Australian Attorney Receives Prestigious Award from International Trademark Association

New York, New York, November 20, 2019—The International Trademark Association (INTA) is pleased to announce Marion Heathcote, a leading trademark attorney and indigenous rights advocate based in Sydney, Australia, as the recipient of the Association’s 2019 President’s Award.

The President’s Award acknowledges the profound appreciation of the global trademark community to INTA members who, over the course of their career, have made a lasting impact on the Association and its mission. This year, Lara Kayode, Founder and Managing Partner, O. Kayode and Co., Lagos, Nigeria, also received the President’s Award.

Ms. Heathcote, Principal at Davies Collison Cave, has been a volunteer with INTA for nearly two decades. She has served on various committees, contributing to INTA’s advocacy, educational programs, and publications. She served on the Board of Directors from 2005 to 2008, and has been a member of the Asia-Pacific Global Advisory Council since 2014.

This is the second major honor INTA has bestowed on the trademark attorney. In 2009, the Association presented Ms. Heathcote with the INTA Volunteer Service Award for the Advancement of Trademark Law for her work in championing indigenous rights regionally and globally. She served as the inaugural chair of the Indigenous Rights Committee from 2016 to 2018.

During her time as chair, the Committee helped INTA provide pro bono assistance to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Traditional Knowledge Division for capacity-building workshops held in Iqualit, Laos, the Philippines, and Western Samoa to guide indigenous peoples and local communities in understanding the intellectual property (IP) system so that they could more strategically and effectively use IP tools, particularly trademarks. This led to INTA’s involvement in WIPO’s new “Project-Based Training and Mentoring Program on Intellectual Property for Women Entrepreneurs from indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.”

Last year, at INTA’s Leadership Meeting, Ms. Heathcote eloquently spoke about her support for indigenous peoples, as one of three speakers in the Association’s inaugural INTA Influencers series of talks.

“There is no doubt that Ms. Heathcote’s passion for her work and her contributions to INTA over the years, especially in the area of indigenous rights, have had a profound influence on the Association and on the global trademark landscape,” said INTA President David Lossignol. “She has fused her interests, career, and volunteer work to create truly positive change in the area of indigenous rights.”

In receiving the award, Ms. Heathcote said, “In a volunteer organization such as INTA, where many give generously of their time and experience and all work is ultimately collaborative, to be singled out is extremely humbling. To me this is a recognition not just of my efforts but also the contributions made by so many others, including those who have guided me, encouraged me, supported me, and worked alongside me over many years.”

Ms. Heathcote holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from Charles Sturt University, a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Law from Macquarie University, and a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney.

INTA presented the award to Ms. Heathcote on November 19 during the Association’s 2019 Leadership Meeting in Austin, Texas.

About the International Trademark Association
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation. Members include more than 7,200 trademark owners, professionals, and academics from 187 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Brussels, Santiago, Shanghai, Singapore, and Washington, D.C., and representatives in Geneva and New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.