Board and Management
Robert Clifford
Non-Executive Director
Chris Mews
Chief Financial Officer
Andrew Chapman
Non-executive Chairman
Brett Mitchell
Director
Rachel Kerr
Company Secretary
Robert Clifford
Non-Executive Director
Chris Mews
Chief Financial Officer
Andrew Chapman
Non-executive Chairman
Brett Mitchell
Director
Rachel Kerr
Company Secretary
Andrew Chapman
Non-executive Chairman
Andrew Chapman is the Managing Director of Merchant Group, a successful funds management operation established in 2011. Merchant is a Perth-based financial services firm that provides funds management and corporate finance services, with investment experience both in Australia and internationally in the medical cannabis sector.
Andrew is a Director of European Cannabis Corporation Limited (“ECC”), an Australian company which has built and operates a German EU GMP certified medicinal cannabis growth facility located in Spanchevo, Macedonia. ECC has also built and operates a German EU GMP certified medicinal cannabis extraction facility located in Skope, Macedonia. ECC also holds all relevant licenses and approvals to operate a pharmaceutical distribution business in Dortmund, Germany.
Andrew has a background not just in Finance, but in Hospitality, and is also the co-owner of a number of venues in Perth. His management style is shaped by the hospitality practice of “management by walking around”- getting into the depths of an organisation and getting your hands dirty. When required, Merchant has taken an activist investment style as opportunities have presented, turning companies around for the benefit of all.
Rachel Kerr
Company Secretary
Mrs Kerr is a highly experienced Company Secretary within both the private and public sectors with over 10 years’ experience managing the compliance of ASX listed companies, corporate acquisitions, capital raisings, IPO’s (ASX & LSE) and due diligence reviews.
Brett Mitchell
Director
Mr Mitchell is a corporate finance executive with over 25 years of experience in the venture capital and equity capital markets, on transactions in the natural resources, technology and life sciences sectors.
He has been involved in the founding, financing and management of both private and publicly-listed companies, including the first LSE listed medical cannabis company – MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd (MXC), Australian lithium developer Delta Lithium Ltd (DLI) and private medical cannabis company Levin Health.
Mr Mitchell is also a founder and director of Chieftain Securities Pty Ltd, a Perth based specialist Corporate Advisory and ECM firm.
Chris Mews
Chief Financial Officer
Chris is an experienced non-executive director with over 20 years in the financial services sector, having held senior positions in finance, corporate secretarial and compliance in listed and unlisted companies. Chris is currently the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of Merchant Group Pty Ltd, a Perth based financial services firm that provides funds management and corporate finance services, with investment experience both in Australia and internationally in the medical cannabis sector. Prior to Merchant Group, he was the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of listed biotech Company Polynovo Limited (ASX:PNV), and is currently Company Secretary and Non-Executive Director of VPCL Limited (ASX:VPC).
Tod McGrouther
Chairman
Mr Tod McGrouther has over 35 years’ experience in the Australian capital markets primarily in the areas of equity capital markets and corporate advisory. Mr McGrouther Holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours and University Medal) from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Finance (First Class Honours and University Medal) from the University of New South Wales.
Mr McGrouther is a principal of equity capital markets firm KTM Capital. Over this period KTM has raised over $500 million in equity and completed over 150 equity capital assignments for a range of Australian technology and resource companies. Since 2018 Mr McGrouther has been a Director of European Cannabis Corporation Limited (“ECC”), an Australian company which has built and operates a German EU GMP certified medicinal cannabis growth facility located in Spanchevo, Macedonia.
ECC has also built and operates a German EU GMP certified medicinal cannabis extraction facility located in Skope, Macedonia. ECC also holds all relevant licenses and approvals to operate a pharmaceutical distribution business in Dortmund, Germany. Mr McGrouther is currently a Non-Executive Director of three ASX listed companies – NSX Limited, Urbanise Limited and Love Group Limited. Mr McGrouther is also Chairman of The National Stock Exchange of Australia Limited a subsidiary of NSX Limited.
Charles Altshuler
Chief Financial Officer
Charles has a wealth of experience accumulated from his 16 year career both in Australia and overseas in a mix of small entrepreneurial and global companies. Charles’ career includes 8 years of senior finance and operational roles in manufacturing/mining and over 5 years in healthcare/pharmaceutical companies. During this time he has acquired experience and demonstrated success in financial management and control, business integration, process improvements and the commercialisation of products from the development stage through the entire supply chain. Moving from Bod Australia Limited as the CFO he already understands the medical cannabis prescription and over the counter markets both in Australia and globally. Charles has also held senior positions in finance and supply at significant international companies such as Blackmores Limited and Anglo American PLC. Charles holds two degrees in accounting and finance, is a Chartered Accountant and also holds an MBA from Torrens University and a senior project management diploma from Stanford University.
Quentin Megson
Chief Financial Officer and Co-Company Secretary
Quentin has over 25 years’ experience in the finance and management sector and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants. Quentin started as a Tax Advisory Manager with a major accounting firm before moving to a medium tier accounting firm as a Partner. He then chose to move into commerce as the CFO and Company Secretary of an ASX listed company operating in the forestry/ agriculture industry and then moved into an operational role as General Manager of Operations & Corporate Services. Quentin has also held non-executive director roles within several companies.
Dr Kathryn Adams
Non-Executive Director
Dr Kate Adams is an entrepreneur and Veterinarian with an interest in innovation, science and fast growing emerging biotechnology companies. Kate is the owner of Bondi Veterinary Hospital and is a TV host for Channel 9’s Bondi Vet. Kate has held senior leadership roles for the Federal Attorney-General’s Portfolio including as an Analyst, Principal Adviser and Chief of Staff for a number of Royal Commissions and holds a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery and a Bachelor of Communications.
Bruce McHarrie
Non-Executive Director
Bruce is a highly experienced senior executive and independent company director with a background in the life sciences industry focussed on finance, operations, governance, business and investment management, and strategic planning.
In addition to AusCann, Bruce is a non-executive director of Adherium Limited, an ASX listed digital health technology company and he is a Special Adviser to BioScience Managers Pty Ltd, an international healthcare investment firm that finances and enables innovative science and technology with the potential to transform healthcare.
Bruce previously served as the Chief Financial Officer, Director of Operations and Director of Strategic Projects with the Telethon Kids Institute in Western Australia. Prior to joining the Institute, Bruce was based in London as an Assistant Director at Rothschild Asset Management in the Bioscience Unit, a life sciences private equity group investing in early stage biotechnology, healthcare and agribusiness companies. He co-founded two Institute spin-outs including publicly listed drug discovery company, Phylogica Limited, and has held a number of other non-executive director positions in biotechnology and not-for-profit healthcare organisations.
Krista Bates
Non-Executive Director
Krista brings over 18 years of expertise in the legal market. She is currently a Partner at leading Western Australian law firm Lavan specialising in Corporate law and is Head of Mining & Resources. Krista has led transactions with deal values ranging from $20,000 to $4.5 billion across multiple sectors advising a diverse base of private and listed companies, private equity funds, governments and individuals, nationally and internationally.
Max Johnston
Chairman and Non-Executive Director
Max is a highly regarded health care industry director with a broad range of executive and pharmaceutical experience. He is currently a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of ASX-listed companies BARD1 Life Sciences, PolyNovo and Medical Developments International. Max previously held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson Pacific, a division of the world’s largest medical, pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare company for 11 years.
Geoff Starr
Non-Executive Director
Geoff brings over 35 years of executive experience to the company, 15 years of which was at Managing Director or CEO level, gained all around the world, but especially in Asia, Europe and Australia/New Zealand. These positions included high level corporate companies such as Unilever and Mars Group, where Geoff had a very distinguished career running their pet food business in both Asia and Europe with over 20 brands in their portfolio, including Royal Canin, Whiskas, Advance and Pedigree.
Robert Clifford
Non-Executive Director
For over 25 years, Rob has been at the forefront of Australia and New Zealand’s hospitality and tourism industry. An industry professional and expert in food and destination development. Rob has extensive experience in developing new and exciting concepts for a wide range of markets. Beginning his career in hospitality with the Hyatt International Hotels and Resorts, Rob has held various executive management positions in Perth, Canberra and Macau. Rob was the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre’s Chief Executive Officer before moving to Melbourne, where he led Australia’s largest boutique catering brand, EPICURE. Here he championed a sustainable food philosophy and was responsible for the catering experience at some of the largest and most high profile venues and events in Australia and New Zealand. Rob established Alto Cibum Consulting in 2015, providing business strategy to a range of private sector businesses and government bodies. Rob holds several board positions in listed companies, not for profit and start-up companies. Rob was privileged to open the Dublin office for the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce during his tenure as president. He is an active member of the Irish Australian community with involvement in trade negotiations.
Layton Mills
Chief Executive Officer
Layton is an experienced entrepreneur, having worked in the life-sciences and fast-moving consumer goods industries for over 13 years where he developed and launched a number of CPG products in Australia, gaining significant experience across various product categories in both human and animal health.
Layton has extensive international business experience having been involved in business activities across Europe, Asia and North America, including government led trade initiatives with the Canberra Business Chamber.
Prior to his appointment as CEO of AusCann, Layton was the founder and CEO of CannPal Animal Therapeutics Ltd, an ASX listed Animal Health Company which was acquired by AusCann Group Holdings in early 2021.
Layton has an Advanced Diploma in Business Management and Marketing and is a two-time Sydney Entrepreneur of the Year recipient in the category of Health. He is deeply passionate about developing and commercialising products to improve the health and wellbeing of people and pets, with cross-functional expertise in product development, marketing, business strategy, investor relations, international trade and capital raisings.
A/Prof Peter Gonski
BMedSc, MB BS Hons UNSW, FRACP
Associate Professor Peter Gonski is a well-regarded aged-care specialist and has 30 years’ experience in the care of elderly patients. He is a senior staff geriatrician in South Eastern Sydney local Health district. His passion is the holistic management of older people.
He has been very involved in the development of models of care so that patients are given the right treatment, in the right place at the right time.
He is the Clinical Stream Director for aged care and rehabilitation for the Local Health District and Conjoint Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, UNSW.
Dr Peter Georgius
MBBS, BMedSc, FFPMANZCA, FAFRM
Dr Georgius is a well regarded expert in complex pain conditions (e.g. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)).
Participates and leads national and international CRPS research and has several publications in the area.
An adopter of emerging therapies for chronic pain including medical cannabis and Scrambler Therapy.
Founder, Director and Principle Investigator of Sunshine Coast Clinical Research (SCCR), involved in national and international clinical research trials.
Appointed Director, Rehabilitation Unit at Nambour Selangor Private Hospital and Noosa Private Hospital in 2014.
Consults at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Dr Sachin Shetty
MBBS, MD(PMR), FAFRM(RACP), FFPM(ANZCA)
Dr Sachin Shetty is a Rehabilitation & Pain Physician working at Prince of Wales Public & Private Hospital in the Eastern Sydney suburbs of Sydney. He has a special interest in spinal injuries, regional pain and management of various acute & persistent pain and rehabilitation issues.
Dr Shetty finished his M.D. in Rehabilitation Medicine in 2005 from University of Calcutta (India) with Honours and was awarded the Indian Association of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Gold Medal in 2005 for his dissertation. He then was accepted on the London Deanery Rehabilitation Medicine training programme and further trained in prestigious centres like Kings College Hospital & Regional Rehabilitation Unit in London. He arrived in Australia in 2008 to further his training in Spinal Rehabilitation at the Prince of Wales Hospital. He completed his Rehabilitation Fellowship in 2009 and went on to train in Pain Management at St Vincent’s hospital & Prince of Wales hospitals finishing his Pain Fellowship in 2010.
He currently works as the Director of the Prince of Wales Spinal Injuries Unit and staff specialist at the Pain Management department and also the Director of PRISM – Pain Rehabilitation to Improve Self-Management, the multi-disciplinary pain group programme at Prince of Wales Hospital, Pain Clinic.
He is also is a part of Sydney Spine and Pain – a multidisciplinary pain clinic at the Prince of Wales Private Hospital.
He has strong academic interests fulfilled as the Conjoint Senior Lecturer at the UNSW Medical School.
Dr Marc Russo
MBBS DA (UK) FANZCA FFPMANZCA
Dr Marc Russo is a well-regarded specialist in pain medicine and is the Medical Director of Hunter Pain Specialists established in 1999 (Australia’s first multidisciplinary private pain clinic).
He is the President Elect International Neuromodulation Society, Examiner for Faculty of Pain Medicine Australian New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and serves on five other committees within the Faculty.
He is an Honorary Associate Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Hong Kong and Conjoint Lecturer, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle NSW. He has 51 national and international publications and is Principal Investigator on 66 clinical trials.
Dr Russo also brings experience in treating patients with cannabinoid-based medicines and related clinical trials.
Dr Melinda Thompson
Director of Research and Regulatory Affairs
Melinda holds a doctorate in biochemistry with postdoctoral research experience in molecular biology. She has over ten years’ experience, and has held several senior roles, in research and development management, with a focus on governance frameworks and operational processes, including the development of bespoke research management systems, contractual frameworks and risk assessment of research activities, including clinical trials.
Sheena Emslie
Chief Operating Officer
Sheena has more than 16 years’ experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, with over 8 years in management roles. She has worked in both sterile & non-sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing with extensive experience in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) under the regulations of the ICH, PIC/S and audited by TGA, FDA, WHO & SAHPRA.
Sheena has also held roles in both a Clinical Research Organisation & Bioanalytical Laboratory under Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines.
Her skills are project and operational management, Quality Control, Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), GMP, GCP and Quality Assurance.