en>.

For those interested in comparing Mr. Gurry's positions on civil society
issues with those of the other candidates, videos of the other
candidates are also available at:
Video 1 -
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5093362967627971571&hl=en
<http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5093362967627971571&hl=en>
Video 2 -
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1312827334844132820&hl=en
<http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1312827334844132820&hl=en>
Video 3 -
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8845402997045229188&hl=en
<http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8845402997045229188&hl=en>
Video 4 -
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5105921436401561633&hl=en
<http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5105921436401561633&hl=en>
Video 5 -
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8998862960353259859&hl=en
<http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8998862960353259859&hl=en>

More information on the Selection process is available on CIEL's website
at http://www.ciel.org/Tae/WIPO_DirGen_15Apr.html.

Francis Gurry is presently a Deputy Director General of WIPO and has
worked at WIPO since 1985, including as Legal Counsel, and as Special
Assistant to the Director-General.  He is presently responsible for
WIPO's work on: the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT); patent law and
policy and International Patent Classification (IPC); WIPO Standards;
WIPO statistics; the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center; Traditional
Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions, Genetic Resources and Life
Sciences.

He holds law degrees from the University of Melbourne and the Doctorate
of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. He has written books on
the law of trade secrets and confidential information and intellectual
property as well as several articles. He has practiced as an attorney in
Melbourne and Sydney and has taught law at the University of Melbourne.
His full CV is available at:
http://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/govbody/en/wo_cc_58/wo_cc_58_13_au.pdf.

In the period between his nomination and the September 2008 WIPO General
Assemblies, we hope that civil society and member states will engage in
a thorough and considered process of discussion and assessment regarding
the qualities of Mr. Gurry and how he plans to transform WIPO.  It is
crucial that Mr. Gurry, and the member states that have supported his
nomination, are put on notice that they will be expected to deliver,
quickly and effectively, on promises to make the organization more
professional, more transparent and accountable, more focused on
evidence-based analysis and advice, and more effective at mainstreaming
development into ALL of its activities.

Regards,
Dalindyebo Shabalala
Director, Project on Intellectual Property and Sustainable Development
Center for International Environmental Law
Rue des Savoises 15
1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Phone: +41 22 321 4774
Fax: +41 22 489 0739
www.ciel.org