Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity

Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity

Featuring Peng-Sang Cau (President and CEO, Transformix Engineering Inc.), Angela DeMontigny (Native Canadian Fashion Designer, and Founder, DeMontigny), Erin Finlay (Chief Legal Officer, Canadian Media Producers Association), and Alexis Black (Business Development Officer, Canadian Intellectual Property Office)

The World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated annually on April 26, to highlight the role of intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, copyright) in fostering innovation and creativity. The day provides an annual opportunity to promote a general understanding of intellectual property (IP) rights, as well as reflect on some of the global challenges faced by the modern IP system. This year, the world IP day will be celebrated internationally under the theme Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity.

CIGI will host a lunch time panel discussion featuring some dynamic and vibrant Canadian women who have made significant contributions to innovation and creativity. The panelists will shed light on their achievements and challenges, while yet reflecting on how the intellectual property system can provide support to innovative and creative women in their quest to bring ideas to the market.

Please join us for an afternoon celebrating creative and innovative women the world over!

This presentation will start promptly at noon, and will be preceded by a light lunch starting at 11:30am.

Please note that on-site parking is not availble at the CIGI Campus for daytime events. Options for parking in Uptown Waterloo can be found at the following website: http://www.waterloo.ca/en/government/uptown.asp

Event Speakers

Alexis Black
Alexis Black is a Business Development Officer with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. An arts graduate from Western University, Alexis has worked for two national law firms managing technology and intellectual property law marketing and business development portfolios. Prior to working for Canadian law firms, Alexis managed sponsorships and business partnerships for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

Peng-Sang Cau
Peng Sang Cau founded Transformix Engineering in 1995 with three engineers. She has served as the company's President and CEO since 1999, guiding its transition from a local provider of engineering services to international supplier of Advanced Automation Solution. In 2012, Transformix developed an innovative technology called CNC AssemblyTM that is revolutionizing the automation industry.

Angela DeMontigny
Angela DeMontigny is an internationally-renowned, native Canadian designer. Her custom made, all leather clothing collections, bold accessories and statement jewelry made of semi-precious jewels and crystals, have been sold in specialty boutiques and galleries throughout North America and Europe since 1995.

Erin Finlay
Erin Finlay is Chief Legal Officer at the Canadian Media Producers Association. She provides legal advice and strategic direction for the CMPA and its members on a wide range of matters, including CRTC Regulatory proceedings, Terms of Trade, Canada Media Fund policies and guidelines, intellectual property and the changing role of copyright in our ever-shifting media landscape. She also advocates on behalf of its members to help ensure that Canada’s independent media producers are supported and promoted so that world-class content continues to thrive in Canada and around the world.