IP Hall of Fame Academy members
The IP Hall of Fame Academy comprises previous, living inductees into the IP Hall of Fame, the panellists from the 2006 IP Hall of Fame induction process and individuals who have been put forward for membership as a consequence of their acknowledged expertise in international intellectual property issues. Moving forward, people will qualify for Academy membership only if they are inducted into the IP Hall of Fame or if their names are submitted for consideration by an existing member.
The role of Academy members is to select IP Hall of Fame inductees from the nominations made by the global IP community.
Current members are (click on name for more information):
Ciarán McGinley
Controller of the European Patent Office and one of the executive committee's longest-standing membersBorn in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Ciarán McGinley joined the European Patent Office (EPO) as a young aeronautical engineer in 1982. For many years he worked as an examiner, with a short stint as a project leader in the IT field. His management career at the EPO took off after obtaining an MBA during a 16-month sabbatical. Since returning, he has worked his way up through the ranks and is now one of the longest-serving members of the executive committee, having joined it at the beginning of 2003. McGinley has served directly under three EPO presidents and has been closely involved in almost every aspect of strategy and policy since the early 2000s. He currently holds the post of controller and is responsible for organisational efficiency, planning, financial controlling, economic aspects and strategic development.