Emma ó Donnabháin
About Emma ó Donnabháin
Emma ó Donnabháin serves as the Operational Director at the European Patent Office, a position she has held since 2020. She has extensive experience in patent examination and management, having worked at the European Patent Office in various roles for over a decade.
Work at European Patent Office
Emma ó Donnabháin has held multiple roles at the European Patent Office (EPO) since 1997. She began her career there as a Patent Examiner in The Hague, Netherlands, where she worked from 1997 to 2003. Following this, she continued in the same capacity in Munich, Germany, from 2003 to 2011. Emma advanced to the position of Senior Patent Examiner from 2011 to 2015, before becoming a Team Manager from 2016 to 2020. Since 2020, she has served as the Operational Director at the EPO, overseeing various operational aspects of the organization.
Education and Expertise
Emma ó Donnabháin completed her Bachelor of Engineering (BE) at University College Cork from 1991 to 1995. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Engineering Science (MEng Sc) from the same institution, which she completed between 1995 and 1997. Her academic background in engineering has equipped her with a strong foundation in technical and analytical skills, which she has applied throughout her career in patent examination and management.
Background
Before joining the European Patent Office, Emma ó Donnabháin worked as an Independent Contractor at Hyperion Ltd in Cork, Ireland, from 1991 to 1997. She also served as a Postgraduate Researcher at Consorzio RFX in Padova, Italy, for eight months in 1996. These early experiences contributed to her expertise in engineering and research, which she later applied in her roles at the EPO.
Career Progression
Emma ó Donnabháin's career at the European Patent Office reflects a steady progression through various roles. Starting as a Patent Examiner, she gained experience over several years before advancing to Senior Patent Examiner and then Team Manager. Her current role as Operational Director, which she has held since 2020, marks a significant leadership position within the organization, where she is responsible for operational strategies and management.