a Canadian vertically-integrated biopharmaceutical company
Developing and commercializing various cannabinoid-based products for the global market place
Aras Azadian
Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder
Utilizing his extensive senior management experience in both financial and bio-technology sectors, Aras co-founded Avicanna with the vision of establishing a bio-pharmaceutical company with a strict focus on medical and pharmaceutical applications of cannabinoids. His expertise in corporate development coupled with his executive experience in the oncology industry have been integral to Avicanna’s thought leadership pertaining to R&D and clinical development. Since 2016 Aras has successfully led a team of executives, scientists and medical professionals across several countries with the vision of vertical integration and a strong company focus on quality controls, scientific vigour and competitive advantages. Aras holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from York University and an International Masters in Management degree from EADA Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
Setu Purohit
President & Chief Legal Officer, Director, Co-Founder
Experienced in complex corporate and legal strategy, as well as contract negotiations, Setu’s unique expertise as a lawyer and an entrepreneur have been central to Avicanna’s structure and key global partnerships. As the executive lead for Avicanna’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) process, Setu encompasses the qualities of an adaptive strategic leader equipped with market awareness, business acumen and an in-depth understanding of Avicanna’s long term objectives. With a high regard for best practices, our co-founder Setu, spearheads the company’s regulatory navigation with a vision specific to the pursuit of partnerships and commercialization opportunities. Essential to this role are his innate ability to strategically connect different regulatory frameworks that maximize our objectives along with his with knowledge of patient-focused advocacy, advising healthcare professionals, licensed cannabis producers and other corporate and regulatory stakeholders. Setu holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Ottawa and Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from the University of Western Ontario.
Dave Sohi
Chief Financial Officer
Having established a reputation for aligning financial and business metrics to support market strategy and growth, Dave has been responsible for all financial operations at Avicanna since inception. A pragmatic financial leader, Dave has wide-ranging experience in financial management, business leadership, corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and valuation services. His extensive experience with RSM Richter’s and Ernst and Young’s Transaction Advisory Practices has equipped him with the acumen and vision to deliver exceptional strategic direction, streamlined financial and procedural policies and create monitoring and accountability systems. Dave spearheads the responsibility for the complete and accurate preparation of all Avicanna teams and subsidiaries for Initial Public Offering (IPO). Dave has obtained his Chartered Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator designations and has earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University.
Dr. Amza Ali
Chief Medical Officer
A 2019 global Ambassador for Epilepsy and current President of the Epilepsy Society of the Caribbean – the only multi-nation Chapter of the International League Against Epilepsy – Dr. Amza Ali is a well-known neurologist and epileptologist who is leading all of Avicanna’s clinical development projects. Committed to improving the quality of care and welfare of patients with neurological disorders, especially epilepsy, Dr. Ali obtained his initial medical training from the University of West Indies (UWI). He is a Specialist certified in Neurology by the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK - having trained at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, with subsequent training in epilepsy and certification in clinical neurophysiology at the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital of Columbia. Amongst many distinctions, he holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in Business at the prestigious Henley Business School in the UK. Dr. Ali has devoted his entire academic career to the convergence of theory and practice of both medicine and business, the de-stigmatization of diseases such as epilepsy and the development of technological innovations that will facilitate sustainable interventions in the care of people with epilepsy. Dr. Ali has received prestigious international and global awards for his work in the field of epilepsy and neurology and has authored many publications in basic science and clinical medicine, with a principal focus on epilepsy. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology as well as a Fellow of the American Epilepsy Society.
Lucas Nosiglia
Chief Agricultural Officer
A seasoned entrepreneur and executive with experience across Europe, North America and South America, Lucas has been at the forefront of Avicanna’s Latin America (LATAM) operations since the company’s inception in 2016. His innovative and transformative approach in navigating the cannabis industry and his former involvement in management consulting, finance and health care have been invaluable in establishing and operating the company’s Colombian subsidiaries including two fully operational cultivation projects that act as Avicanna’s supply chain. Lucas’ wealth of experience from working at Deloitte along with his exceptional management capabilities and leadership values are at the core of his success in leading Avicanna’s largest teams. Lucas graduated with an Honours degree from Faculty of Economics of University of Buenos Aires and holds a Masters degree in Finance from EADA in Barcelona Spain.
Ivana Maric
Executive Vice President, Marketing
Leading the company’s marketing operations since inception, Ivana has championed the development, launch and management of all Avicanna’s subsidiaries, brands and product lines globally. Her exceptional ability to conceptualize and evolve new concepts into fruition while identifying and capitalizing market opportunities has been the innovative force behind our company’s marketing and branding strategies. A trailblazer with significant experience in traditional and digital media platforms, advertising, brand development and awareness across several sectors, Ivana utilizes both her previous experience and her thorough comprehension of the evolving landscape of the cannabis industry, its trends and challenges. Her former experience as the Director of Marketing for Ophiuchus Consulting Group and leading numerous marketing efforts and brand launches for start-up companies has been central to Avicanna’s exponential and continued growth. Ivana has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing Management from Ryerson University.
Dr. Justin Grant
Executive Vice President, Scientific Affairs
With over fifteen years of experience in leading pharmaceutical drug development, Dr. Justin Grant offers the expertise required for the growth and development of Avicanna’s scientific divisions. His experience includes nearly twelve years of leadership roles in some of Canada’s top research and medical institutions such as the University Health Network (UHN). He served as Staff Scientist and the Research Program Manager of the world renowned Spatio-Temporal Targeting and Amplification and Radiation Response (STTARR) Innovation Centre with Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Dr. Grant has held academic appointments at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Pharmacy as Assistant Professor and Affiliated Faculty position at the Techna Institute. His academic accomplishments include a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Toronto where he published and patented several sustained drug release formulations. In addition, Dr. Grant completed his Executive Master of Business (MBA) from Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and was the recipient of the Rotman Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence. He is currently an Instructor at Rotman for Corporate Strategy and Healthcare Innovation. Dr. Grant has been part of the Avicanna Scientific Advisory Board since 2016, where he held title of Chair prior to joining the company full time.
Caitlin Johnston
SVP, Strategic Partnerships & Patient Access
As SVP of Strategic Partnerships & Patient Access, Caitlin is responsible for leading the launch of Avicanna’s medical cannabis product pipeline in several markets. Prior to joining Avicanna, Caitlin was the Director of Operations & Engagement at Cogniciti (subsidiary of Baycrest), an international brain health company changing the way the world looks at brain health and aging. During her multiple years of service within the healthcare industry, Caitlin has been a leader and voice for progressive change when it comes to patient needs, satisfaction, and overall quality of life. Caitlin’s talent for designing and successfully leading patient-centric programs has taken her around the world with top pharmaceutical clients including Biogen, Eli Lilly, Roche, and Johnson and Johnson. She is committed to delivering accessible and sustainable healthcare solutions to aging adults, and is known for her extensive experience in patient advocacy, strategic partnerships, consumer acquisition models. Some of her biggest accomplishments to date have been bringing the world's first scientifically validated online brain health assessment to over 120,000 aging adults worldwide, developing a noteworthy patient recruitment and retention solution highly regarded by the pharmaceutical industry, and uniting 1 million young caregivers to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease.