The MedCan 2022 Industry Summit will help local companies accelerate their path to market through valuable insights into exporting, innovation and education. Industry experts will be presenting the latest scientific findings and breakthrough technologies and exploring the current challenges and opportunities around the likes of cultivating, manufacturing, New Zealand regulations, export, clinical trials, prescription and investment.
Day 1 – Industry Summit – 10 February
08:20
08:40
08:50
Opening remarks from the MC
Andrew Patterson Business Commentator
09:05
BioTechNZ’s welcome to the MedCan Summit
Dr Zahra Champion Executive Director, BioTechNZ
09:10
Networking breakout spaces 
Meet and greet your fellow attendees in random breakout rooms in this icebreaker session.
09:20
Opening keynote: Global sector review | How is the medicinal cannabis industry shaping globally?
- Looking into how cannabinoids are being used across sector i.e. cosmetics, beverages and more
- Insights into evidence on consumption trends across the globe
- What impact is medicinal cannabis having?
- How is this driving product design in the industry?
Melissa Clark-Reynolds Futurist, futurecentre.nz
09:50
Ministerial Address
Hon. Andrew Little Minister of Health, Labour Party
10:05
CEO panel: The state of play for New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry in 2022 and beyond
- Comparing New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry to the world
- The opportunity to join the global industry and be amongst the global players
- What is unique about New Zealand’s harvest (and product) to drive a global opportunity to drive our economy as well as contribute to global healthcare and wellbeing outcomes?
- What are the milestones that the industry needs to reach to achieve a commercially sustainable industry?
- Keeping it local – what are the collaboration options for Maori businesses and organisations to expand their interest in primary industries?
Manu Caddie, Co-Founder, Kaihautu – Innovation and Regulation, Rua Bioscience
Carmen Doran Chief Executive Officer, Helius Therapeutics
Mark Lucas Chief Executive Officer, Cannasouth
Tim Aldridge Managing Director, Puro
Mitch Cuevas Pharmaceutical Director, Eqalis
11:00
11:15
11:20
Industry
Panel: Women in the medicinal cannabis industry Carmen Doran Chief Executive Officer, Helius Therapeutics
Eva Neshat Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Elysian Pharmaceuticals & CannaPlus+
Zoë Reece Founder and CEO, Ora Pharm
Dr Dottie Clower Chief Scientific Officer, Puro
12:20
Industry
Investing in the future of the medical cannabis industry • Types of investment
• Trends
• Future of investments
Kristen Lunman Co-Founder and GM, Hatch
12:50
Industry
Sustainable sector development through ‘whole plant’ utilisation This presentation will highlight the commercial potential for medicinal cannabis or hemp beyond its primary use by taking a ‘whole of resource’ approach. It will outline how the Bioresource Processing Alliance and research providers can help industry partners identify high-value opportunities from low-value biological resources.
Andrew Cameron Principal Consultant, Callaghan Innovation
Anna Yallop General Manager, Bioresource Processing Alliance
13:20
13:40
14:10
Ministry of Health Address: Medicinal Cannabis Scheme | An update on New Zealand’s current roadblocks and Opportunities
- Medicinal cannabis licensing regime
- Verification of products against the minimum quality standards
- Regulation changes
Andrea Eng Manager of Regulatory Practice & Analysis, Medicinal Cannabis Agency, Ministry of Health
14:40
Closing keynote: An agronomic approach to the cultivation of medicinal cannabis
- Providing an overview of AUS/NZ approach to growing cannabis for medicinal purposes
- An in-depth discussion on indoor versus outdoor growth – how do they differ and will one dominate over the other?
- Showcasing technology in play to capture data and assisting with cultivation
- The road that lays ahead – opportunities for growth and collaboration
Tom Forrest Cultivation Director, Puro
08:20
08:40
08:50
Opening remarks from the MC
Andrew Patterson Business Commentator
09:05
BioTechNZ’s welcome to the MedCan Summit
Dr Zahra Champion Executive Director, BioTechNZ
09:10
Networking breakout spaces
Meet and greet your fellow attendees in random breakout rooms in this icebreaker session.
09:20
Opening keynote: Global sector review | How is the medicinal cannabis industry shaping globally?
- Looking into how cannabinoids are being used across sector i.e. cosmetics, beverages and more
- Insights into evidence on consumption trends across the globe
- What impact is medicinal cannabis having?
- How is this driving product design in the industry?
Melissa Clark-Reynolds Futurist, futurecentre.nz
09:50
Ministerial Address
Hon. Andrew Little Minister of Health, Labour Party
10:05
CEO panel: The state of play for New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry in 2022 and beyond
- Comparing New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry to the world
- The opportunity to join the global industry and be amongst the global players
- What is unique about New Zealand’s harvest (and product) to drive a global opportunity to drive our economy as well as contribute to global healthcare and wellbeing outcomes?
- What are the milestones that the industry needs to reach to achieve a commercially sustainable industry?
- Keeping it local – what are the collaboration options for Maori businesses and organisations to expand their interest in primary industries?
Manu Caddie, Co-Founder, Kaihautu – Innovation and Regulation, Rua Bioscience
Carmen Doran Chief Executive Officer, Helius Therapeutics
Mark Lucas Chief Executive Officer, Cannasouth
Tim Aldridge Managing Director, Puro
Mitch Cuevas Pharmaceutical Director, Eqalis
11:00
11:15
11:20
Science
Digging for seeds | Opportunities to run an internationally competitive structured breeding programme for New Zealand • New Zealand gene bank
• different genetic technologies
• development of unique plants to those grown internationally
• Which traits to select- from disease resistance to cannabinoid profiles
• role of data management in a well-run breeding programme
Dr Anna Campbell Consultant, AbacusBio
11:50
Science
Understand the diseases that threaten NZ’s medicinal cannabis industry Kai Keli’iho’omalu Cultivation Manager, Helius Therapeutics
12:20
Science
Fireside chat: Helping talent navigate through the sector Carmen Doran Chief Executive Officer, Helius Therapeutics
Ali Seyfoddin Associate Professor of Drug Delivery and Biological Engineering Deputy Head of School, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology
12:50
Science
Fireside chat: Insights from the study on COVID for the MedCan industry Dr. Adele Hosseini, PhD Chief Scientific Officer, Bod Australia
13:20
13:40
14:10
Ministry of Health Address: Medicinal Cannabis Scheme | An update on New Zealand’s current roadblocks and Opportunities
- Medicinal cannabis licensing regime
- Verification of products against the minimum quality standards
- Regulation changes
Andrea Eng Manager of Regulatory Practice & Analysis, Medicinal Cannabis Agency, Ministry of Health
14:40
Closing keynote: An agronomic approach to the cultivation of medicinal cannabis
- Providing an overview of AUS/NZ approach to growing cannabis for medicinal purposes
- An in-depth discussion on indoor versus outdoor growth – how do they differ and will one dominate over the other?
- Showcasing technology in play to capture data and assisting with cultivation
- The road that lays ahead – opportunities for growth and collaboration
Tom Forrest Cultivation Director, Puro
Day 2 – Industry Summit – 11 February
08:30
08:50
Welcome from the MC
Andrew Patterson Business Commentator
09:00
Networking breakout spaces
Meet and greet your fellow attendees in random breakout rooms in this icebreaker session.
09:20
Fireside chat
Bonni Goldstein Medical Director, Canna Centers Wellness & Education
09:40
MP Address
Brooke van Velden List Member, ACT Party
10:00
Adding value to the medicinal cannabis sector with New Zealand’s brand
Research shows that being from New Zealand adds value to your brand, and that provenance matters. This session showcases the strength in brand New Zealand and
will shed light on the value-adding opportunity for medicinal cannabis.
- Using New Zealand’s brand and image in the medicinal cannabis industry – how can we leverage this to increase value?
- Coming together and collaborating to advocate for the industry – what is the opportunity here?
- A view into the practical tools that the New Zealand Story group have to help
David Downs Chief Executive Officer, New Zealand Story
10:40
11:00
New Zealand’s 2 Billion Dollar Opportunity
- The opportunity to develop the CBD sector in New Zealand – what are the resources available to achieve this?
- Insights into the economic opportunity
Mitch Cuevas Pharmaceutical Director, Eqalis
11:40
Panel discussion: Crown Research Industries (CRI’s) supporting the medicinal cannabis
- Explaining the work currently being undertaken by Crown Research Institutes in the medicinal cannabis space
- Advocating for the industry – a spotlight on the work taking place here
Dr Richard Newcomb, PhD Chief Scientist, Plant & Food Research
Dr Emma Bermingham Science Objective Leader Added Value Foods & Bio-based Products, AgResearch
Dr Florian Graichen GM – Forests to Biobased products, Scion
12:10
Fire side chat: Callaghan Innovation road map – concept to commercialisation
Mark Robinson, Business Innovation Advisor – Health Sector, Callaghan Innovation
12:30
13:00
Roundtables: Delegates have the opportunity to participate in roundtables facilitated by subject matter experts on specific themes. Delegates can attend x2 sessions and the topics to choose from are:
- Application process in obtaining a licence through the Medicinal Cannabis Agency – tips and tricks
Facilitator: Andrea Eng, Manager of Regulatory Practice & Analysis, Medicinal Cannabis Agency, Ministry of Health - EBM4CBD/THC
Facilitators: Dr Michael Murphy MB, BS, Pharm B.Sc (Hons), Clinical Director, CannaPlus+;
Dr Afraz Adam MBBS. FRNZCUC, Chief Medical Officer, CannaPlus+
Extraction technologies
Steve Tallon Team Leader, Process Engineering Group, Callaghan Innovation - Analysis and testing
Facilitators: Bruce Fraser, New Zealand General Manager, Shimadzu
Sam Dallas, Analytical Technology Technician, Hill Laboratories
14:20
14:40
Medicinal cannabis in veterinary use in New Zealand
- The endocannabinoid system in animals
- A brief history of veterinary medicinal cannabis
- Toxicology and the THC myth
- Local and overseas clinical trials to date
- Market opportunities and regulatory affairs
15:10
International Speaker – CBD: Past, Present & Future
Martin A Lee Director, Project CBD
13:00
Session 1: Application process in obtaining a licence through the Medicinal Cannabis Agency – tips and tricks
Andrea Eng Manager of Regulatory Practice & Analysis, Medicinal Cannabis Agency, Ministry of Health
13:00
Session 1: EBM4CBD/THC
Dr Michael Murphy Clinical Director, CannaPlus+
Dr Afraz Adam MBBS. FRNZCUC Chief Medical Officer, CannaPlus+
13:00
Session 1: Extraction technologies
Steve Tallon Team Leader, Process Engineering Group, Callaghan Innovation
13:00
Session 1: Analysis and testing
Bruce Fraser Team Leader, Process Engineering Group, Callaghan Innovation
Sam Dallas Analytical Technology Technician, Hill Laboratories
13:40
Session 2: Application process in obtaining a licence through the Medicinal Cannabis Agency – tips and tricks
Andrea Eng Manager of Regulatory Practice & Analysis, Medicinal Cannabis Agency, Ministry of Health
13:40
Session 2: EBM4CBD/THC
Dr Afraz Adam MBBS. FRNZCUC Chief Medical Officer, CannaPlus+
Dr. Michael Murphy MB, BS, Pharm B.Sc (Hons) Clinical Director, CannaPlus+
13:40
Session 2: Extraction technologies
Steve Tallon Team Leader, Process Engineering Group, Callaghan Innovation
13:40
Session 2: Analysis and testing
Bruce Fraser Team Leader, Process Engineering Group, Callaghan Innovation
Sam Dallas Analytical Technology Technician, Hill Laboratories
Day 1 – Industry Summit – 10 February
| Time | Industry Stream | Science Stream |
|---|---|---|
| 08:20 | ||
| 08:40 | ||
| 08:50 | Opening remarks from the MC Andrew Patterson Business Commentator | Opening remarks from the MC Andrew Patterson Business Commentator |
| 09:05 | BioTechNZ’s welcome to the MedCan Summit Dr Zahra Champion Executive Director, BioTechNZ | BioTechNZ’s welcome to the MedCan Summit Dr Zahra Champion Executive Director, BioTechNZ |
| 09:10 | Networking breakout spaces Meet and greet your fellow attendees in random breakout rooms in this icebreaker session. | Networking breakout spaces Meet and greet your fellow attendees in random breakout rooms in this icebreaker session. |
| 09:20 | Opening keynote: Global sector review | How is the medicinal cannabis industry shaping globally?
Melissa Clark-Reynolds Futurist, futurecentre.nz | Opening keynote: Global sector review | How is the medicinal cannabis industry shaping globally?
Melissa Clark-Reynolds Futurist, futurecentre.nz |
| 09:50 | Ministerial Address Hon. Andrew Little Minister of Health, Labour Party | Ministerial Address Hon. Andrew Little Minister of Health, Labour Party |
| 10:05 | CEO panel: The state of play for New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry in 2022 and beyond
Manu Caddie, Co-Founder, Kaihautu – Innovation and Regulation, Rua Bioscience Carmen Doran Chief Executive Officer, Helius Therapeutics Mark Lucas Chief Executive Officer, Cannasouth Tim Aldridge Managing Director, Puro Mitch Cuevas Pharmaceutical Director, Eqalis | CEO panel: The state of play for New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry in 2022 and beyond
Manu Caddie, Co-Founder, Kaihautu – Innovation and Regulation, Rua Bioscience Carmen Doran Chief Executive Officer, Helius Therapeutics Mark Lucas Chief Executive Officer, Cannasouth Tim Aldridge Managing Director, Puro Mitch Cuevas Pharmaceutical Director, Eqalis |
| 11:00 | ||
| 11:15 | ||
| 11:20 | Industry Panel: Women in the medicinal cannabis industry Carmen Doran Chief Executive Officer, Helius Therapeutics Eva Neshat Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Elysian Pharmaceuticals & CannaPlus+ Zoë Reece Founder and CEO, Ora Pharm Dr Dottie Clower Chief Scientific Officer, Puro | Science Digging for seeds | Opportunities to run an internationally competitive structured breeding programme for New Zealand • New Zealand gene bank Dr Anna Campbell Consultant, AbacusBio |
| 11:50 | Science Understand the diseases that threaten NZ’s medicinal cannabis industry Kai Keli’iho’omalu Cultivation Manager, Helius Therapeutics | |
| 12:20 | Industry Investing in the future of the medical cannabis industry • Types of investment Kristen Lunman Co-Founder and GM, Hatch | Science Fireside chat: Helping talent navigate through the sector Carmen Doran Chief Executive Officer, Helius Therapeutics Ali Seyfoddin Associate Professor of Drug Delivery and Biological Engineering Deputy Head of School, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology |
| 12:50 | Industry Sustainable sector development through ‘whole plant’ utilisation This presentation will highlight the commercial potential for medicinal cannabis or hemp beyond its primary use by taking a ‘whole of resource’ approach. It will outline how the Bioresource Processing Alliance and research providers can help industry partners identify high-value opportunities from low-value biological resources. Andrew Cameron Principal Consultant, Callaghan Innovation Anna Yallop General Manager, Bioresource Processing Alliance | Science Fireside chat: Insights from the study on COVID for the MedCan industry Dr. Adele Hosseini, PhD Chief Scientific Officer, Bod Australia |
| 13:20 | ||
| 13:40 | ||
| 14:10 | Ministry of Health Address: Medicinal Cannabis Scheme | An update on New Zealand’s current roadblocks and Opportunities
Andrea Eng Manager of Regulatory Practice & Analysis, Medicinal Cannabis Agency, Ministry of Health | Ministry of Health Address: Medicinal Cannabis Scheme | An update on New Zealand’s current roadblocks and Opportunities
Andrea Eng Manager of Regulatory Practice & Analysis, Medicinal Cannabis Agency, Ministry of Health |
| 14:40 | Closing keynote: An agronomic approach to the cultivation of medicinal cannabis
Tom Forrest Cultivation Director, Puro | Closing keynote: An agronomic approach to the cultivation of medicinal cannabis
Tom Forrest Cultivation Director, Puro |
| 15:20 |
Day 2 – Industry Summit – 11 February
| Time | Plenary | Roundtables |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 | ||
| 08:50 | Welcome from the MC Andrew Patterson Business Commentator | |
| 09:00 | Networking breakout spaces Meet and greet your fellow attendees in random breakout rooms in this icebreaker session. | |
| 09:20 | Fireside chat Bonni Goldstein Medical Director, Canna Centers Wellness & Education | |
| 09:40 | MP Address Brooke van Velden List Member, ACT Party | |
| 10:00 | Adding value to the medicinal cannabis sector with New Zealand’s brand Research shows that being from New Zealand adds value to your brand, and that provenance matters. This session showcases the strength in brand New Zealand and will shed light on the value-adding opportunity for medicinal cannabis.
David Downs Chief Executive Officer, New Zealand Story | |
| 10:40 | ||
| 11:00 | New Zealand’s 2 Billion Dollar Opportunity
Mitch Cuevas Pharmaceutical Director, Eqalis | |
| 11:40 | Panel discussion: Crown Research Industries (CRI’s) supporting the medicinal cannabis
Dr Richard Newcomb, PhD Chief Scientist, Plant & Food Research Dr Emma Bermingham Science Objective Leader Added Value Foods & Bio-based Products, AgResearch Dr Florian Graichen GM – Forests to Biobased products, Scion | |
| 12:10 | Fire side chat: Callaghan Innovation road map – concept to commercialisation Mark Robinson, Business Innovation Advisor – Health Sector, Callaghan Innovation | |
| 12:30 | ||
| 13:00 | Roundtables: Delegates have the opportunity to participate in roundtables facilitated by subject matter experts on specific themes. Delegates can attend x2 sessions and the topics to choose from are:
| |
| 13:00 | Session 1: Application process in obtaining a licence through the Medicinal Cannabis Agency – tips and tricks Andrea Eng Manager of Regulatory Practice & Analysis, Medicinal Cannabis Agency, Ministry of Health | |
| 13:00 | Session 1: EBM4CBD/THC Dr Michael Murphy Clinical Director, CannaPlus+ Dr Afraz Adam MBBS. FRNZCUC Chief Medical Officer, CannaPlus+ | |
| 13:00 | Session 1: Extraction technologies Steve Tallon Team Leader, Process Engineering Group, Callaghan Innovation | |
| 13:00 | Session 1: Analysis and testing Bruce Fraser Team Leader, Process Engineering Group, Callaghan Innovation Sam Dallas Analytical Technology Technician, Hill Laboratories | |
| 13:40 | Session 2: Application process in obtaining a licence through the Medicinal Cannabis Agency – tips and tricks Andrea Eng Manager of Regulatory Practice & Analysis, Medicinal Cannabis Agency, Ministry of Health | |
| 13:40 | Session 2: EBM4CBD/THC Dr Afraz Adam MBBS. FRNZCUC Chief Medical Officer, CannaPlus+ Dr. Michael Murphy MB, BS, Pharm B.Sc (Hons) Clinical Director, CannaPlus+ | |
| 13:40 | Session 2: Extraction technologies Steve Tallon Team Leader, Process Engineering Group, Callaghan Innovation | |
| 13:40 | Session 2: Analysis and testing Bruce Fraser Team Leader, Process Engineering Group, Callaghan Innovation Sam Dallas Analytical Technology Technician, Hill Laboratories | |
| 14:20 | ||
| 14:40 | Medicinal cannabis in veterinary use in New Zealand
| |
| 15:10 | International Speaker – CBD: Past, Present & Future Martin A Lee Director, Project CBD | |
| 15:40 |