New CITMA President emphasises community and wellness in inaugural address
In her inaugural speech as President of CITMA, Kelly Saliger outlined her vision for the organisation, focusing on volunteering, litigation support, and mental health awareness.
Speaking at the CITMA Summer Reception on 2nd July 2024, Kelly highlighted the importance of community within the profession. She praised the integral role CITMA has played in her career, describing it as "a community, somewhere that challenges you and also operates as part of my support network."
Kelly encouraged members to put forward nominations for the Sheila Lesley Award, named after CITMA's first female president. This recognition will be given to a CITMA member who has made an outstanding contribution to the organisation over the past year. Nominations are set to open later this month, with the award to be presented at the Christmas Lunch in London.
The new President also commended her predecessor, Rachel, for establishing the Litigators’ Club. This initiative creates a community for trade mark litigators and those involved in dispute resolution work. Kelly noted an increase in litigation, particularly in designs, following Brexit.
A significant portion of Kelly’s address was devoted to wellness and mental health in the profession. She emphasised the importance of mental resilience and maintaining a work-life balance, especially in the post-Covid era. Kelly urged members to adhere to the Mindful Business Charter, which promotes professional courtesy and considerate behaviour across all levels of interaction.
"We are all here to do a job and act in our businesses' or clients' best interests, but there's a way of doing that without impacting on your mental health, or even someone else's," Kelly stated.
In closing, Kelly highlighted the UK profession’s international reputation, noting, "We as a community are looked to internationally for our knowledge, our training and our professionalism." She encouraged members to celebrate their hard work and the elite status of the UK's trade mark environment.