Leila SIMPSON
Head of External Affairs
Association for the Cannabinoid Industry
Leila joined the ACI in 2020 after developing advocacy and support provisions for medical cannabis patients as the chair of a national campaign group, the United Patients Alliance, in 2019. She previously led high-profile social and political change campaigns in the UK and abroad and worked in cause-related roles in social enterprise and citizen science.
Rosemary MAZANET
Chief Scientific Officer
Columbia Care
Rosemary has served as a C-suite executive at several biopharma and investment companies and has led multiple successful drug development initiatives. Rosemary is a Charter Trustee at the University of Pennsylvania and Co-Chair the Leonard Davis Institute Executive Advisory Board at Wharton.
Al OVERTON
Buying Director
Planet Organic
Al qualified as a herbalist in 1999 and has been involved in natural health retail ever since. Over his 19 year career at Planet Organic he has done almost every job possible, and now as Buying Director looks after a dynamic and industry leading Buying team.
Paul TOSSELL
Head of Novel Foods
Food Standards Agency
Paul has been Head of the FSA’s Radiological, Genetically Modified (GM), Novel Foods and Feed Additives Team since January 2019. He has overseen policy development on CBD compliance with novel food regulations. Paul has been with the FSA since its formation in 2000, having previously worked for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF).
Carina PERKINS
Editor
thegrocer.co.uk
Carina is responsible for running and developing The Grocer’s digital operations. She commissions high-quality digital journalism from our award-winning editorial team and thought-provoking comment from industry players.
With over a decade of experience in food and drink, Carina was previously managing editor of The Grocer, having also held the fresh foods editor and buying and supplying editor roles since joining in 2015. Having reported on everything from illegal beef in the Amazon to climate change in the Arctic and food fraud in UK supply chains, she specialises in sourcing, sustainability and regulatory issues.