Keynote Speakers

Torsten Kuenzlen

CEO

Sundial

Torsten has spent two decades in executive positions all over the world with companies like Molson Coors and Coca-Cola. He’s an expert in team leadership, general management, change management, strategic planning and more. With Sundial, he oversees day-to-day operations, including production, expansion and service—all crucial as we bring our sales online and build innovative new facilities to accommodate nearly 100,000,000 grams of cannabis each year.
Geoff Thompson

President,

Sundial

Geoff is an award-winning leader, businessman and entrepreneur. He’s been a leading executive at six successful companies, including start-ups and established businesses in the tech, telecom and construction industries. At Sundial, his extensive leadership experience comes to bear growing and expanding a new company in a fledgling industry—making smart decisions on everything from marketing to infrastructure to vision and strategy.
Cam Battley

Chief Corporate Officer

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

Cam Battley is Chief Corporate Officer at Aurora Cannabis, a producer of medical cannabis and cannabis oils under license from Health Canada. He is the lead external-facing executive of the Company, responsible for establishing and managing relationships with shareholders, analysts, media, regulators, governments, and other companies and organizations operating in the cannabis sector.

He also chairs the Executive Committee, acts as liaison with the Board, and ensures organizational alignment across the Company’s operations, domestic and international. Cam is a member of the Board of Directors of Cannabis Canada, the trade association of Licensed Producers. With a background as a health sector management consultant, he combines experience in government, health care NGOs, and the biopharmaceutical industry.

In 1997, Cam founded Health Strategy Group, Inc., a management consultancy with global clients, ranging from health professional and patient NGOs, to innovative and generic pharmaceutical firms, and biotechnology and medical device companies.

Prior to moving to consulting, Cam worked for Eli Lilly and Company, as Director of Communications for Canada. He arrived in the health sector after serving as Legislative Assistant to the Canadian Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, where he was responsible for developing legislation and shepherding it through the House of Commons, as well as negotiating with stakeholder groups and opposition parties.

Cam is also the founder of Wind Gage Communications, Inc., a video and film production company. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Micron Waste Technologies, Inc., and of Campaigning for Cancer (South Africa).

Cam lives in rural Ontario, Canada with his wife and two children. He coaches boys’ and girls’ soccer teams, and is a Scout leader. He is a trail runner and PADI certified Rescue Diver.

Jeff Ryan

Vice President of Government and Stakeholder Relations

Canopy Growth

Jeff Ryan is Vice President of Government and Stakeholder Relations at Canopy Growth Corporation. He is responsible for federal and provincial government relations and stakeholder engagement. Jeff has held multiple positions in the private sector and has extensive experience at the political level. Most recently, Jeff was Senior Director, Corporate Affairs at Labatt Breweries where he managed a national government relations program. Prior to this he was Senior Advisor, Stakeholder Relations at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Chief of Staff to the Ontario Minister of Transportation and Policy Advisor to three federal ministers.

Jeff has an Honours Bachelor degree from Queen’s University and a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics.

Greg Engel

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Organigram

Mr. Engel is a senior executive with 30 years of national and international experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cannabis and consumer packaged goods industries. Mr. Engel has led the creation, development and growth of several companies over the span of his career. An articulate and trusted voice in the burgeoning Canadian cannabis space, Mr. Engel most recently worked with a competitive licensed producer to become the first Canadian exporter of medical cannabis, as well as the establishment of several trailblazing industry standards. As leader at Organigram, Mr. Engel is focused on reputational excellence through product quality and safety, expansion of the company’s Moncton, N.B. facility, and production efficiencies to position the company as a leader in the medical and adult recreational cannabis industries. Mr. Engel graduated from the University of Guelph with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Microbiology.
Jay Wilgar

CEO & Director

UP Cannabis / Newstrike

Mr. Wilgar is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record of building value for investors in emerging, highly regulated industries. Prior to becoming CEO of Newstrike, Jay founded, commercialized and successfully sold one of Ontario’s largest renewable energy development firms – AIM PowerGen. Jay holds a BComm from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Bin Huang , PhD, MBA

President, Emerald Health Therapeutics

Dr. Huang is an executive leader with over 30 years of experience in life sciences. Her career began with Allelix Crop Technologies, where she spent six years as a plant research scientist. For a number of years, Dr. Huang was the President and CEO of Cytovax Biotechnologies, a Canadian biotechnology company. Following that, she led WEX Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of publicly listed CK Life Sciences International (Holdings) Inc., as President and CEO. Dr. Huang has a PhD in Plant Cell Biology from the University of East Anglia, UK and an MBA from the University of Toronto.
Hon. Deron Bilous

Alberta Minister of Economic Development and Trade

Born and raised in Edmonton, Deron Bilous knows the incredible contribution Alberta workers have made to our province and our country. Growing-up in a proudly Ukrainian home he also appreciates the strength and beauty of our province’s diversity.

Between 1995 and 2005, Mr. Bilous worked in Quebec, Tunisia and China on a number of projects with Canada World Youth, a volunteer youth program focusing on international development.

After graduating from the University of Alberta with an education degree in 2001, he taught and mentored students at Edmonton’s Inner City High School, where he learned to see potential where others might see hardship. He also began working in neighbourhood and community development.

The voters of Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview first elected him as their Member of the Legislative Assembly on April 23, 2012, and again on May 5, 2015.

A dedicated champion for Alberta workers and Alberta business, Deron Bilous was sworn in as Minister of Economic Development and Trade on October 22, 2015. Prior to this, he served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and as Minister of Service Alberta.

Matt Lamers

MJBizDaily

Matt is based in the Greater Toronto Area and covers the Canadian cannabis industry for Marijuana Business Daily. Previously, he worked as a business editor, photographer and reporter for newspapers and magazines in three countries, covering everything from oil and gas in British Columbia to North Korean defectors in Seoul.
Jenna Hall

Associate Director of Strategic Policy, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs

Health Canada’s Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Branch

Jenna Hall is Associate Director of Strategic Policy, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs of Health Canada’s Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Branch – the organization created to support and implement the Government’s commitment to legalize, regulate and restrict the sale of cannabis in Canada. Prior to this, Jenna was Director of Policy for the Office of Medical Cannabis, and has held a wide range of policy positions over 20 years with the Government of Canada and as a consultant. She has a Master’s of Public Policy/Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario, and is the proud mother of a feisty little girl.

Gary Beam

Director of Investigations, AGLC

The Director, Investigations Branch, is responsible for the administration and management of the Investigations Unit, the AGLC Integrated Investigation Team (AIIT), the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Unit and the Tobacco Enforcement Unit (TEU). In 2015 Gary was the Project Lead for the development and implementation of the AGLC Anti-Money Laundering/Terrorist Financing Program and FINTRAC Compliance Regime. Gary is currently the Project Lead for the development and implementation of the AGLC regulatory framework for recreational cannabis.

Darren Bondar

President & CEO

Spirit Leaf

Trailblazer. Creator. Collaborator. Founder.

An entrepreneur to his core, Darren strongly believes that as a franchise partner you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself.

As the President and CEO of Spirit Leaf, we rely on Darren’s determination, strategic planning and creativity - not just for thinking outside the box, but for creating a whole new box! With an uncanny knack for surrounding himself with the best and the brightest, Darren has a proven executive management track record and over 20 years experience driving sales growth in both the retail chain and franchise industries. Prior to Spirit Leaf, Darren founded his first retail store that quickly ballooned across Canada and employed over 200 team members nation-wide, in addition to 30 locations. Ever the business innovator, Darren launched the first Canadian E-commerce site for watches. The company’s success has been recognized with multiple industry awards, including The Canadian Franchise Association Award of Excellence. He is now enthusiastic to work with his team and apply those skills to the cannabis industry which he has always had a passion for.

Chris Bromley

Regional Sales Manager

Colorad Packaging

Chris Bromley has been part of Color Ad’s team for over five years. However, his capacity before January 2017 was significantly different. Chris has his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Group Benefits Associate (GBA) designation as well as his Health, Accident & Life Insurance License. Before January 2017, Chris was a benefits, pension and compensation consultant working in Toronto and Color Ad Packaging was his client. Color Ad’s executive team and Chris began discussing the potential cost impact Cannabis could have on their group benefits plan back in September 2016. These discussions evolved into brainstorming how Color Ad could service this growing industry. In January 2017 Chris joined Color Ad’s team to help them develop and sell a Child-Resistant pouch. 12 months later Color Ad proudly manufacturer’s a Child-Resistant pouch in Canada and have sold over 5 million packages to the North American Cannabis market.

Stephanie Ostrander

Cannabis at Work

I have been working in the cannabis and hemp industry for three years founding, leading and supporting local business and networking associations such as Women Grow,CaneXions and the Chair of Alberta Cannabis Stakeholders Group.

I also work as the recruitment coordinator for Cannabis At Work. We are Canada’s only recruiting agency focused on the cannabis and hemp industry and we build strongand sustainable relationships with our clients and candidates.

We work coast to coast with LPs, applicants, ancillary businesses and soon to be legal dispensaries.

John Simon

QnR Associates

QnR Associates was formed to support applicants and License Producers in the Cannabis industry. The principal consultants have extensive experience in Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Control and Manufacturing in the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Natural Health Product, Medical Device industries and Cannabis industry. The group has supported many clients to establish GMP manufacturing within Canada, USA and other global regulatory jurisdictions.

The group also has experience in the import and export of products to and from many regulatory jurisdictions. Specialties include Quality Management (Quality Assurance), Product Review and Release, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls), Validation (Process, Equipment, Methods, Facilities), NDS (New Drug Submissions), IND/CTA, Process Mapping, Quality Control, Manufacturing, Product License Application, Facility Design, Site License Application, GMP, GCP, GLP, Investigations, Root Cause analysis and initiation and effectiveness monitoring of Corrective and Preventive Actions. The principals have significant experience in all stages from conception and design, to creation, implementation and ongoing management of these types of programs.

Shekhar Parmar

President & CEO

Harvest Medicine

Over 10 years of experience as an entrepreneur, lawyer, and design thinker. Most recently hired as Chief Strategy Officer of ABcann Global, Shekhar is passionate about raising the bar on medicinal cannabis in Canada on multiple platforms. As CEO of Harvest Medicine, he led the company to become one of the fastest growing, highest rated, cannabis clinics in the country attracting over 12,000 patients in under a year

Danielle Jackson

Miz D

Danielle Jackson (more commonly known as Miz D) is one of the most recognizable individuals in the Canadian cannabis industry and community. Self-employed as a Cannatherapy Consultant for baby boomers and seniors since 2004, she helps both new and experienced consumers learn to maximize the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. Miz D is involved in a variety of cannacentric businesses and organizations, as well as CEO of her family’s company Dvibz, whose primary focus is luxury cannatourism. A cannabis enthusiast for more than 4 decades, Miz D is an inspiring thought leader and innovator, cannabis culture’s very own ‘Doprah’!

Andrew Gordon

Executive Vice President of Aura Cannabis

Andrew Gordon serves as Executive Vice President of Aura Cannabis, and specializes in operational efficiency, client relations, community partnerships and industry compliance. He has a degree in Political Science from UVIC, and is a graduate of BCIT’s Non-Profit Management Program.

Andrew has led operations for a number of high-profile retail dispensaries as their General Manager and Community Integration Director; and has worked with a diverse array of patients and local partners to build accountable, community-responsive and financially sustainable dispensation models.

Galvanized by the prospect of cannabis legalization in Canada, Andrew is passionate about working with community stakeholders across the country to help reduce social stigma for consumers, and abate pharmaceutical drug dependence within communities.

Ivonne Martinez

President,

Alberta Liquor Store Association

Ivonne Martinez is a seasoned Government Relations and Communications professional with over 25 years of experience working with the Federal Government, Alberta and British Columbia Legislatures as well as the Oil and Gas Industry. She has worked for Cabinet Ministers at both levels of government as well as six years with Nova Corporation and TransCanada Pipelines. Ivonne has served as a Board Member for the Beverage Container Management Board since 2012, a Government delegated authority for container recycling for Alberta. Ivonne is the President of the Alberta Liquor Stores Association, a position she has held over the last 6 years, after returning from working abroad in Dubai, UAE.
Hugh McPhail

QC- McLennan Ross

Hugh is recognized by his peers as a leading practitioner in Western Canada in advising and representing employers in a variety of businesses and all three levels of the public sector in respect to labour relations strategy, labour arbitrations, Labour Relations Board applications, wrongful dismissal lawsuits, human rights, privacy, employment standards, workers’ compensation, and various other labour and employment matters.

He advises employers regarding the drafting, implementation, and application of executive contracts, employment agreements, non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions, change of control agreements, drug and alcohol testing programs, harassment policies, and general employment policies and practices.

Kim Capstick

Executive Director of Engagement and Outreach

Alberta Cannabis Secretariat

Kim Capstick is the Executive Director of Outreach and Engagement for the Alberta Cannabis Secretariat. She has been with the Secretariat since Day One, helping to recruit and establish the team that would take on the unprecedented work of creating a system for legalized cannabis in Alberta. Kim has a lead role in developing the policies and elements of this system, and also leads the engagement process, which saw more than 60,000 people share their views about legalized cannabis — one of the largest responses in Alberta government history.

Kim’s career with the Alberta government spans two decades, and includes establishing and leading teams through wildfire and flood recovery, leading the development of a comprehensive communications framework on natural resource development and serving as Director of Communications in several ministries, including Alberta Environment.

Kim is married with two young children.
Colton Kirsop

Senior Planner

City of Edmonton

Colton obtained a Master’s degree from the McGill School of Urban Planning in Montreal and has 15 years of planning experience. Colton is a Senior Planner in Development Services at the City of Edmonton where he works collaboratively with community and industry to modernize Edmonton’s Zoning Bylaw. Cannabis has become a part of Edmonton’s economy, where it is regulated through federal and provincial laws and in some City bylaws, including the Zoning Bylaw. Colton’s work in this area included supervising public engagement on cannabis sales in Edmonton and advancing proactive measures to prepare the City for the legalization of cannabis. In June 2017 City Council approved amendments to the Zoning Bylaw that:

• Created a definition and use class for Cannabis Retail Sales to separate cannabis stores from other retail stores Clarified which existing definitions in the Zoning Bylaw do not include the production, sale or consumption of cannabis

John Clare

Health Canada

John Clare is currently the Director of Policy with the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Secretariat, the federal office created to support the Government's commitment to legalize, regulate and restrict the sale of cannabis. John has varied experience working in legislative and regulatory policy, and has held a range of positions over his 15 years at in the Government of Canada‎, including Director of Privacy and Data Protection Policy in the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (formerly Industry Canada), and the Director of Energy Policy at Natural Resources Canada. He has a Degree from the University of Alberta and is the proud father of an 11 year old boy.

Jamie Cox, MD

Medical Director,

Sundial

Jamie R. Cox, MD, is a graduate of Dalhousie Medical School, Halifax, Canada. He has spent time in multiple tiers of the health care industry in both the United States and Canada.

His prior challenges included that of a corporate leader to the Workers Compensation Board of Nova Scotia to improve healthcare and quality outcomes. This has been accomplished by developing strategic initiatives and stakeholder engagement. His broad experience in medical fields of both Canada and the United States gives him a unique ability to realize opportunities and pitfalls in both systems. A prior role was that of Corporate Medical Director of Saturn Corp., Springhill TN where his leadership responsibilities encompassed health care initiatives, disability, workers compensation, health and safety, and work related injuries and illnesses. Dr. Cox has been successful in developing strategies for containment in health care costs in industry and the general population while also improving outcomes for injuries and illnesses.

Over the last two years he has offered consultative services for primary care and specialists in the medical cannabis arena seeing over 2200 patients. He has successfully improved quality of life outcomes while instituting dramatic decreases in pharmaceutical utilization inclusive of narcotics.

Jennifer Miller, QC

Bennett Jones

Jennifer Miller’s practice is dedicated to significant legal matters involving health and safety in Western Canada.

Her practice includes: occupational health and safety risk and incident management; defence of occupational health and safety prosecutions;
health and safety related negligence litigation and public inquiries; defence of professional discipline; and a wide range of employment matters.

Jennifer represents industry leaders in energy, medicine, utilities, construction, road building, transportation, and manufacturing and appears before all levels of courts in Alberta, as well as courts in other jurisdictions on provincially and federally regulated matters.

Jennifer speaks and writes on health and safety issues for educational organizations, corporations, and professional associations, including the Alberta Medical Association, the Canadian Bar Association, Printers and Graphics Industry Association of Alberta, Alberta Gas and Oil Pipeline Operators Safety Council, Alberta Petrochemical Safety Council, Plant and Engineering Maintenance Association of Canada, Alberta Sand and Gravel Association, and Gas Processing Association of Canada.

She has contributed to international, national, and local publications on medical-legal issues, including the Health Law Review, the Health Law Journal, and Mental Disability and the Law in Canada.

Jennifer is a former chair of the labour and employment law subsection of the Canadian Bar Association, a former executive for the Edmonton Medical Legal Society and a former associate of the University of Alberta Health Law Institute.

She is an honorary member of the Ophthalmologic Society of Alberta and a keen supporter of the arts community.

Jahan Marcu, PhD

Chief Science Officer, Americans for Safe Access

Director of the Patient focused Certification Program

Jahan Marcu, Ph.D., is currently the Chief Science Officer at Americans for Safe Access (a medical cannabis advocacy non-profit) and Director of the Patient Focused Certification program, which is a health and safety oversight program that assesses regulatory compliance at cannabis operations.

He is co-founder and past-chairman of the CANN subdivision of the Chemical Health and Safety Division (DCHAS) of the American Chemical Society. His is also on the Board of Directors of the International Association for Cannabinoids as Medicine. He has a background in analytical chemistry and molecular pharmacology, he received his Ph.D. for contributions in characterizing the structure and function of the cannabinoid receptors. He is an author of the American Herbal Pharmacopeia’s Cannabis Monograph and serves on multiple expert government, trade association committees, scientific organizations and is a court-qualified synthetic cannabinoid and cannabis expert. Dr. Marcu is a recipient of the Billy Martin research award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society.
Paul Dhillon

Founder – Cultivated Solutions

Paul Dhillon is the founder of Cultivated Solutions, an e-learning and talent development company that fills educational gaps in the emerging cannabis industry. He is an experienced Customer Relations Specialist with expertise developing strategy, implementing sales initiatives, and building high-performing teams. Paul believes sustaining high levels of sales comes from lasting customer relationships that inspire customer loyalty. He has dedicated himself to battling public misconceptions of cannabis and introducing new users to responsible use practices.

Paul founded Cultivated Solutions to help introduce the public to the cannabis industry and provide educational resources to individuals looking to enter the industry. Cultivated Solutions offers customizable e-learning solutions for potential retailers, processors, and growers. They will also conduct seminars across the country to educate the public on the benefits and harms of cannabis, its uses, effects, history, and other relevant information and misconceptions.

Lindsay Blackett

President, Canadian Cannabis Business Association

Lindsay is currently V.P. Business Development, for the Canadian Cannabis Chamber. Mr. Blackett spent over four years as an MLA in Alberta for Calgary North West and was Minister of Culture and Community Spirit Alberta. Lindsay is also the former CEO of Chiniki First Nation.

Lindsay has spent the last 18 months working, in a consulting capacity with various companies and organizations in the cannabis industry in the areas of finance, technology and public policy.

Janet Riopel

President & CEO of the EDMONTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

She has deep roots in our community and considerable experience in managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects. She has worked in senior roles in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.

Janet has devoted her volunteer time to senior
roles on the boards of many organizations. She is the current Board Chair of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, was Board Chair of Compassion House Foundation, Campaign Chair for the United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, Board Chair of both MacEwan University and the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Urban Development Institute Alberta. She has served as a Director on the Boards of Canadian Policy Research Networks, Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, and Canadian Home Builders’ Association, Edmonton. She sits on advisory committees for the MacEwan School of Business, Edmonton Airports, and the Edmonton Community Foundation.

Janet’s community service has brought her much recognition. She was honoured with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, has twice been named one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People by Alberta Venture magazine (1996 and 2016), was named to the Edmonton Journal’s Power 30 list in 2015, and was a Global TV Woman of Vision. Janet has received the Urban Development Institute’s Merit Award, the City of Edmonton’s Outstanding Service Award,
and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (Edmonton) Master Member Award. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum and the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Janet is a lifelong Edmontonian with two children and four amazing grandchildren