Neena was appointed Chairperson of the Trademarks Opposition Board (TMOB) on December 11, 2023. She is responsible for modernizing the operations of the TMOB with the goal of improving services to CIPO clients. She also works closely with the director general of the Trademarks and Industrial Designs Branch and team.
Neena began her career in the public service at CIPO, after completing a PhD in molecular biology at the University of Ottawa’s Neuroscience Research Institute. During her time at CIPO, Neena has worked on regulatory issues regarding IP as a patent examiner, a section head and an acting director in the Biotechnology Division. In her role at CIPO as the chief people officer of Workforce Modernization in the Patent Branch, Neena developed strategic, people-centred initiatives around culture and engagement. In 2016, Neena was a senior investment manager at the Industrial Technologies Office, where she managed a team of analysts working on grants and contributions related to aerospace, defence and security. In 2020, Neena led the ISED team responsible for implementing the Strategic Science Fund, a multimillion dollar Budget 2019 commitment to establish and operate a grants and contributions program for third-party research organizations in Canada. Neena joined the Patent Appeal Board as chairperson in June 2022 after having served as director of the IP awareness and education team in CIPO’s Services to Business Branch in 2021.
