INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF PATENT ADVISORS
Michael Recker (USA)
is the founder and president of MRT Patents. MRT Patents is a leading advisory firm in patent valuation, monetization and strategic intellectual property planning. Michael is an experienced technology and IP executive with a proven track record in developing and monetizing a broad intellectual property portfolio.
Dr. Marcos Ariel Celli (Argentina)
is an Argentine lawyer specializing in International Corporate Law, global taxation, cryptocurrencies, LegalTech, and legal sustainability. Founder of Legal Innovation, with offices in the US, Chile, and Argentina, he combines his legal experience with a technological approach to offer efficient solutions to companies, startups, governments, and international organizations.
With experience in transnational negotiations, complex litigation, appeals before higher courts, and consulting on data protection and environmental regulation, he has established himself as a versatile professional committed to the future of law. His academic and professional profile is complemented by his active participation in initiatives related to human rights, children, and the circular economy.
Slim Kou (China)
is a partner and patent & trademark attorney at Precise Intellectual Property LLC. His practice focuses on intellectual property matters including the prosecution of Chinese and foreign (U.S., Europe, Japan, etc.) patents and trademarks, Chinese patent invalidation and litigation, as well as patent search and analysis.
Slim has drafted hundreds of Chinese and English patent applications spanning a wide range of technologies, including chemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, macromolecules and polymer composites, materials processing, and mechanical engineering. He has also processed over
one hundred U.S. utility and design patent applications, including translation and responses to Office Actions. In addition, he has handled dozens of Chinese patent invalidation proceedings covering inventions, utility models, and designs.
With a deep understanding of the differences in patent drafting and prosecution among Chinese, U.S., and European systems, Slim brings a global perspective to his clients’ IP strategies.
Slim also has extensive experience in trademark matters, having handled over one hundred cases involving trademark applications, reexaminations, cancellations, oppositions, and invalidations.
With more than fifteen years of experience in intellectual property law, Slim previously worked at China Patent Agent (H.K.) Ltd.—one of the largest IP firms in China—and at another major IP firm in Shenzhen. He holds a master's degree from Tsinghua University and has been selected as a member of the Shenzhen intellectual property expert tank for his work in intellectual property.
James Wan (Australia)
James has dedicated his entire career to leveraging intellectual property for high-growth companies. His academic credentials include a Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Intellectual Property Law, and Master of Laws.
With over 21 years of specialized experience in intellectual property and technology/startup law—10 years in Singapore and Hong Kong, and 11 years in Australia—James has held numerous professional accreditations. He is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Federal Court of Australia, a Registered Patent Attorney in Australia and New Zealand, a Registered Singapore Patent Agent, a Registered Trade Marks Attorney, a Fellow of The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia (IPTA), and a Registered Foreign Lawyer in Hong Kong.
James is an active member of several professional bodies, including the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ), the Licensing Executives Society, and the AI Ethics Committee of the Australian Computer Society.
His technical specialization includes software, machine learning, and Web3 technologies, and he brings extensive experience with medical devices and mechanical inventions. Beyond legal expertise, James is also a technology builder, developing software tools to create client value by managing risk,
generating competitive intelligence, identifying market opportunities, and
automating low-value tasks.
His notable clients include leading universities, government research organizations, and global companies such as Breville, Citibank, Seiko, and Epson.
Harun Shaikh (India)
is electronics engineer and qualified intellectual property attorney with extensive experience assisting corporates, SMEs, startups, research institutions, and individual inventors in developing strategic IP frameworks and protecting their innovations.
He specializes in conducting comprehensive patent searches—including landscape, whitespace, greyspace, competitor, and infringement analyses—and is adept at formulating effective patent strategies. His core strengths lie in drafting and prosecuting high-quality patent applications and building robust patent portfolios tailored to client goals.
Currently, Harun serves as a Patent Attorney at M&P IP PROTECTORS, a boutique law firm providing end-to-end intellectual property services across a wide range of industries.
As a mentor to early-stage ventures, Harun helps startups establish foundational IP strategies, protect core technologies, and navigate competitive landscapes. He is also an angel investor, passionate about supporting high-potential ventures with both strategic guidance and financial investment.
Driven by a mission to unlock the full potential of intellectual assets, Harun empowers innovators to stay competitive and lead with confidence in a dynamic global
market.
INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS
Shaheen Majeed, D.Litt. (India)
Global CEO & Managing Director
is the Global CEO & Managing Director of the Sami-Sabinsa Group. Shaheen has held diverse roles, including sales, supply chain management, manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and global marketing. As President Worldwide, his innovative global strategies expanded the company’s reach across multiple continents. Over 25 years, he shaped the company into a global nutraceutical ingredient leader. Some achievements include ensuring the company’s adherence to cGMP and regulatory standards, guiding numerous clinical studies to publication, and launching products that are category leaders. He holds 62 US & International patents and has authored 31 peer-reviewed publications, showcasing his dedication to advancing scientific research and product innovation. Before his current position, Shaheen served as CEO of HB Natural Ingredients, BGG Americas, and Algae Health Sciences, subsidiaries of BGG World.
Lucio Fumi, M.D. (UK)
European Physician
is a European physician who has worked for over thirty years in the healthcare industry, in Italy, Germany, Slovenia, UK and the Netherlands. Registered and fully licensed for Medical Practice in Italy and the UK, Lucio has worked as medical director in international corporations, with pharmaceutical, biotech, clinical nutrition and medical technology products. In 1998 he set up Wyfold Medical, a consultancy agency dedicated to medical affairs and clinical development for the medical device and biotech industry. Lucio was President of the Italian Medical Society of Great Britain for the term 2014-16. He is now a member of the National Council of the European Movement.
Leila Falcao, Ph.D. (France)
Founder/CEO of INATURALS
is Founder/CEO of INATURALS, a Research and Development company which redefines innovation for natural ingredients market via innovative design to build sustainable and innovative ingredients for cosmetic, nutraceutical and food markets. Leila is also Co-Founder/CEO of PHENIX EN PROVENCE Innovative upcycled ingredients from Provence origin. She received her Ph.D. from Universidade Federal de Santa / Faculté d'Oenologie Université de Bordeaux II, France. Leila is a believer and skillful writer on innovations and ideas.
David Madsen, Ph.D. (USA)
Expert of Biomedical Science
is expert of biomedical science with technical and practical experience in the innovation of various aspects of nutrition and metabolism. He offers consulting and management of biomedical/nutritional aspects of new product development: research; writing; editing; clinical trial design and management. technical support for marketing, regulatory, intellectual property, competitive intelligence. David received his Ph.D. in Zoology and Biochemistry from University of Massachusetts Amherst. He speaks English, French and Spanish.
Shen-Youn Chang, Ph.D. (USA)
Vice President for Quality and Regulatory
is currently Vice President for Quality and Regulatory at Mizkan America. He has been Vice President at Fairway Market and Vice President, R&D, Quality and Regulatory at Beech-Nut Nutrition where his team successfully launched over 200 new nutrition-based baby food products in the US and Canada. Shen-Youn also was with Heinz North America and Clintec Nutrition, a joint venture of Nestle and Baxter HealthCare, where he successfully managed to bring 28 medical science based clinical nutrition products to market. He co-invented 16 US and EU patents. Shen-Youn earned his B.E. in Marine Food Technology from Taiwan in 1979. After 2 years of military service as an officer in a medical group, he came to the US and earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology from University of Georgia. He also studied at Iowa State University and the University of Massachusetts. He holds an MBA from Webster University. He served as a member of the Cornell University Institute of Food Science Advisory Council from 2009-2017, and is fluent in English and Chinese.
Shaparak Kamarei, M.D. (USA)
Physician, Educator, and Medical Director
emigrated from Iran to Nevada, U.S., with her family at the age of 13. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno. After completing medical school at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine and an Internal Medicine residency at the University of California, San Diego in 1995, she joined the Cleveland Clinic Foundation's faculty. In 1999, Shaparak returned to Southern California to join the faculty of USC Keck School of Medicine. She later moved to Orange County in 2001, where she established a successful private practice for 11 years. In 2012, she joined Optum Medical Group, serving as the Medical Director of Operations and the Chairman of OCMG’s Clinical Documentation and Quality Improvement Committee. Dr. Kamarei maintains a full practice in Internal Medicine while also dedicating time to administrative and leadership roles. She enjoys long walks and spending time with her family.
EXECUTIVE TEAM
A. Reza Kamarei, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO
is an accomplished global executive, entrepreneur, consultant and advisor with more than 40 years of success across the food, nutrition, health & wellness, and management consulting industries. He is currently President of Kamarei Consulting (www.KamareiConsulting.com). Reza received his Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At MIT, he was a key contributor to the NASA-sponsored project on feasibility of producing a range of food products from a limited range of undifferentiated major food components for future manned space habitats. Reza is inventor/co-inventor of 27 issued and pending patents and author/co-author of tens of articles, interviews and global webinars. His first patent was granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office over 36 years ago (US Patent 4749522). He is also author of the science book Puzzle of Fate: Is Your Fate Predetermined or Can You Change it?.
Bharat Verma
President
is a pioneering Indian Patent Practitioner with cross-jurisdictional expertise and a passion for empowering innovation. With a track record of advising a diverse clientele—from solo inventors and startups to Fortune 500 giants like LG Electronics and Nokia—he has helped shape IP strategies across key global markets including the US, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, and Australia.
Now serving as President of the Ideas Trading Center (ITC), Bharat leads the company’s transformative vision of turning ideas into valuable, tradable assets. Drawing on a strong foundation in engineering and years of legal and strategic experience, he is building a global platform at the intersection of innovation, intellectual property, and commercialization.
In previous roles, Bharat built and managed a world-class team delivering high-impact patent services across domains such as AI/ML, software, electronics, biotech, MedTech, mechanical engineering, and clean energy. As an inventor on more than ten patent applications and a frequent speaker at universities and incubators, he actively champions IP literacy and entrepreneurial innovation.
Under his leadership, ITC is poised to become a global force for democratizing access to innovation and reshaping the way ideas are protected, valued, and exchanged.
E. Michelle Duke,
M.D., Ph.D.
Vice President – Idea Examination
is the founder and principal consultant at Ultra Naturals Consulting, with extensive expertise as a biomedical scientist in technical and regulatory compliance for dietary supplements and ingredients, food additives, cosmetics, OTC products, and medical devices. She has a strong background in claims substantiation, clinical data analysis, risk and safety assessment, adverse event reporting, and GRAS and NDI notifications. Dr. Duke is also experienced in providing guidance on efficacy testing and reviewing the stability testing of dietary supplements. Her work includes preparing clinical evaluation reports for medical devices and conducting critical reviews related to regulatory, standard-setting, educational, and technical aspects of dietary ingredients. With a solid academic and regulatory affairs foundation, she brings research experience in both basic and clinical microbiology. Michelle earned her MD from the National Medical University of Mongolia and her Ph.D. in Microbiology from Brigham Young University. She is fluent in English and Mongolian, with limited proficiency in Russian.
Eric Finkelstein,
Vice-President
Business Support
Eric Finkelstein has been growing up in a business family and involved in various businesses such as commercial transportation services and dietary supplements. Although Eric is scientifically interested to get his Ph.D. in biochemistry, he proved his business skills during his years as Chief Operating Officer of Doctor’s Biome bringing that company to the threshold of achieving its mission (“Be the Leader in Juice-Based Clinically Validated Probiotics”). Considering Eric’s curiosity and eagerness for new ideas, it is not surprising that he loves what ITC is all about.
Sonoi Ogbuefi,
Vice-President
Website and Digital Marketing
is the founder of Soodle Technology LLC. He has an extensive background as a Designer, Engineer, and Full Stack Web Developer. His experience spans multiple domains within retail, fintech, and SaaS industries, including Web, Mobile, Marketing, IT Security, B2B, and B2C. Recognizing the growing demand for online web, eCommerce, and marketing services, he established Soodle Technology LLC to address these needs in the market. Sonoi is known for his strategic thinking, ability to make data-driven decisions, and talent for inspiring and motivating teams to achieve their goals.
SUPPORT TEAM
Rachel Stark
Business Attorney
is the Chair of the Business & Corporate Group at the law firm Stark & Stark, and a member of the Banking & Financial Services, Business & Corporate, Intellectual Property, and Non-Profit Organization Groups. Rachel concentrates her practice in the representation of start-up and emerging companies and non-profit organizations on a variety of issues including corporate formation, financing, franchising, licensing, acquisitions, executive compensation, equity compensation plans, employment agreements, real estate, and intellectual property law. Rachel is a frequent guest lecturer on business law, family business, and succession planning at Rider University. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Princeton Mercer Chamber of Commerce and the Business Law Section Board of Directors of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
Anil Bhatt, CPA Independent
Financial Affairs Consultant
is a certified public accountant focusing on satisfying client needs by offering sound advice, provide valuable service and help clients achieve efficiencies in their reporting practices and accounting operations. Since 2008 as a sole practitioner and prior to that working in Manhattan for 27 years, Anil has helped individuals, businesses and not-for-profit organizations with their accounting, financial, taxes and planning needs. While providing core accounting services, his objective has always been to seek out businesses and professionals who have embedded ‘Corporate Social Responsibility ‘in their makeup and are willing to contribute to the social good. Anil is the author of the book Recovering from the Recovery: A Recipe for Survival.
Ryan Bethell
Trademark Attorney
is an experienced registered trademark attorney and partner at the law firm TrademarkElite, specializing in litigation and trademark law. Ryan is former managing attorney for Legal Force RAPC Firm. He received his J.D. from Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, his M.B.A. from W.P. Carey School of Business and his B.A. in Economics from Stanford University.