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.

In 2021 Tim was appointed to the board of the New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council, working to support the Council’s mission to help the sector deliver the highest quality and most accessible medicinal cannabis products to New Zealanders.

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. 

In 2021 Tom was named Advocate of the Year at the Australian Cannabis Awards.

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.

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’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. 

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. Equipped with a PhD in Neuroscience, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.