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Name: Greg Powell
Age: 40
Qualifications: Bachelor of Electrical Engineering
Institution: University of Southern Queensland (formally the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education)
Intake: January 1990
Current employment speciality: Physics
What were you doing before joining IP Australia and how did you hear about us?
I was working part-time with Telstra and saw the job advertised in the newspaper.
Why did you apply to become a Patent Examiner?
It struck me as a job that would allow me see a lot of new developments in many different areas of technology both in the patent applications I was looking at and in the documents I found while searching during examination.
How did you find the selection process and training program?
The selection process was a bit different back then to what happens now. At the interview I was asked for my interpretation of various sections from Acts and then asked to apply those sections to different scenarios. It was also the first interview where I was told to write an essay on a technical subject in 20 minutes. A bit surprising but not difficult at all.
The training has also changed a bit in my time. Instead of the competency-based training that happens now, it was six months of training with a mix of classes, assignments, tutorials and on-the-job training. At the end we had to sit examinations for each of the areas we covered. The exams don’t happen now, and the competency based training means that you don’t have to stay in training for 6 months.
What do you like most about your job?
The variety. While the process of patent examination doesn’t change much from case to case, they are in different technologies. I’ve examined applications in technologies associated with games, printers, weapons, lasers, welding, semiconductors, electrical motors, cabling, connectors and many more. I am also a hearing officer and manage hearings of disputes between parties. These have a much higher legal content than examination. I have also been part of the processes to bring about changes to different pieces of legislation. This is another area where there is great legal content. So technologically and legally there is a lot to satisfy me. Also, I occasionally answer questions from the public about concerns they have. This allows me to touch base with the people who are actually creating the things we see. It is very satisfying to be able to provide people with the answers they are seeking and the thanks they give me is a great reward.
What do you think is the best thing about working at IP Australia?
The working environment is very flexible. I find it allows you to easily balance your work life and home life. The people in the organisation are also fantastic. Happy, friendly and helpful. I also love the legal side of things (something I never knew existed in me until I joined IP Australia!).
What opportunities have you had since joining IP Australia?
There have been many. I have travelled to conferences to keep up to date with technologies. I have managed hearings for disputes between parties. I have been part of legislation changes. I have participated in management skills programs. There are many more that I just can’t remember at the moment!
What would you highlight to potential applicants considering a career with IP Australia?
It’s really hard to find another job that has the technological interest and the legal interest. In patent examination there is a clear break between work and home – you aren’t allowed to take work home so when you leave the office it’s over. Wrap this up with a flexible workplace and wonderful staff and you can’t go wrong!
How do you like living in Canberra?
Canberra is a great place to live. There are plenty of places to go. You can see buildings of national significance or head down to the latest festival in a local park. The restaurants are wonderful – you can always find something that you like. The ski fields are close and beaches are only a couple of hours away. And traffic jams? What are they!
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