Meet the officers

Our team of officers are elected by our governing Council to lead CITMA. They all serve two-year terms.

Kelly Saliger, President
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A dual qualified Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and Solicitor, Kelly has a wealth of experience advising brand owners on all matters relating to trade mark and design portfolios.

Kelly has over 10 years’ experience in the field and specialises in international litigation, enforcement and strategy particularly in the field of technology and media. She has acted before the Appointed Person and led multi-territorial prosecution and litigation. Kelly chairs our Education, Qualifications and Standards Committee.

Dan Hardman-Smart, First Vice-President
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Dan joined Stobbs in July 2019 after working as a solo practitioner and small business owner. He has assisted many entrepreneurs and SMEs with protecting their trade marks, passing off rights and designs.

He is particularly interested in international trade marks and managing portfolios around the world, and has a specialism in the registration and maintenance of trade marks in isolated or less known jurisdictions.

He has been a lead tutor on the CITMA Paralegal Course for a number of years and currently chairs the CITMA Paralegal Committee. 

Ese Akpogheneta, Second Vice-President/ Treasurer
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Ese has over 20 years’ experience in the global IP field and has spent time working in Asia, in particular China and Hong Kong.  

While in private practice Ese assisted clients ranging from individuals to start-ups to SMEs to multinationals in securing IP protection in various sectors.

 Ese is currently Trade Mark Counsel at BAT where she has responsibility for the protection and enforcement of BAT’s vapour trade mark portfolio globally.

She is also a member of the IP Inclusive management team, and serves on the CITMA AI Taskforce and chairs the Education, Qualification and Standards Committee.

Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy, Immediate Past President 
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Rachel is a Partner in the London office of Baker McKenzie, where she practices as a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney, Litigator & Advocate. 

Rachel was the chair of CITMA's Law & Practice Committee for many years and continues to be active within the Committee and many other CITMA Working Groups. 

Her practice covers a range of industries, including the fashion and luxury sectors, but she has a particular focus on life sciences and regulatory issues relating to parallel trade in the EU and naming clearance.