What’s the best advice you ever received?
Never make a decision when you are angry or upset. Calm yourself down first so that you can think clearly.
 
What’s one thing about living in the Caribbean that might surprise people?
The incredible diversity of the Caribbean. Most people think about the Caribbean in terms of sand, sea and sun. But that is not all. The Caribbean is a biodiversity hotspot with thousands of endemic species. Given that the region was colonized by major European powers, which also brought in slaves from Africa and indentured laborers from India and China, it is a racially diverse region. As such, several languages are spoken in the Caribbean, including local creole languages. The resulting culture of the region is very diverse and interesting.
 
How did you get involved in intellectual property law? 
Just over 20 years ago, I saw an advertisement in a Jamaican newspaper asking for applicants for the post of Head of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) which was just being established. The advertisement asked for an attorney-at-law with management skills.  I was already a senior attorney-at-law with significant management skills, having managed a number of in-house legal departments. I applied for the job and was successful. I did not know much about intellectual property, but as I said in my interview, it is another area of law and I was sure I could learn it. That was it! I fell in love with intellectual property law and have stuck with it since then.

How has your experience as the first Head of the JIPO been helpful in the rest of your career?
That experience set me up for where I am now, as I was able to work closely with the World Intellectual Property Office—an experience from which I learned a lot. I attended many IP seminars and meetings and interacted with many IP professionals from all over the world, some of whom I am still in contact with. I interacted with IP professionals in Jamaica, including those at universities and research institutions. I was also able to interact with government officials under whose purview JIPO fell and with other government offices, agencies and departments for which IP was important. It gave me a good idea of the composition of the IP ecosystem in Jamaica, such as it was, and where we need to go in building that ecosystem.
 
In addition to IP law, you also practice sports law. What (if anything) do those two specialties have in common?
IP law is common to both specialities. IP law plays a significant role in sports, including image rights, copyright, design rights, trademarks and patents. Music (ska, reggae, dancehall) and sports (mainly track and field) are two industries in which Jamaica is very strong internationally. I thought that these would be great areas for me to make a contribution to my country.

What do you like most about working with tech transfer professionals, inventors and entrepreneurs?
I love working with tech transfer professionals because they do a really important job—a job that needs to be done in Jamaica. Without them, research, inventions and innovations would not make it to market to benefit society. Inventors are such special people. They are so creative and inspiring. I love that! Of course, the entrepreneurs are the ones who bring the research, inventions and innovation to market. All of them are critical to the tech transfer process.
 
What’s something you’re working on right now that really excites you? 
Right now, I am working on bringing a group of people together to provide tech transfer services to the Jamaican public. I am very excited about this, as such services are needed in Jamaica. This initiative is something that I have wanted to start for a very long time, and now that I have retired from The University of the West Indies, it will now happen.  
 
April 26 is World IP Day. What does that mean to you?
World IP Day is very important as it provides an opportunity to inform and educate the general public in Jamaica about IP. This World IP Day will be very special, as it will mark the announcement of the tech transfer services initiative that I am currently working on.

What’s a favorite memory from an AUTM event or initiative?
A favorite memory is a discussion with IP Attorneys-at-Law in Chile in November, 2023, about what they thought was the catalyst that galvanized IP and tech transfer in Chile. This set off several light bulbs in my head.   
 
What does AUTM Membership have to offer that you can’t get from other organizations?
I would say the learning resources and the AUTM community. There are so many great learning resources. The AUTM community is so knowledgeable, friendly, international and willing to share knowledge. Amazing!