Lisa Jorgenson

Lisa Jorgenson is a senior international intellectual property executive and serves as deputy director general at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva.

In this role, she reports directly to the director general and leads WIPO’s Patents and Technology Sector, one of the organisation’s core operational divisions. This sector is central to the global patent system and includes responsibility for the administration and development of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which is the world’s most widely used international patent filing system.

Jorgenson oversees a wide range of activities relating to international patent law and infrastructure. This includes the legal and procedural framework of the PCT, the operational services that support international patent applications, and broader policy work aimed at improving the efficiency, accessibility and consistency of global patent protection.

Before joining WIPO, Jorgenson built a career spanning both industry and intellectual property organisations, with significant experience in IP strategy, licensing and policy. She previously served as executive director of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), where she was involved in representing the interests of IP professionals and contributing to policy discussions on patent and innovation issues.

Jorgenson’s influence in IP stems from her leadership of one of the most important global patent systems. The PCT, which she helps oversee, is a foundational component of the international IP framework and is used by applicants worldwide to streamline the process of seeking patent protection in multiple countries. As a result, her work has a direct impact on global innovation strategy, patent filing practices and the international legal infrastructure that supports technological development.