The Kensana Health Team
Medical Advisors Our team of world renowned experts in Medicine and Medical Research
Dr. Vincent Maida
Dr. Vincent Maida, a consultant in Palliative Medicine and Wound Management, is one of Canada’s foremost experts in Cannabis-Based Medicines (CBM) with almost 3 decades of involvement with CBM-related patient advocacy, clinical experience, education, and research. He graduated with his MD, MSc, certificate in patient safety and quality improvement, and certificate as a clinical medical teacher, all from the University of Toronto. Dr. Maida was the first to report the potential for CBM to treat integumentary and wound conditions in humans. He founded VinSan Therapeutics Inc. which developed a portfolio of IP with the earliest patent priority dates globally.
Dr. Marco Romanelli
Dr Marco Romanelli is currently engaged with the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy. He is an assistant professor and consultant dermatologist at the Division of Dermatology.
Dr Romanelli graduated from the University of Pisa and holds an MB and PhD in experimental dermatology. He holds a fellowship at the Wound Healing Research Centre, University of Miami.
He is the current president-elect of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies and a board member of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP). He has served as member and chair of multiple grant review panels and editorial advisory boards of multiple medical journals. He is also a heavily published author in medical journals.
Dr Romanelli holds a key interest in the research areas including; Non-invasive Diagnostic Techniques in Wound Management and Dermatology, Biomedical Sensors, Tissue Engineering, and Atypical Wounds Biomarkers.
Prof. Donald A. Abrams
Professor Donald Abrams is a cancer and integrative medicine specialist at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Mount Zion.
In addition to his role at the Osher center, he is chief of Hematology and Oncology at San Francisco General Hospital.
He is an executive committee member of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and is co-chair of the center’s program in Symptom Management, Palliative Care and Survivorship.
Prof. Abrams was on the committee of physicians who assembled the most significant compilation of medical cannabis research to date: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids published by the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine.
He received an B.A. in Molecular Biology from Brown University in 1972 and graduated from the Stanford University School of Medicine in 1977. After completing an Internal Medicine residency at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Francisco.
Dr. Paul Verrills
Dr. Paul Verrills practices full time interventional pain management in Melbourne, Australia. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Musculoskeletal Medicine and completed Masters in Pain Medicine under Professor Bogduk, at the University of Newcastle. He was one of the first in the world to be awarded his International Fellowship in Interventional Pain Practice. He is an Editorial Reviewer for peer-reviewed journals including Neuromodulation and Pain Medicine.
Dr. Verrills is a past Australian representative board member for the International Neuromodulation Society (INS) and is immediate past President of the Neuromodulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (NSANZ). He is also a member of the International Neuromodulation Society, Australian Pain Society, Spine Intervention Society, World Institute of Pain, The International Association for the Study of Pain, and the Spine Society of Australia.
He is director of Asia Pacific Advanced Pain Therapies Interventional program and sits on the International Pain Therapies Executive Advisory Board. Further he was honoured to recently be invited onto the inaugural Executive Emeritus Board of the American Society for Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN). In Melbourne he is a Director and Founder of Metro Pain Group, Monash House Private Hospital, Monash Clinical Research and Australian Medicinal Cannabis Service.
Phyto-development and Plant Sciences Understanding and enhancing plant growth, development, and conservation for the benefit of humanity and the environment.
Prof. Mike Dixon
Professor Mike Dixon is a professor in the School of Environmental Sciences and the Director of the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) at Guelph University in Ontario.
His research is focused on phyto substance growth in controlled environments and is specifically interested in developing biological life support systems for applications in space exploration. He has been involved in multiple NASA programs.
Prof. Dixon’s work on creating environment modified atmosphere to achieve desired API’s is the basis of much of the Kensana’s research and development.
Prof. Dixon earned his PhD from Edinburgh University in Scotland and holds a postdoctoral position at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Joerg Gruenwald
Dr. Joerg Gruenwald is the Founder and President of Analyze & Realize ag in Berlin, Germany, a specialized research and consulting company for nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, and natural medicines.
Dr. Gruenwald has published 13 books, including the best sellers Physician’s Desk Reference PDR for herbal medicines and over 200 scientific articles. He is editor-in-chief of the journal “Advances In Natural Therapy”.
Dr. Gruenwald has worked as advisor to the FDA Office of Dietary Supplements, on the International Advisory Board of the Research Council of Complementary Medicine.
He has served as the Chairman of the International Committee AHPA American Herbal Products Association, member of the Council for Responsible Nutrition Botanical/Quality Standards Committee, United States Pharmacopoeia (USP).
Dr. Gruenwald has performed over 100 clinical trials and numerous in vivo and in vitro studies with natural products. He holds an MS in Biology and a Ph.D. in Botany both from the University of Heidelberg.
Dr. Urs Fischer
Dr Fischer is a developmental biologist who has held group leader positions in several leading plant research institutes. In the seed industry, his teams have developed new traits and varieties with novel breeding and genomic technologies in sugar beet, cereals, corn and rapeseed. As a managing director of PharmaPlant, he is implementing the latest technologies into the field of aromatic and medical plants in order to permit steady and rapid growth of the company.
Our Leadership Team
Kensana Executive Team An Experienced Team
Ken Clement
Ken is the visionary Chairman, CEO, and Founder of Kensana Health, a pioneering force that has transformed the landscape of phytopharmaceuticals. Under Ken’s leadership Kensana Health has ascended to global prominence as an unrivaled authority in the development of Environmentally Modified Organisms (EMOs) and cutting-edge standardized growing techniques. Ken is beginning a new era in agricultural advancements.
In 2012, Mr. Clement developed a new sector in the Canadian phytopharmaceutical industry. His innovative thinking and trailblazing spirit guided the birth of plant standardization and ushered in the future of biological prescription drug registrations. In 2016, Mr. Clement grew his Canadian production facility by orchestrating a successful IPO with ABcann Global, at the time valued in excess of $400 Million Dollars.
Ken holds a distinguished chair at Guelph University’s esteemed Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF), where revolutionary systems are harnessed to engineer optimal growth conditions for space exploration and the harshest environments on Earth. Research from the CESRF will be used to optimize Kensana’s standardized EMO growing techniques.
Ken’s journey extends beyond the corporate boundaries with his ownership of the Wellington Dukes Junior ‘A’ Hockey club. Under Ken’s leadership, the Duke’s have won their third OJHL championship and are one of the most sought after teams in the league.
Neil Kapp
Neil brings a wealth of business experience to Kensana with over 35 years in private and public companies. In his previous role at ABcann, Neil was Vice-President of Business Development, which involved him in fundraising, negotiating and implementing technology partnerships. Holding an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from York University, Neil has been CFO for numerous private entities.
Randy Uens
Randy’s strong business acumen, bolstered by his diversified background, allows for Randy to be utilized across multiple sectors inside our growing business. Randy has over 25 years’ experience in diverse markets such as medical cannabis, sports management, food, nutraceuticals and waste.
Notably, Randy developed the Rhinobag/Bagster platform that he sold to Waste Management (WM) which evolved into a North American wide, highly efficient platform producing over a 50% EBITDA margin from collection services.
Randy’s interest in phytopharmaceuticals came out of his life long interest in health and wellness as well as his involvement in multiple biotech, health and wellness oriented businesses. As a serial entrepreneur, Randy has been involved in taking two of those companies to the public markets, as well as negotiating successful exits for several other entities.
Randy has a Bachelors degree in Management Economics from the University of Guelph.
John Hoff
John is a visionary entrepreneur with extensive cannabinoid industry knowledge worldwide. John has been an active advocate for medicinal cannabinoids and is considered as one of the premier thought leaders in the industry in Germany.
Mr. Hoff has an M.A. in History and Sociology and was focused on Event Management, Marketing, Consulting, Fundraising and Cannabis and other plant-based drugs in his research, work, and experience. He worked for international companies and NGOs in global projects and in different industries like Entertainment, Arts, Research, Energy, Production, IT, Real Estate, and several start-ups.
John founded several companies in the tech industry holding positions relating to consulting, fundraising, and marketing, with several relating to the cannabinoid industry. The most prominent one was Sens Media, a social media agency focused on topics surrounding cannabis. Shortly after, John connected with Mr. Clement andco-founded Kensana Health together with the other founders.
John will lead the company’s German team focusing on the European expansion and the Science Department. As well, John will take on the marketing efforts of Kensana Health.
Dr. Carrie Newbold
Dr Newbold has been working in medical research for over two decades. She has led multidisciplinary research projects totaling over $4.2 million within medical devices and phytopharmaceuticals, from both academic and commercial entities. Her research spans in vitro, in vivo and clinical work, ensuring that early-stage ideas find their way to the patient.
Within the phytopharmaceutical field, Carrie authored RACGP-approved education to train Australian medical practitioners in cannabinoid medications. She led the opening and operations of Australia’s first endocannabinoid system-centered treatment clinic, before shifting her time to lead Kensana Health’s R&D team toward a registered cannabinoid-based wound treatment.
Carrie is named on 4 patents, has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications, and is a sought-after international presenter. Dr Newbold maintains an Honorary Fellow role at the University of Melbourne’s School of Medicine.
Lanning Ryan
Lanning is a Chartered Accountant with experience in consulting, strategy, corporate finance and accounting. Prior to joining Kensana Health, Lanning assisted large multinational listed clients and government agencies at EY and KPMG across strategic, transactional and assurance related matters. His industry experience spans health care, financial services, government infrastructure, mining and technology. Lanning holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and Accounting and a Diploma of modern Languages from the University of Western Australia.
Alessandro Ciri
Alessandro has over 30 years experience and a diverse breadth of business knowledge across an array of industries, in particular Pharmaceutical, Food, and Construction. He worked for CSL as a Research and Development Scientist, moving up through CSL to Quality Control Director. As Quality Control Director, Alessandro oversaw the upgrading of laboratories, secured FDA licenses to supply influenza vaccine globally, oversaw contract testing for other pharmaceutical firms, and streamlined costs in product manufacturing leading to increased profitability. He then transitioned into Business Development and was responsible for products, principally dealing with governments and distribution chains across the globe. He now works as a consultant, enhancing the performance of businesses from the learnings from his journey, involving; building business networks, executive coaching, establishing strategic plans, and supporting and enhancing both business profitability and business value proposition.
Our Management
Kensana Management Team Deep Industry Understanding
Urvish Bhavsar
Urvish has over 25 years experience in Finance and Commercial functions in the Pharmaceutical industry in a manufacturing environment. In his last role as Head of Controlled Substance Business & CFO for SUN Pharmaceutical Industries (Australia), Urvish provided business and finance leadership to agro-based pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturing business. before coming to Australia in 2016, Urvish had worked in Brazil as Director and head of Finance for SUN and Zydus, both Indian Pharmaceutical companies, for an acquired business to turnaround and bring in management change. Having worked for a Veterinary business as Head of Finance for 9 years, animals and their wellbeing are near his heart. Urvish studied Management Accounting and holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce, with membership with the Cost and management Accountants of india and Australia.
Fran Timmins
Fran comes to Kensana with over 40 years experience in nursing, having worked in multiple Australian States and in the U.K.
Determinedly patient focused, Fran’s experience has positively influenced her own and other’s practices and uses design principles to create unique patient environments that have improved patient experience and outcomes.
Fran has designed and led multiple patient oriented services from the ground up. In the U.K., bringing the community approach to influence the build and floor plan of a number of purpose-built private hospitals, working with a team to create a patient program to support and enhance rehabilitations and reintegration.
Fran’s unique patient programs impacted on the design and implementation of Australia’s first Safe Haven Café with outstanding results for the local community. This design led to the further expansion of Safe Spaces in NSW, Queensland, and Western Australia.
Working with the community, volunteers, health structures and systems to provide innovative, personalized care environments and interventions has brought Fran to a company determined to improve health outcomes with careful and thoughtful products that make a difference.
Michael Hofmann
Mike boasts nearly 20 years of industry experience in the phyto-pharmaceutical and production horticultural industry. Mike has held positions as Facility Manager, and Director of Horticulture at ABcann Medicinals in Canada and has been involved with GMP production facility designs. Mike is a world-leader in operating environmental controlled growth systems.
Jewrusha Simont
Jewrusha has been an integral part of several subsidiaries of Kensana Health. Most notably, Jewrusha has personally lead the onboarding of a vast number of Pharmacies and Veterinary clinics.
Jewrusha is well versed in phytopharmaceutical regulation within Australia and has been a liaison for medical professionals for the past 20 years as a pharmaceutical sales representative with several large corporations.
Jewrusha is currently assisting in the design of Kensana’s wound projects, providing valuable insight into world-wide pharmaceutical markets.
Craig Frawley
Craig comes to Kensana with 40 years of Pharmacological experience. He is the current Managing Director and Group CEO of MyCompounder Precision Medicine in Melbourne.
MyCompounder is a B2B solution for personalised medicine in Australia and Asia (precision medicine). Categories such as anti-aging, nutriceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and tailored options for chronic pain, dermatology, women’s health and veterinary care are driving demand across the Asia pacific region.
Craig holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Monash University, and a Master’s degree in MEI, Innovation, Cross Channel Operations and Marketing from Swinburne University of Technology.
Ricki Minter
Ricki Minter graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honors) and has worked extensively in health and medical sciences across three Australian universities over the past 15 years.
She was named on 3 awarded project grants (total value close to $1 million) and has 7 published peer-reviewed papers. In addition to her research roles, Ricki has taught sciences at primary, secondary and tertiary levels in Ecuador. Ricki speaks English and Spanish. She has also worked in various coordinator roles in a specialised public hospital setting, and was nominated as a Peer Support for her fellow hospital staff.
Ricki was on the organizing committee of several large scientific events. This breadth of experience in health and science has equipped Ricki with the necessary knowledge and skills needed for her research role with Kensana Health.
Luke Silverman
Luke is a marketing and business consultant with a unique depth of experience. He has spent over 10 years working for and with major companies in the US cannabinoid sector such as General Hydroponics, Lumatek Lighting, Diamond Lighting, Hawthorne Gardening and more. Over the years he has developed a comprehensive and detailed perspective of the ever changing landscape and politics of the cannabinoid industry, which helps fuel his innovative ideas that grow successful businesses
Luke Sidey
Luke comes to Kensana with a decade of digital marketing and social media experience with previous contracts for Nintendo and the BBC. He has since built out Kensana’s and its subsidiaries online presence on multiple platforms and is leading numerous marketing initiatives at present including branding and other material creation.
Luke has been involved in the Canadian cannabis industry since it’s infancy and has served multiple departments gathering a wealth of experience in administration, sales and marketing, hands-on standardized cultivation practices, and extensive laboratory work.
Luke’s passion and industry experience has allowed him to help companies of all sizes achieve their goals.
Over 150 years of combined experience.
Kensana Advisory Team World-class Industry Professionals
Cheryl Reicin
Cheryl is an internationally recognized advisor to life sciences companies and some of the industry’s largest investors. She assists clients in developing innovative strategies for domestic and international growth and advises on highly complex transactions around the globe. She represents biotechnology, medical device, and health technology companies at all stages of their development, from inventors and start-ups to major public corporations, as well as venture capitalists, investment banks, and academic medical centers.
By leveraging her deep knowledge of the market and solutions-oriented and practical approach to addressing business issues, Cheryl provides guidance on all aspects of transactions and works with clients to implement optimal corporate and tax structures. She has extensive experience in all aspects of seed, venture, and later-stage financings, IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, licensing transactions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances as well as corporate governance.
Cheryl has been named WXN’s Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women four times and inducted into its Hall of Fame. She has been repeatedly recognized by LMG Life Sciences as the Canadian Finance & Corporate Attorney of the Year.
Cheryl is 1 of 5 shortlisted for U.S. Venture Capital Lawyer of the Year for 2022.
Dr. Lei Liu
Dr. Lei Liu is an experienced patent agent and Principal at Smart & Biggar in Ottawa, who works with companies and innovators, research institutions, and universities across the spectrum of life sciences.
Lei harnesses his advanced knowledge of biotechnology, biological science, and chemistry to assist clients with protecting their valuable innovations through intellectual property (IP) rights. He works closely with clients to understand their business objectives and help them identify strategic opportunities to obtain and leverage IP with the most relevant business value for them.
From initial development of an IP strategy roadmap, Lei’s work with clients includes drafting and prosecuting Canadian patent applications and coordination of IP procurement worldwide, and advisory work in IP transactions, with IP due diligence, IP audits and IP–related agreements.
Adam George
Formerly the CFO who spent 13 years with GW Pharmaceuticals, Adam has recently joined the Kensana Health team. He has come on as a business advisor helping with the IPO.
Adam took GW public on NASDAQ and was involved in raising USD$1.4B and oversaw their growth including over USD$500M in sales, as well as their exit to Jazz Pharmaceuticals for USD$7.5B. Adam spent the last 4 years at GW Pharmaceuticals as co-head of R&D.
Adam has been instrumental in helping us refine our clinical and drug development pathway. Adam holds exceptional talent and knowledge in the pharmaceutical sector.
Duane Nash M.D., J.D., M.B.A.
Duane earned a B.A in biology from Williams College, an M.D. from Dartmouth Medical School, a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.B.A from the University of Oxford. He completed his internship in general surgery from the University of California.
He practiced law as an attorney from 2002 to 2008 where he focused on intellectual property litigation and M&A.
Duane held positions at Wedbush PacGrowth Life Sciences, an investment bank, between 2009 and 2012, serving as Senior Vice President in Equity Research at the end of his time with the group. He had previously worked as a research analyst at Pacific Growth Equities, an investment bank, which was acquired by Wedbush in 2009.
Bill Cracknell
Bill is an Independent Consultant, having recently retired after nearly 40 years working in a range of Operational, Quality & R&D management roles within the pharmaceutical industry for both local Australian and multi-national companies. Bill was most recently the Senior Director, Global Operations Projects for CSL Seqirus, a leading global manufacturer of influenza vaccine, located in Melbourne, Australia, where he oversaw manufacturing projects across sites in Australia, UK & the USA.
Bill was also, for many years, the Chairperson of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations Influenza Vaccine Supply International Task Force an international manufacturer group based in Geneva which is responsible for the planning of the international vaccine production & response to pandemic threats. Through involvement with this group, he maintained key contacts with groups such as WHO & other Government, regulatory & reference laboratories.
Dr. Freddie Ann Hoffman M.D.
Freddie Ann is the Director and Managing Member of HeteroGeneity, LLC.
She has over 35 years of product development experience, serving at the FDA for nearly 14 years.
During her tenure, she formed and chaired an internal FDA Botanical Working Group which developed the Botanical Drug guidance, which the Agency finalized in 2004. She has continued to serve on numerous working groups, task forces and boards of both government agencies and private companies.
o Over 500 successful INDs
o The only team with two approved botanical prescription drugs to be registered with the FDA
Dr. Armin Prasch
Dr. Prasch coordinates the strategic orientation of Fidelio’s drug development projects. Fidelio Healthcare is part of the Martin Bauer Holding Group network. Fidelio are an EU GMP pharmaceutical manufacturer in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. Dr. Prasch’s background is in process engineering and biotechnology.
Dr Prasch has extensive knowledge in pharmaceutical development leading 9 drug development teams. In addition, he has in-depth knowledge of patents and regulatory issues in the development of healthcare products for international market.
Dr. Dedi (David) Meiri
Dr. Dedi Meiri is an assistant professor and heads the Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Cannabinoid Research in the Technion Faculty of Biology. He is also a member of the Technion Integrated Cancer Center.
Dr. Meiri is the founder of Cannasoul Ltd., Israel’s leading Cannabis analytical laboratory. Cannasoul is the first company in the world to analyze over 100 cannabinoids and terpenes and offers unique and comprehensive endocannabinoid analysis in a wide range of matrixes.
Dr. Meiri and his team have claimed fame in the cannabinoid circuit with their paper published in the Journal of Cancer Communications. His team investigated how cannabis extracts can inhibit the growth of leukemia cells that have a mutation in the NOTCH1 gene, which is a common driver of this type of cancer.