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Jon Harwood is the general manager of intellectual property at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, one of the world’s leading medical device companies that designs and manufactures devices for respiratory humidification, obstructive sleep apnea, anesthesia and surgical humidification. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare began in the late 1960’s as an innovative medical device arm of Fisher & Paykel, pioneering the first respiratory humidifier. Evolutions of that device have been dramatically improving care and outcomes for patients ever since. In 2001 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and Fisher & Paykel Appliances listed as separate companies.
At Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Mr Harwood has built an in-house IP function – including IP policy, strategy and process – while broadening and deepening the network of external service providers. In addition, he has established an in-house IP team of patent attorneys and IP engineers to support the rapid growth of the company’s IP activities.
Mr Harwood is responsible for the company’s IP activities globally. He and his team are fully focused on securing the IP outputs of more than 800 engineers and clinicians, on IP licensing, freedom to operate and enforcement of the company’s extensive IP portfolio.
Mr Harwood started his career as an electronics engineer at Fisher & Paykel and was a member of the team that designed and developed the SmartDrive auto washer with its world first direct drive plastic brushless DC motor. He went on to head the company’s controls team for laundry products for nine years. In 2006 he took up the newly established role of IP manager at Fisher and Paykel Appliances and repeated this again in 2008 at Fisher and Paykel Healthcare.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has achieved sustained profitable growth in the competitive medical device space. Mr Harwood’s careful and creative management of the company’s intellectual property activities and strategy, while developing its IP capability, has been critical to supporting the growth of the business and to underpinning the competitive advantage of its highly innovative products and manufacturing processes.