MEET THE VANIPO TEAM MEMBERS

Mr Brittien Yosef

Registrar of Vanuatu Intellectual Property Office

  Brittien Yosef is a lawyer by profession graduated with a Law Degree and a Professional Diploma in Legal Practice, and in Legislative Drafting from the University of the South Pacific. Was admitted to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Vanuatu as a Solicitor & Barrister and a member of the Vanuatu Law Society. Prior to his appointment as Registrar of Vanuatu Intellectual Properties, he was an associate legal practitioner in the law firm of Pacific Lawyers, and then moved on to join the Law firm of Yawha & Associates. Also attended trainings on advanced Intellectual Property studies and advance Intellectual Property Management from the World Intellectual Property Organization Academy, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Team Members

Mr. Iapatu Railau Sam
Senior Patents & Designs Officer

Iapatu Railau Sam is a lawyer by profession graduated with a Law Degree and a Professional Diploma in Legal Practice. Prior to his appointment at the Vanuatu Intellectual Property Office, he was the Assistant Legal Researcher and the Legal Officer for the Advocacy and Legal Advice Center (ALAC) for the Transparency International Vanuatu. He also attended trainings on Patent Law and Examination from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). He further attended Intellectual property Training at the Intellectual Property Academy of Singapore and other Intellectual property courses at the World Intellectual Property Organization Academy and the Word Trade Organization Academy.

Mr. John Stephen Huri
Senior Traditional Knowledge Officer

John Stephen Huri is the Senior Traditional Knowledge and traditional cultural expressions officer with VanIPO. Before entering law school, he served as an Anglican priest for over 20 years and has a Bachelor of Theology from the Auckland University. He graduated from USP in 2014 with a Bachelor of Law and started work in Vanuatu Intellectual Property Office in June 2015. He first managed the Trademarks section for two years and holds a certificate in Trademark examination before moving to his current position in 2017.

Mr. Lorenzies Lingtamat
Copyright & Related Right Officer

Lorenzies Lingtamat is the Copyright and Related Rights officer with the Vanuatu Intellectual Property office. He is a lawyer by profession who graduated at the University of the South Pacific with a Bachelor Law Degree (LLB) and a Professional Diploma in Legal Practice (PDLP). Prior to his appointment to VanIPO he was a National Human Rights Committee Assistant working within the Vanuatu Law Reform Commission and also as a Legal Assistant at the Department of Police Prosecutions. He also has a certificate from the World Intellectual Property Organisation for the General Course on Intellectual Property.

Ms. Celina Arnhambath
Trademark Registration Officer
Mrs. Marlene Tom Leitare
Finance & Admin Officer
Mr. Wayne Bule
Trademark Examiner Officer
Ms. Lavinia Wanemut
Assistant Admin & Filing Officer
Mr. Andrew Tungon
IT Officer
Mr. Jean Pierre Sam
Copyright TA