2024 Francis Gurry Lecture on Intellectual Property (Sydney)

Melbourne Law School hopes you can join us for this special lecture event presented by Dr Terri Janke. Please join us from 5:30 pm for networking with drinks and light refreshments prior to the lecture commencement at 6:00pm.

For decades, Indigenous people have been calling for the right to stop their art, songs, stories and knowledge from being appropriated. Existing intellectual property laws have been inadequate in safeguarding this Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.

In May 2024, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Treaty on Genetic Resources, Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge was finalised. Will this Treaty shape the future international framework for recognising and protection traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expression?

Australia is also developing a law of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, which will address fake arts and appropriation of knowledge and cultural expression.

In this presentation, Dr Terri Janke will share her vision for future legal protection of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.

Dr Terri Janke is a Wuthathi/Yadhaigana and Meriam woman and an international authority on Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP).

She is known for innovating pathways between the non-Indigenous business sector and Indigenous people in business, and is the author of True Tracks: Respecting Indigenous knowledge and culture (2021).

Dr Janke holds a BA and LLB from the University of New South Wales, and a PhD from the Australian National University. As the owner and Solicitor Director of a legal and consulting firm, Terri Janke and Company, she manages her team to deliver excellent results to a diverse client base.

Dr Janke is a director of the Copyright Agency, and a member of the Temporary Artificial Intelligence (AI) Expert Working Group.

This lecture is presented in conjuntion with the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia.

The Francis Gurry Lecture series has been generously supported by AIPPI Australia, IP Australia, IPSANZ and LESANZ.

This event is taking place in Sydney. For the Melbourne event, or to sign up for the livestream, please visit:

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Customs House, 31 Alfred Street, Sydney, Australia