We’ve gathered some of the brightest minds in the industry with decades of experience, notable pioneers of extraction technology, cannabis cultivation experts, as well as cannabis scientific researchers, and medical cannabis advocates.
Executive Officers and Board of Directors
Paul Pedersen, MBA
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
With more than 12 years experience in starting and financing emerging growth companies (including NASDAQ: TWER), Paul has spent the last five years focusing on the cannabis space.
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CHARLES ACKERMAN, CPA, CA
CFO & DIRECTOR
Charles is a CPA, CA with extensive experience in corporate finance and financial reporting for high growth companies. Charles has successfully lead mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and private and public capital raises.
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PETER SMITH, LLB
NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Peter holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of British Columbia. Before this, Peter completed a Bachelor of Arts at Simon Fraser University and a Master’s degree at Cambridge University.
Read moreScience and Innovation
IVAN CASSELMAN, PHD, FLS
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Dr. Ivan Casselman is an ethnobotanist, analytical phytochemist, and plant geneticist, with over 15 years’ experience working in the cannabis industry on a global scale. His experience in the development of herbal formulations, authentication, and quality control gives him unique insight into the development of cannabis infused products across a wide variety of commercial applications.
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KRUPAL PAL, PhD, P.Eng
LEAD PROCESS ENGINEER
As a process engineer since 2005, Dr. Pal has worked applying fundamental chemical engineering and applied scientific principles to problems in many diverse fields, including oils and extraction technologies, biodiesel processing and petrochemical industry.
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ALEXZANDER SAMUELSSON, BSC
LEAD CHEMIST
Alexzander has three years experience in the cannabis industry, consulting for various companies ranging from start-up to large scale.
Read moreStrategic Operations
Emma Andrews, BA, NPDP, RHN
Director of Marketing
Emma is a dynamic leader with proven expertise in building global lifestyle brands. She combines her passion for education, innovation, health sciences and marketing to deliver an “anything but average” approach to building world-class programs, products, and experiences. Most recently, Emma was a Partner, and Co-Founder of a multi-national strategic consulting company.
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Taran Grey
Director of Intellectual Property
Taran’s successfully tripled the size of the patent and trademark portfolios for firms he’s worked with, while reducing the aggregate total IP expenses incurred. Taran has managed IP protection at major international tech companies.
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Stephanie Martens, HBA, PgCert
Executive Assistant, Marketing & Events Coordinator
Stephanie is known for her passion and dedication to the cannabis industry, and the connections she’s made within it. She brings to the Nextleaf team over 10 years in hospitality management.
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Adel Fares, BBA
Operations, Corporate Admin & Finance
Adel is an integral contributor to Nextleaf’s operational excellence. He handles logistics and client enquiries for centralized and mobile extraction services, is a core liaison in financing initiatives, and represents the company in business development opportunities.
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