Our expert contributors
Nicole Brown serves as chief innovation officer for North Carolina-based Open Book Extracts (OBX), an ingredient manufacturer, product development house, and supplier focused on cannabinoid-enabled (CBD) health and wellness. She channels data-driven consumer insights into a long-term course of action, delivering immediately usable product innovation, and drives awareness and thought leadership by overseeing strategic marketing efforts, including PR, event marketing, advertising, and partnerships. Nicole is committed to a spirit of sustainability and social impact and has built and led best-in-class teams to foster an open culture to learn from one another
Rodney Butt is senior vice president, strategic solutions, at Nutrasource. Over the last 25 years he has been involved in all aspects of clinical trials and global drug development within the pharmaceutical and CRO industries. His experience with product drug development includes a broad spectrum of related activities from leading international drug development teams, acting as key consultant on product development strategies, and leading the transition of naturally based products to prescription drugs. He is also a member of the Food & Drug Law Institute – Cannabis Committee, in Washington DC.
Freddie Dawson is managing editor of news at CBD-Intel, the global CBD information and news service run by Tamarind Media, focusing on market and regulatory developments. Freddie was formerly a business news journalist for CBD-Intel and its sister service ECigIntelligence.
Grégory Dubourg is an agro-engineer specialised in agri-food and nutrition, and a graduate of AgroParisTech. After 10 years of experience in marketing and innovation in the agri-food and nutraceutical industries, he founded Nutrikéo in 2009. Since then, he has managed this nutrition strategy consulting agency, which offers expertise covering studies, innovation, marketing and communication strategies across the entire supply chain for food, nutrition and health.
Mariko Hill is global innovation manager at Gencor Pacific. She is responsible for product development, sales & marketing strategy, business development, as well as leading the Sports & Active Nutrition portfolio for the international market.
Tony Reeves is a board director and UK representative of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). Since 2016 he has been representing the industry to regulators (MHRA, Home Office, FSA, HPRA, FSAI) and contributing to presentations at the European level on various matters including novel food regulations, CBD and THC levels in food, food supplements, beverages and cosmetics. He is closely engaged with numerous stakeholders in the cannabis industry across multiple geographies encompassing manufacturers, brand owners, retailers and investors. Formerly, he was European MD of what became Aurora Hemp, marketing director of Leatherhead Food Research Association, developed and launched a vegetarian product range and established his own specialist analytical laboratory business.
Lorenza Romanese is MD of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). Based at EIHA’s Brussels office, she is a veteran policy advisor and communications manager at the European level. She has led EIHA’s efforts in Brussels since February 2019, having worked with a number of MEPs to propose reforms affecting hemp in the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy. She previously advised interests in the oil and gas sector and led the European Association of independent Winegrowers.