The Cayman Islands Intellectual Property Office (CIIPO) has appointed Terita Kalloo, an intellectual property (IP) attorney, as its new director.
Kalloo has over 13 years of Caribbean experience and previously specialised in IP protection, management, litigation and enforcement through her law practice in Trinidad and Tobago.
In a government news release on 6 February, Kathryn Dinspel-Powell, deputy chief officer of the Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce, which oversees CIIPO, said Kalloo’s appointment marks “an important step forward”.
“Her leadership, regional expertise and international perspective will be instrumental in strengthening Cayman’s IP framework and supporting growth through innovation,” she added.
Kalloo said she is looking forward to her work in the role, which took effect on 19 January.
“I look forward to working with the team and the Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce to further develop the IP ecosystem of the Cayman Islands to provide world-class IP services.
“Intellectual property can be a key instrument for sustainable development, and I hope to contribute to strengthening the systems that support this development and future growth.”
Kalloo founded IP Harvester Ltd, an IP management company that offers services in the Caribbean region, including IP valuations, audits and due diligence.
She also served as a World Intellectual Property Organization-certified trainer at the National Intellectual Property Training Centre of Trinidad and Tobago.
Her academic credentials include an LLB from the University of the West Indies, a legal education certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School and a master of intellectual property law and management from the University of Strasbourg.
She is currently pursuing PhD research in IP management at the same institution.
Kalloo is a member of several international organisations, including the International Trademark Association, the Intellectual Property Caribbean Association, the Inter-American Association for Intellectual Property and the International Institute of IP Management.
The CIIPO is the government agency responsible for registering, managing and protecting intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks and designs, in Cayman.
