Andrew is a seasoned executive with decades of experience serving on public, private, and institutional boards. He has successfully led operational teams across North America, Europe, and Asia, delivering complex solutions in sectors such as defense, healthcare, public safety, finance, and government. His corporation, Protonify, is positioned to as a world leader in cannabinoid extracts and API formulations.  Further, Andrew’s past professional experience oversaw global product management across a portfolio of 20+ high-tech companies, driving innovative solutions with an emphasis on telecommunications, resiliency, and regulatory compliance.

Dr. Simons participated in early cannabis and hemp contracts within the agency settings Canadian Food Inspection, Health Canada, Agriculture Canada, and Pest Management Regulatory Agency.  Following-on with field mass spec work with Molecular Science Corp, Brigitte established a craft cannabis quality assurance remote teams while companies navigate cultivator and processor partnerships with BC Craft Supply Co.and other early micro-licence holder applicants. Presently, Dr. Brigitte Simons is the CEO at Safari Flower Co, a craft-at-scale licence cultivator and GMP Manufacturer for international export of cannabis. Brigitte received her Ph.D. in Chemical Biology at the University of Ottawa and a Kellogg-Schulich M.B.A. in operational business strategy. 

Megan Preik is a fractional QAP, coach, mentor, and the founder of Accelerated Quality Solutions. She specializes in process improvement and regulatory compliance, ensuring quality strategies support overall business objectives.

Megan is an analytical chemist (P.Chem.), and prior to her work in cannabis, she amassed extensive experience in laboratory management, accreditation, and data validation. She has served on the board of the Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia (ACPBC) for four years, including as Secretary from 2021 to 2023. 

Nina Ackah joined Freedom Cannabis as the QA Manager/QAP in November 2021 with a wealth of knowledge and experience in Quality Management Systems, Analytical testing, Risk Analysis, Research and Data Analysis for both the food and the cannabis industry. Nina worked with Viridis Natural Health Products Ltd. as the QA Manager / QA Person from December 2018 to November 2021, before becoming a member of the Freedom Cannabis team. She assisted Viridis to get its cultivation and processing license, as well as sales licence for all the classes of cannabis under the Canadian Cannabis Act and Regulations. She also consults for Leisure Club Inc. and provided immense support to them in their journey to receiving their micro processing cannabis license which was granted by Health Canada in February 2022. 

Prior to establishing herself as one of the most knowledgeable QAPs in the cannabis industry, Nina had worked as an Assistant Research Scientist and later as a Research Scientist with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Food Research Institute, Ghana from 2006 – 2018. Her research activities focused on food science and new product development, food safety and quality assurance. During that period, Nina supported several food companies to develop, implement and improve HACCP-based Food Safety Management Systems, which considerably improved the food safety output of those companies. Analogously, Nina lectured and examined MPhil students of the CSIR College of Science and Technology on Food Safety and Quality Assurance Regulations. She also led the microbiology laboratory to regain accreditation to ISO 17025 under her guidance as the Head of the Department. As well, she served as an ISO 17025 auditor for the Microbiology labs of the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority for almost 4 years, leading them to gain accreditation to ISO 17025. 

Nina holds a BSc. Degree in Laboratory Technology from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana and an MSc. Degree in Food Quality Management from Wageningen University, The Netherlands. She was a recipient of the NUFFIC Fellowship for international students in the Netherlands. She is also a fellow of the prestigious USDA Borlaug Fellowship under which she worked as a visiting scientist at Tuskegee University, Alabama to carry out research on the use of molecular methods for the rapid detection of pathogens in poultry and beef. 

She has attended and given presentations at several conferences, both local and international, including the C45 Growing Summit and C45 Quality summit, which are noted as some of the most important platforms for discussing cannabis-related topics in Canada. She also has several publications including peer-reviewed ones to her credit.  

Nina is enthused about the cannabis industry because of its versatile and positively challenging nature as well as the constant new things to be learnt on-the-go. She also looks forward to championing innovative ideas to make the Cannabis Industry a more recognized one.

Monica Maillé is the QA/QC Manager for HealthView Pharms Inc (HVP). Monica joined HVP when the facility was still in its early construction phase, therefore, many details of the facilities design are a reflection of her vision. She has extensive knowledge pertaining to the Cannabis Regulations and Act and works diligently with the team to ensure compliance in all areas. She has been working in the cannabis space since 2019 after completing the Commercial Cannabis Production program at Niagara College.  Monica has always enjoyed the fast-paced changing landscape of the cannabis industry, and works endlessly to create safe and enjoyable products for recreational and medical users alike. Her interests in the cannabis industry are diverse, but her drive for educating others and being a strong female leader in the cannabis space remains constant. 

Monica has collaborated with the Grow Opportunity Magazine, the Growers Source Virtual Exposition and H!gh Canada Magazine early in her career where she was both a guest speaker and a content creator. Since February 2021, Monica has been an intern on the Board of Directors for the C45 Quality Association. As an intern for the Board, she helped various sub-committees meet their quarterly goals, played a large role in the organization of the C45 Quality Summit, helped establish the monthly Quality Time sessions, as well as accomplished many other projects as requested by the Board.  

Hubert Marceau is the Development Director and a co-founder of Laboratoire PhytoChemia, an analytical and research lab established in 2013 and licensed for cannabis work in 2014. At PhytoChemia, he has been responsible for designing the lab space, securing accreditation, maintaining equipment, developing new methods, building customer relationships, and driving business growth. In addition to this role, since 2015 he has also been a founding member of Alchemia Solutions, a company that specializes in crafting extraction systems.

Hubert earned his Bachelor's degree in Natural Product Chemistry from the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC). He is an expert in analytical phytochemistry and data analysis. Hubert played a pivotal role in obtaining the ISO 17025 accreditation for the lab, implementing the necessary tools and procedures to ensure accurate data management. He has developed various methods within the cannabis industry and created open-source software to assist with statistical data analysis. He has shared his passion for plant chemistry at numerous conferences across Canada, the U.S., and Europe.

In recent years, he has also focused on internal software development, working on automating lab processes and optimizing data acquisition and retention. Hubert adopts a data-driven approach to chemistry, constantly seeking to decipher patterns in the vast and complex fields of cannabis and phytochemistry.

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Hubert believes that the C-45 Quality Association is a unique association that not only serves as a bridge to the regulator but also as an educator. He views the Association as distinctive among industry associations because it acts as a platform for information exchange. Marceau is eager to actively contribute to this organization. He envisions the C--45 Quality Association as a hub uniting quality assurance and other industry members, creating a space where they can find answers to their questions without apprehension. 

Arjun Dedakia is currently the Director of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs at Herbal Dispatch, operating under Rosebud Productions Inc., where he has also held pivotal roles as a Quality Assurance Person (QAP) and A/HOS. At Herbal Dispatch, Arjun plays a hands-on role in overseeing day-to-day production activities, regulatory compliance, and licensing. His career is distinguished by a robust educational background, including a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy (B.Pharm), a Diploma in Chemical Laboratory Technician from Seneca College, Toronto, and a Master's degree in Pharmaceutical with a specialization in Novel Drug Dosage Form.

Prior to his tenure at Herbal Dispatch, Arjun served as the Quality Assurance Manager, QAP, and A/RPIC at Canna Farms Ltd., BC’s pioneering legal licensed producer of cannabis products, later acquired by Vivo Cannabis and subsequently by Medipharm Labs. Throughout his career, Arjun has collaborated with industry-leading LPs such as ABcann Medicinals (Medipharm Labs), Pure Sunfarms (Village Farms), Zenabis (SNDL), and Embark Corp. His early professional experience at Apotex Pharmaceutical and IPOC (International Point of Care) provided him with foundational knowledge in Pharmaceutical GMP and ISO standards for medical devices.

Arjun advocates for a science-driven approach to cannabis cultivation, processing, and regulation, emphasizing critical thinking and healthy skepticism. His contributions extend beyond operational roles; he has been instrumental in developing a Quality Management course at the University of British Columbia and has served as a guest lecturer on Cannabis Quality Management and Project Management, influencing hundreds of students.

Known for his leadership acumen, Arjun excels in inspiring teams to achieve shared objectives. His collaborative ethos and commitment to continuous improvement underscore his role as a valuable asset to any organization striving for excellence in quality management.

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In conclusion, Arjun Dedakia’s extensive expertise, coupled with his deep-rooted passion for the cannabis industry and unwavering pursuit of excellence, position him as a highly sought-after professional poised to drive significant advancements and contribute to the ongoing success of the industry.

​As a seasoned professional with extensive academic and industrial experience in the cannabis and pharmaceutical industries, I provide creative, affordable solutions for quality, compliance, regulatory, and scientific challenges including EU-GMP. Canadian GMP/DEL, and GACP certifications. I am passionate about contributing to the growth and success of organizations in these industries by providing innovative solutions to complex problems.

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