President’s Message

Hari Subramaniam

President
2023 – present

Due to concatenation of circumstances, backed by overwhelming support from the Council, it was a great honour for me to be elected as the President Elect in Busan October 2022 and take over as the 14th President of APAA in Singapore on 5th November 2023. 

APAA is a non-government organisation of IP professionals in the Asian region. APAA was established by group of highly visionary IP professionals from Japan, Korea and Taiwan more than 50 years ago and has grown to include IP professionals from 24 Asian countries with about 2,500 members. APAA holds its Annual Council meeting every year and a general Assembly every two years in a pre-selected, exotic Asian jurisdiction which are attended by IP Professionals from over 90 countries.  These countries cover a wide range of cultures and languages. There are similarities and differences in IP laws and practices across the region.  APAA offers opportunities for IP professionals in and outside the Asian region to meet at our annual conferences and share knowledge and build relationships through a variety of workshops, mock trials, round tables, private meetings and several social events. APAA offers additional educational courses to APAA members and publishes newsletters authored by experts from various jurisdictions. This website has been established as a source of information and constant work is going on to upgrade it.

Justice Prathiba Singh, a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, and a former President of APAA India Group once remarked that APAA is a family that is built on shared experiences and values.  This comment is very powerful and is an accurate description of APAA.  APAA brings IP professionals together.  We treat all members equally. Keeping with the World IP day theme for 2023 emphasizing the crucial role of women in propelling innovation and creativity forward” APAA resolved in its 74th and 75th Council Meetings in Singapore to work towards acknowledging and seeing women in more visible and leadership roles to bring parity with their male colleagues.   

Now that we have emerged from the pandemic, I am enthusiastic about the future and look forward to continuing the path of growth of APAA that is overseen by the Council of APAA.