With an honours degree in finance and economics, Tim worked in business and financial advisory before setting up his first business when he was in his early 20’s.  Since then, Tim has established and run several multi-million-dollar businesses across multiple industries, many of which are household names in Christchurch, including Party Warehouse, HireKING, Electric Avenue and the Great Kiwi Beer Festival. 

Tim is a highly experienced CEO and Director. He has a deep understanding of business culture, market positioning and how to execute on strategy.  In 2018 Tim moved his focus to the medical cannabis and healthcare industry which he is deeply passionate about.

Experienced in agri-business, international finance and corporate banking, Sank is a forward thinker who brings strategy, finance, risk management and integrity into his business activities. Sank has a passion for the land and oversees Winterhome Farm in Kēkerengū, which has been owned by his family for five generations spanning 130 years, and was the first in the region to implement a sustainability plan. Sank has built an extensive and trusted network across finance and corporate business nationally and internationally.

Tom is among the world’s most respected experts in cannabis agronomy and brings to Puro the intimate knowledge and global learnings required to successfully produce pharmaceutical grade cannabis at scale.

Tom is a sought-after speaker and lecturer at international cannabis conferences, a Churchill Fellow for Cannabis Agronomy and publisher of a White Paper for the Australian industry on cannabis botany, global industry and cultivation.  He has spent time at over 50 cannabis cultivation facilities across 8 countries looking at differing approaches and optimal methods to growing cannabis. 

Tom provides strong guidance to the Board on cultivation strategy, risk mitigation and oversees the cultivation and breeding programme for Puro (alongside Anna Campbell).   He has an extensive network throughout the global medical cannabis sector and has formed valuable and trusted relationships with leading breeding, cultivation, manufacturing and distribution groups in established markets. 

Giselle is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors (IoD), an experienced company director, chair, CEO and previously a lawyer for over 30 years including General Counsel for New Zealand’s largest insurance company.  She has held many board roles, notably serving as a director for four years on the Earthquake Commission (including its audit committee), and the H&J Smith Group.  Amongst other chair roles, Giselle chaired the Audit Committee for the Institute of Financial Advisors and is a lay member of the Medical Council, sitting on their Audit and Risk Committee.

Giselle has recently completed a Cambridge University Sustainable Business Management course which strengthened her desire to help businesses towards a more purposeful, sustainable and resilient future. 

Jon has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and FMCG industries and has successfully launched multiple global brands as CEO and Director.  Jon headed a large multi-national pharmaceutical company and as Marketing Director of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Marketing Board he was responsible for creating the Zespri brand of kiwifruit and restructuring Zespri into a retail focused operation.

More recently, Jon was a Director of Virionyx, a New Zealand company that developed an antiviral drug designed to combat AIDS. He is currently a director of AFT Pharmaceuticals and is a member of the College of Assessors for The Endeavour Fund (MBIE).

A renowned expert in agribusiness, Anna Campbell has a PhD in plant biotechnology with a special interest in food security, alternate proteins and the use of plant bioactives for human health.

With a science degree in botany from the University of Otago, and a PhD research in cereal biotechnology from Lincoln University and Crop & Food Research, Anna started her career at the University of Southern Queensland where she discovered DNA markers for wheat quality and disease-resistance traits. After returning to New Zealand to work as a scientist at AgResearch Invermay, she moved to AbacusBio in 2006 where she rose through the ranks to Managing Director.

Today Anna is a Partner in AbacusBio while also co-founding Zestt Wellness, a company that’s changing lives with natural products. She is also strongly community focused, holding directorships at the New Zealand Cricket Association, Otago Innovation Limited and Genomics Aoteoroa as well as being a Trustee of Otago Boys’ High School.

Anna was named the Otago Daily Times 2019 Business Leader of the Year.

Craig brings to Puro a wealth of experience in governance, strategy and organisational development.

A qualified chartered accountant, with a career including senior management roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Craig has been involved in many executive and directorship positions over the last 25 years. His breadth of knowledge is diverse, with experience in the food, data, technology, business development, education and engineering sectors. He’s overseen the growth of a major Christchurch food retail business and has mentored numerous other businesses on performance, productivity, stability and risk management. Underpinning his work is his fundamental believe that good governance is all about improving the overall state of an organisation.

Craig is a member of both the Chartered Accountants of New Zealand / Australia and the Institute of Directors.  He provides ongoing director, chair and advisory board services, including regularly facilitating director level training for the Institute of Directors around the topics of Governance, Finance and Strategy.

Samantha is a molecular biologist with over 20 years’ experience in the natural health products, pharmaceutical, medical diagnostic and biotechnology industries.  

Currently Managing Director of BioEquitas, a full service consultancy to the natural health and life sciences industries, Samantha’s previous roles include Technical and Process Improvement Manager for Healtheries of New Zealand Ltd and an independent consultant to Vitaco Health NZ Ltd.  She has also held a variety of roles with US blue-chip diagnostic and pharmaceutical companies.

Samantha has a number of awards and achievements to her name, including leading BioEquitas to achieve the Natural Health Products New Zealand Marketing Award for 2020 ($2 million and under) and being a leading member of the team awarded the Cawthron Institute, Innovation in Science and Technology Award by Natural Health Products New Zealand in 2012.

She currently sits on the boards of Natural Health Products NZ and the Leather & Shoe Research Industry Partnership Governance Board and is a member of the College of Assessors for The Endeavour Fund (MBIE).

Grace is an exceptional talent, strongly strategic and data driven. With broad experience across agriculture, agribusiness, health and development, Grace has been instrumental in research and analysis for key organisations from the Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand to AbacusBio Limited.

Grace holds a Bachelor of Science (Genetics), a Bachelor of Laws and a Postgraduate Diploma of Public Health, providing the ideal backdrop to manage Puro’s regulatory and policy arm, including ensuring full compliance with New Zealand, Australian and wider regulatory bodies.  Grace is also Puro’s board secretary and is intimately involved with all governance and professional advisors to Puro.

Scott has operational oversight across head office and both cultivation facilities. He brings strong people management skills and organisational oversight over the wider business activities, focusing on the technical aspects, collaboration with internal project managers and external consultants.

Scott comes to Puro after 18 years at the Marlborough Tour Company, a business which during his tenure grew from a two-strong team to a company with more than 100 staff. His strengths lie in building formidable teams and business management across multiple business units.  He is adept at identifying, developing and implementing systems and procedures and managing external business relationships.

He also brings to Puro significant connections and knowledge of the Marlborough district and business community.

Scott’s career has spanned a broad range of industries in New Zealand and internationally, including marine manufacturing, aerospace, media and professional services. He has held senior finance roles in some of the world’s most prestigious and well-known companies, including PricewaterhouseCoopers (New York and Durban), KPMG (Dublin), British Sky Broadcasting (London) and BBC Worldwide (London). His most recent role in New Zealand was Chief Financial Officer for Sealegs International. Scott is responsible for all aspects of the finance function and has a proven track record in building successful finance teams, improving the quality of financial reporting and treasury management. 

Brian joined Puro to work alongside NZTE in a co-funded role to build global business relationships and secure export sales of cannabis flower from New Zealand. 

Brian previously worked for the Victorian Government and has experience of both sides of the Australian medical cannabis industry with a deep understanding of the Australian regulatory regime. Ultimately, as a result of Brian’s work with the Victorian Government, more than 20 offshore medical cannabis companies were attracted to Victoria resulting in the region cultivating medicinal cannabis, developing investments, adding jobs and building exports. Brian received the Victorian Government’s special achievement award for his work with the department.

Nic is responsible for the sustainable delivery of Puro’s infrastructure development projects across our Waihopai and Kēkerengū sites. 

Nic has a Bachelor of Building Science, Project Management and Sustainable Systems Engineering from Victoria University. He has considerable experience in high-value, medical and heritage projects with cultural significance including overseeing multi-million dollar post-earthquake projects in Canterbury such as the Christchurch Arts Centre rebuild and a new 24 hour medical facility in the CBD.

Nic knows the importance of detail and has the professionalism required for our infrastructure builds. He has a strong interest in sustainable and regenerative building practices and a decade long interest in hemp and its medicinal and construction benefits.

Tash works alongside Puro Project Manager Nic Fairbrother to support the delivery of Puro’s infrastructure projects across both its sites.

A proud Marlborough local, Tash has a background in event management, coordinating a range of community and commercial events in and around Blenheim, along with experience in business management in the hospitality industry. Tash has a strong connection to the Marlborough community and is passionate about the opportunities Puro is bringing the region, its economy and its people.

Michelle joins Puro with over four years of HR experience providing high-quality, end-to-end HR support in a professional services environment. She came to Puro from BDO, where Michelle was a People & Performance Advisor.  Prior to her HR roles Michelle has nearly a decade’s experience in administration and service coordination and leads Puro’s recruitment and internal policies.

Michelle is a member of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand and was awarded their first ever Emerging Professional accreditation in 2019.

Fionna brings to Puro more than 30 years’ experience in finance, most recently in accounts roles within Marlborough’s viticulture industry. Prior to that she held the position of Finance Manager for Toll in Auckland and Marlborough. Fionna has a Diploma in Business (Accounting) and offers strong leadership in areas of process improvement and financial analysis.

Winston (Sank’s brother) has returned to his family home at Kēkerengū, where his experience in agriculture and farm management is being refocused as the property diversifies into growing medicinal cannabis.

Winston has had a highly successful career in professional sport, sailing for Team New Zealand and Team Japan in the America’s Cup. He is a natural leader who brings passion, hard work, tenacity and pride into everything he does.  Winston knows how to handle pressure and was superb in overseeing the largest harvest of medical cannabis in New Zealand, and potentially Australia, at Kēkerengū in April/May 2021.

Wendy has a Masters in Science and an M.B.A. She comes to Puro following 13 years’ experience in the viticulture industry, where she worked in organic and biodynamic agriculture across a range of compliance systems and certifications, including BioGro. Wendy’s knowledge of organic practices and protocols is second-to-none. It’s this expertise that has enabled Puro to fast-track its organic accreditation processes with BioGro.  Wendy oversees and manages Puro’s Quality Management System and Standard Operating Procedures and all auditing requirements for GACP, organics and pharmaceutical buyers.

Dottie is a senior technical executive with a proven track record in new product development, including product design, patent portfolio development, preclinical and clinical testing, manufacturing and regulatory pathways for Class III implantable bioabsorbable materials.

Before joining Puro, Dottie spent 12 years establishing and growing US-based company Cohera Medical Inc. where she took an advanced surgical adhesive product from invention through regulatory approval and commercialisation. Dottie is building Puro’s robust research and development program, with a focus on producing reliable, high-quality product in full compliance with regulations for our domestic and international customers.

Steve Burnett is a founding member of the New Zealand Hemp Industries Association. Over the last 25 years he has focused on providing seed for industry, seed breeding, development of seedlines and selecting genetic characteristics most suitable for optimum performance in New Zealand and Australian climatic conditions. He has provided advice and consultancy for over 50 successful hemp croppings to date for a wide range of groups, primarily in Western Australia.

David is an agrologist with a Master of Science in Plant Sciences from McGill University. He began working in greenhouse production in 2001, working for McGill university's greenhouses and Horticultural Research Centre. David was the lead agrologist at Canada’s only two organic commercial cannabis producers, The Green Organic Dutchmen (TGOD Canada) and Whistler Medical Marijuana Corporation, designing and certifying their organic soils and growing system. He is also the Chief Science Officer at Destiny Grow Systems, which supplies living soil systems and organic fertiliser. David is a mentor to Tom Forrest and the Puro cultivation team.

Another mentor to Tom Forrest, Jan Jurij Eržen has dedicated his life and academic studies to the cultivation and physiology of Cannabis sativa. It was the focus of his thesis for his Masters in Agronomic Sciences and has been the subject of several critically accepted scientific articles which he has authored and co-authored.

 Jan was involved with one of the earliest and largest European medical cannabis greenhouse projects and in 2018 he was part of the first Slovenian planting of horticultural orchards from certified varieties of European cannabis. During this process he fell in love with the diversity of options the plant allows with careful selection. Prior projects involved projecting seed to extract processing steps, following GAP and GACP requirements, for approval of cannabis biomass as herbal materials, that meet herbal drug standards for the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Guy has a post graduate degree in botany and forensic science and brings a uniquely progressive approach to cannabis breeding and Puro’s research objectives. His experience in growing hemp with the University of Otago and working in laboratories for the Marlborough wine industry provides the rigorous requirement of science, record keeping and stringent information/data control to help manage Puro’s phenotyping and breeding programmes. Guy works closely with Anna Campbell and Tom Forrest to design and implement Puro’s research and breeding.

Max has been working with cannabis plants in the USA for almost 10 years, where he has experience with both indoor and outdoor growing operations. He joins the Puro team from Caliva, an indoor cannabis company in California, where Max focused on post-harvest, cultivation and fertigation. Max’s knowledge of and experience with cloning, preventative IPM measures, nutrient and supplement intakes and mother plant care are just some of the key skills he brings to the Puro team.

Max has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Otago and is a former professional basketball player, playing for the Southland Sharks.

Caitlin has studied at both Lincoln University and at the University of Guelph in Canada where she completed her Horticultural Science degree. There she aimed her studies at the direction of sustainable cultivation, medicinal plants, and cannabis production. She has also trained in organic horticulture and permaculture and has been involved with the design and implementation of these for different crops.

Since University, Caitlin has worked with a variety of nursery plants, market garden and orchard crops, and brings to Puro her experience in organic growing, plant propagation and ethnobotany.