REBECCA BROWN

Chief Revenue Officer, Abacus.Agency

Founder, Crowns Creative

Rebecca Brown recently founded Crowns, a cannabis advertising agency based in Toronto. Crowns has a strategic partnership with Cannabis Compliance Inc., a consulting firm for commercial cannabis producers and resellers around the world. Rebecca is also the Chief Revenue Officer at Abacus, and has previously worked at J. Walter Thompson.

ANNA DUCKWORTH

Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, 

Miss Grass

Miss Grass is an elevated content and e-commerce platform for women and cannabis. Anna's career in media and editorial spans magazine, radio, film, television, branded content and specifically, cannabis brands. She was the Head of Content at the California-based cannabis brand dosist (coming soon to Canada!), Managing Editor at The Alpine Review, and co-founder of Buckslip—a weekly newsletter named one of the best of the year in Wired. Anna’s divergent preoccupations are wellness, media, cannabis and the good women who make it all go round. 

ALAN GERTNER

CEO, HIKU

Alan Gertner is the CEO of the recently founded Hiku, the only Canadian craft cannabis producer with a significant national footprint and a growing brand house including premium cannabis lifestyle brands DOJA, Van der Pop, Maïtri and Tokyo Smoke (co-founded by Alan).

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An angel investor and advisor outside of Hiku, Alan supports programs that empower the greater startup community, the cannabis movement and future generations of people pursuing their passions including his own Time On Project (www.timeon.org).

BRADY GREEN

DIRECTOR OF CULTIVATION, CANNTRUST

Brady Green has 15 years of growing experience and joined CannTrust in May 2014 as a grow technician. He completed his bachelor of science degree with honours specializing in biochemistry and molecular biology from Trent University.

His growing styles range from self sustainable organic growing, to highly technical hydroponic production.

SALEEM HANIFF

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING LEAD, TORONTO DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Saleem Haniff is currently the Mental Health & Well-Being Lead at the Toronto District School Board, and has a professional commitment to work with youth across Canada to help them live well on their way to reaching their personal best. Saleem has a keen interest on the intersection of culture, technology, and sleep with one’s mental health and well-being. 

Saleem finds inspiration from his wife and mother’s unwavering strength, his 2 daughters' unfiltered and care-free world view, and his father’s sage mantra that, “Knowledge isn’t power, until you act on what you know.”

KERRI-LYNN MCALLISTER

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, LIFT&CO.

Kerri-Lynn McAllister is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Lift & Co. Previously, Kerri-Lynn was a member of the founding team at Ratehub.ca, Canada's leading financial product comparison platform, serving more than five million users annually. Kerri-Lynn is also an early-stage investor of Zoocasa, and remains an advisor to this and other notable real-estate tech companies. A graduate of the Smith School of Business at Queen's University, Kerri-Lynn regularly shares her insights into digital marketing and technology at conferences and meetups including the Richard Ivey School of Business, OneEleven, and Elevate Toronto. 

MARGARET MCKELLAR

VP, INNOVATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, KANTAR TNS

Kantar is one of the world’s largest research companies. Margaret’s agenda is to foster Canadian innovation through thought leadership, creativity, and guiding clients through their innovation challenges and initiatives.

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Prior to joining Kantar, Margaret led a number of leading Canadian brands including Becel, Dove, Sunlight, and Vaseline, where she developed a passion for consumer understanding before moving to her passion for whisky leading innovation at Corby Spirit and Wine.

LORNE SIMON

FOUNDER, RIDE CHECKS

Lorne Simon works with Police Services in the GTA in messaging and rewarding responsible drivers in R.I.D.E. Spot Checks. He also put together the Consequence Strains documentary with BBDO and Beleave, a licensed producer of marijuana. 

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He is the Past Chair of T.O. Crime Stoppers and an Honorary Detective with the Toronto Police Services.