Emma Willis

Background

About Emma Willis

I am currently on secondment as General Manager Governance at Fonterra, accountable for managing our Co-op’s governance model and privacy settings and ensuring effective links between the Board and executive management. This position manages the Board’s annual programme of activities and ensures the effective operation of the governance function and of the Board and its committees. Prior to my current role, I was Senior Corporate Counsel within the Fonterra global legal team supporting Group Functions and Farm Source (the farmer interface of the Fonterra business and the heart of our Co-op). As the lead lawyer on all Farm Source matters, and sitting on the Farm Source lead team, my role was pivotal in delivery of our strategic pillars and managing relationships with over farmer shareholder owners. Previous roles at Fonterra have included providing legal advice to the New Zealand and Australian brands businesses, the Global Brands and Nutrition function and supporting on IP commercialisation deals. In London, I was group intellectual property counsel at Tesco where I was primarily responsible for Tesco's intellectual property (IP) strategy and the management, protection and exploitation of IP, both contentious and non-contentious. I also supported the marketing and advertising teams and was heavily involved with a broad range of ancillary general commercial work including licenses, sponsorship arrangements, supply and distribution agreements, franchising and civil litigation. Prior to joining Tesco, I worked as a solicitor at Simpson Grierson, one of New Zealand's leading commercial law firms. My role was focused on commercial contracts, corporate due diligence and all aspects of soft IP. My specialties include general commercial and corporate law; dispute resolution; IP law (contentious and non-contentious, soft and hard IP); brand strategy and development; sales, marketing and advertising law; confidentiality; privacy; trade practices; sponsorship and sports IP; emerging technologies law; corporate governance; communications and media law; domain name management; research and development agreements; third party manufacturing; supply and distribution arrangements; procurement; training and public speaking. I sit on the Board of Point Chevalier School. Outside of the office, I enjoy photography and making elaborate cakes. I also love travel, reading, interior design, landscape design and anything art related.