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On 25 April 2018 the Chair of IP Law at the Faculty of Law, and Innovus, marked World IP Day by hosting a public seminar followed by a Q&A panel session on the theme Powering change: Stellenbosch womxn in innovation and creativity.

The focus of this seminar was the people behind the innovation, creativity and social impact that underlies IP rights in South Africa and the value of inspired work.

It highlighted the personal journeys, views and experiences of six remarkable women who have made, and continue to make, an impact on society by finding novel solutions to some of the challenges faced by South Africans, particularly African and South African women.

The speakers at the seminar had an open forum to recount the challenges they have faced, discuss the innovative steps they have taken to overcome academic or professional obstacles and reflect on the role of women and the value of creativity for society.

Sonia Human – Professor in the Department of Private Law, Emeritus Dean of the Faculty of Law at Stellenbosch University and Lecturer in Family Law with a focus on children’s rights.

Thuli Madonsela – Professor in the Department of Public Law and Faculty Trust Chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University and former Public Protector of South Africa.

Anna-Mart Engelbrecht – Professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences, Founder and Group Leader of the Cancer Research Group at Stellenbosch University and recipient of the Marie Curie Scholarship of the European Union and the Lasec Award for Excellence in Physiology Research from the Physiological Society of Southern Africa.

Madelein Kleyn – Research Fellow of the Anton Mostert Chair of Intellectual Property Law, Lecturer in Patent and Design Law at Stellenbosch University, Chemical Engineer and Patent Attorney, council member of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Lawyers, Group Company Secretary and Group General Manager: Legal and Intellectual Property to Oro Agri.

Anita Nel – Chief Executive Officere of Innovus, Office of Technology Transfer at Stellenbosch University, Senior Director: Innovation and Business Development at SU and former investment manager at a venture capital company.

Jetane Charsley – Director: Regulatory and Compliance at the National Intellectual Property Management Office.