Meet IPO’s Middle East and North Africa Attaché Sanaz Javadi Farahzadi

As part of our ‘Meet the Attaché’ series we had the pleasure of speaking to our new Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Attaché Sanaz Javadi Farahzadi. She serves as the IPO’s IP Attaché responsible for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).?

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We asked Sanaz to tell us about her background before becoming an IPO Attaché.? ?

I am an IP lawyer and business adviser with a background that spans from the corporate world to policy work in IP and international trade. With over 21 years of experience across legal, policy, and research roles, I have worked extensively in IP across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. My work has involved consulting, coordinating, and facilitating capacity-building projects, awareness programs, and training workshops on diverse IP issues.??

I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with UN agencies, intergovernmental organisations, government bodies like the Swiss IP Institute and EUIPO, national IP offices, businesses, law firms, NGOs, and academia.? ? Beyond my legal expertise, I’m passionate about supporting and empowering businesses of all sizes. As Vice President of Partnerships for the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), I’ve built strategic partnerships and promoted collaboration with trade institutions, chambers of commerce, and enterprises to drive economic empowerment and opportunities for women in trade.??

Why did you decide to join the IPO???

I joined the UK IPO because it’s a fantastic chance to work with one of the world’s leading IP offices, known for supporting innovation and business rights all around the world. With my experience in international IP projects, this role feels like the perfect fit to help build connections and boost IP protection in the MENA region. Plus, I’m really excited about working on policies that can make a real difference for businesses and creators worldwide. It’s a meaningful opportunity to take my passion for IP to the next level in an emerging region!?

What are you most excited about in your role as MENA attaché??????

I'm honestly really excited to dive in and help connect the UK’s IP expertise with the amazing growth happening across the MENA region. It's a unique chance to make a real impact by working with local governments, businesses, and creators to build up IP protections that actually work for them. Plus, I can’t wait to learn from all the different perspectives, it’s going to bring a lot of fresh ideas to the table and make the work even more rewarding!??

We are very happy to have Sanaz join the team and can’t wait to see the great things she will achieve during her time at the IPO.?

#IPOukOverseas??

Useful links??

The IPO is constantly adding new resources to its Gov.UK website. You will find country and regional guides, tools for businesses as well as a masterclass that can help businesses and business advisors gain a better understanding of IP.??

IPO’s GOV.UK international pages??