Contributors & Members
Executive Director
Founder and Executive Director
International Cannabis Quality Standards Association (ICQSA)
Atiyyah Ferouz
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Atiyyah is the Founder and Executive Director of the International Cannabis Quality Standards Association (ICQSA).
Atiyyah obtained her Bachelor of Science with an Honors Specialization in Biology from Western University. She completed her Master of Science in genetic engineering and plant biotechnology through a collaboration between Western University and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Atiyyah entered the cannabis industry as a Tissue Culture Lab Manager in 2018 and subsequently gained experience in cannabis cultivation, postharvest processing, quality assurance, and regulatory affairs. In 2020, she founded AgCann Consultancy, a consulting firm specializing in the development and optimization of operations, quality assurance, and tissue culture processes in emerging markets. She has worked with clients across five continents and is passionate about the globalization of the cannabis industry.
Atiyyah is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), trained pharmaceutical systems auditor, and Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional (CPGP) who is committed to instilling quality throughout the cannabis supply chain. As an educator and frequent speaker in the cannabis space, Atiyyah continually strives to drive the industry forward. In line with this objective, she founded the ICQSA to bring together industry thought leaders to develop best practice guides and provide advisement to policymakers. She hopes that industry-specific practices and policies will bring benefits to both established and emerging markets, facilitating the establishment of global cannabis standards.
Contributors
Business Development Manager
The Australian Cannabis Group
Ben Males
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Ben has been immersed in the Medical Cannabis industry in Australia since its creation in 2016 where he worked managing the design of a Medical Cannabis production and cultivation facility. He has over 20+ years of experience in the Agriculture and Construction Industries. Ben has managed the design and construction of various farms, labs, and horticulture facilities in over 15 different countries throughout his career.
Andre Devorss
General Manager
The Australian Cannabis Group
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Andre studied Chemistry and Engineering Physics at the Colorado School of Mines. Andre has extensive experience in cannabis extraction, post-processing, and purification. He has successfully incorporated cannabis into various products including beverages, tablets, soft gelatin capsules, topicals, dry powders, and more. He is recognised in Australia on a Distinguished Talent Visa as a medicinal cannabis expert.
Claire Erickson
Industry Programs Manager
Boveda
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Claire Erickson is the Industry Programs Manager for Boveda, the global leader in 2-way humidity control. Claire’s passion for helping people and for the cannabis plant coalesce in innovative partnerships centered around cannabis science, strategic integration, and public affairs. Focused on promoting quality and supporting evolving business ecosystems, Claire has become a forceful advocate in the cannabis industry. A native of western Colorado, Claire currently lives with her family in the mountains of Montana.
Hardeep Shoker
Chief Product Officer
Elevated Signals
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Hardeep is Chief Product Officer and one of the co-founders of Elevated Signals, an organization that develops manufacturing software for the cannabis industry. With a strong focus on quality, the company manages 4+ million sq ft of production area represented by craft producers right through to enterprise-level operators.
Day-to-day Hardeep helps Licensed Producers get the most out of their teams by leveraging technology to streamline operations and compliance. Having a technical and management background, he helps his peers navigate tough choices around change management and make data-led decisions.
With over 14 years of experience in software development, he is passionate about bringing technical best practices from other industries and applying them to the cannabis space, to help the market become sustainable from both an operating and business perspective.
Prior co-founding Elevated Signals, Hardeep was a Lead Software Developer at Adobe and he studied Computing Science at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.
Jay Evans
CEO
Twister Technologies
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Jay is a dedicated and passionate leader in the cannabis industry with over 25 years of experience. As a pioneer in cannabis production and post-harvest technology, Jay has devoted his career to elevating the industry by developing innovative solutions and empowering the people who make it thrive.
His journey has allowed him to work closely with small craft growers to collaborating with the largest commercial producers around the world. Jay's unrivalled expertise in cannabis production, particularly in post-harvest processing, has made him a sought-after resource for those looking to optimize their operations and maximize their success.
As the CEO of Keirton, Jay oversees a company that is at the forefront of cannabis processing technology. Keirton's cutting-edge equipment is deployed globally, processing millions of pounds of cannabis each year and contributing to the industry's rapid growth.
Jay's deep experience and knowledge grant him a unique and valuable perspective, and set him apart as a true visionary in the cannabis space. With his unwavering commitment to cultivating people and technology, Jay continues to drive the industry forward, helping shape the future of cannabis.
Chico van Vlimmeren
General Manager
Bionova
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Chico is based in the Netherlands and has over 17 years of experience in the cannabis industry. His father, the founder of Bionova Nutrients, has been growing cannabis for over 45 years and established the first legal cannabis cultivation greenhouse in the Netherlands, before recriminalization. Building upon the success and knowledge gained from this experience, Bionova was launched as a dedicated cannabis nutrient brand. Bionova prioritizes transparency and backs its products with research and data, ensuring its clients get a truly effective product for cannabis cultivation.
Chico is now the Owner and General Manager of Bionova, advocating for highly concentrated, cost-effective products while optimizing return on investment for cultivation facilities. With a background in International Business Studies and Plant Physiology, Chico is well-positioned to help cultivators address the challenges of commercial cannabis cultivation. He has advised and worked alongside growers from every corner of the globe to improve their facilities, accumulating a wealth of knowledge.
Chico is a firm believer in making informed decisions at the outset of any cannabis cultivation project and is eager to contribute to the development of industry best practices to ensure growers around the world can benefit from our collective lessons learned.
Sonny Moerenhout
Managing Partner
Cultivators
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Sonny is based in the Netherlands and is a co-founder of Cultivators, a cultivation consulting firm dedicated to helping licensed cannabis producers grow. The team at Cultivators brings in-depth horticultural knowledge and expertise to each project and helps clients throughout all stages of their business lifecycle.
Sonny has been consulting cannabis growers since 2019 on various aspects of cannabis cultivation all over the globe. His cultivation experience and expertise continue to develop through his participation in trials with Wageningen University and research institutions.
Sonny holds a Master's degree in Plant Science from Wageningen University with a specialization in greenhouse horticulture. He understands the importance of bringing together the pharmaceutical, horticultural, and hobby aspects of the cannabis industry.
Manou Timmermans
Sales Manager
Bionova
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Manou is based in the Netherlands and is the Sales Manager of Bionova Nutrients. Manou began working in greenhouses at a young age alongside his father, and the founder of Bionova Nutrients. He gained experience with cannabis cultivation during this time and learnt about best practices for commercial production.
Manou studied International Business and Languages, gaining the education and experience to manage the business development of brands operating on an international scale. He joined Bionova in 2018 and is currently overseeing both the retail and commercial product lines around the globe.
Working closely with cannabis cultivators over the last 6 years, Manou has gained firsthand experience with the challenges and obstacles facing these key industry stakeholders. Combined with his personal cultivation experience, Manou has an in-depth understanding of the factors that contribute to success in cannabis production.
Christopher Tasker
Scientist and Founder
Global Cannabinoid Solutions
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Chris is based in the UK and is the founder of Global Cannabinoid Solutions (GCS), a science-focused cannabis consulting firm that provides training for executives and investors in the science of cannabis, leveraging cannabinoid research and intelligence to create next-generation products, services, and innovations.
Chris has a Master's degree in Cannabinoid Research and is one of the first UK scientists to investigate cannabinoids in human tissue with a focus on colorectal cancer. A public speaker, cannabis myth-buster, educator, and author of the consumer safety guide “The Cannamanual".
Stefan Röhrl
CSO and Co-Founder
Luxora
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Stefan is a key leader in the European cannabis market with 15 years of senior management experience. He owns Cannabis clubs in Spain and businesses in Germany, providing him with a deep understanding of the industry. His strong background in cultivation and product development has made him well-positioned to navigate the complex cannabis market and find new growth opportunities.
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