Advisory Board

Alkyoni Athanasiou-Fragkouli

Alkyoni Athanasiou-Fragkouli is the Research Officer for Project Twenty21. After completing a master’s degree in Clinical Neuroscience at University College London, she worked in research for 3 years investigating rare neuromuscular disorders and dementia.

She has developed an interest in drug research, particularly the therapeutic use of psychedelics and benefits of medical cannabis. Alkyoni is committed to fighting the battle to overcome barriers to medical cannabis in the UK and ensure patients get the access they need.

Ed Fisher

Ed Fisher has spent 4 years working across the medical cannabis supply chain including cultivation, distribution and as a registered manager of a UK based medical cannabis clinic.

Ed credits medical cannabis in being instrumental in his recovery as a cancer survivor. He is particularly interested in advancing clinical research into medical cannabis and is currently the Managing Director of 4C LABS.

Katya Kowalski

Katya Kowalski is a drug policy expert with significant experience in research, policy and external engagement. She is head of operations at Volteface, the UK’s leading drug policy think tank.

With a background in psychology, she has a deep interest in the complex relationship between drug use and mental health. Katya comments on the context and nuance surrounding drug use, along with the complexities and challenges of bringing cannabis into mainstream medicine. She has expertise in communicating the nuance of drug reform and is passionate about advocating for sensible, practical drug policy models, regularly commenting on the benefits of cannabis legalisation in the media. Katya holds a BSc in psychology and MSc in health psychology, both from the University of Bath.

Rebecca Allen-Tapp

While studying for her undergraduate in business administration Rebecca, was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer which resulted in a sudden removal of her left lung. Already working in the legal cannabis industry in North America meant that she was able to apply the knowledge to herself.

Since her surgery, she has used cannabis as a method to cope with the enormous mental and physical burden that comes with a cancer diagnosis.

She has since developed secondary chronic health issues due to the long sustained infection from the tumor itself. Cannabis has helped her to achieve a quality of life that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

Prior to moving to England, Rebecca was a director for a well established laboratory equipment distributor which primarily served the North American cannabis market.

In her current role as Business Development Manager for Asahi Glassplant UK Ltd. (AGI UK) her role is to assist cannabis production facilities with implementing equipment for developing pharmaceutical-grade material.

Her goal is to educate businesses, doctors, and patients on the importance of being patient-focused as legalization unfolds globally.

Dr AnnaRoss

Dr Anna Ross is specialist in drug policy stakeholder engagement, with her PhD focusing on the participation of stakeholders in the development of drug policy in Scotland. She is currently a Senior Teaching Fellow in the School of Health at the University of Edinburgh, and an Honorary Research Assistant for Drug Science.

Dr Ross has held a range of advisory committee positions, having worked for the Scottish Government on developing safeguarding protocols, and the UK Government as Special Advisor to the Scottish Affairs Committees Inquiry into Problem Drug Use,

Over the past 5 years, she has worked alongside the Medicinal Cannabis Reform Scotland (MCRS) group to develop pathways of engagement between MSP’s, the police and other stakeholders.

Now working independently to provide advice and consultancy, Dr Ross has over 20 years experiences of practitioner work with substance use, including cannabis, and identifies as a lived and living experienced researcher, passionate about the human rights based approaches to drug regulation.

PLEA are delighted to welcome Dr Ross to our Advisory Board.

Dr Callie
Seaman

A veteran of the hydroponic industry with over 20 years experience in the field, Dr Callie Seaman has applied her academic qualifications to the formulation and manufacturing methodology of a wide range of successful hydroponic, soil and coco products.

Dr Seaman is a driven academic who has had research papers and academic studies published around the world. She is a regular technical contributor to a number of hydroponic specific publications and is highly regarded in the industry as a reference point for definitive plant information.

First studying for a degree in Biomedical Sciences at Sheffield Hallam University, she went on to complete her PhD with her final thesis “The investigation of nutrient solutions for hydroponic growth of plants”. During her PhD she became director of and helped to establish Aqualabs Ltd. In 2018 she continued at Sheffield Hallam with a Post Doctorate.

For PLEA’s Medical Cannabis Awareness Week 2020, Dr Seaman explored Cannabis Pharm's facilities in Denmark, with a full walk-through of their medical cannabis cultivation and production facility to help patients understand how their medication comes to be.

PLEA is thrilled to welcome Dr Seaman to our Advisory Board.

Carl
Holvey

A Clinical Pharmacist and healthcare manager for over 20 years, Carl Holvey MPharm MRPharmS DipCLinPharm IPresc DBA has extensive NHS experience.

He has worked in various sectors of healthcare delivering direct patient care and managing services, and is currently on the NHS Digital Expert Advisory Committee.

Partnership Director and Chief Pharmacist at Sapphire Medical Clinics, Carl supports patients in using medicinal cannabis where appropriate.

Carl has received training in cannabis from international experts and continues to work with UK leaders in the field. He is keen to share the experience thus far with other professionals to enable more patients to benefit from medicinal cannabis.

PLEA are grateful to have Carl on board as an Advisor.

Carly
Mayer

Carly was the first person in the UK to receive a prescription for cannabis privately since the law change in 2018.

Carly is working with government organisations in the hope of converting this to an NHS prescription, setting precedent for other patients.

Having to give up her role Lecturing in the Arts, she discovered that cannabis was more effective than opioids in treating her fibromyalgia and post-stroke neuropathy.

Founder of Cancard, Carly has worked with the help of doctors to design an initiative backed by senior representatives of the Police Federation and made for patients.

A contributing member to the Global Medical Cannabis Council, Carly is a quintessential member of our PLEA Advisory Board.

Professor
David Nutt

Professor David Nutt is Head of Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London and is the founder Chair of DrugScience.

An impressive resume, Prof. Nutt has held many leadership positions in academic scientific and clinical organisations, including presidencies of the European Brain Council, the British Neuroscience Association, and the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, as well as Chair of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, of Psychiatrists and of the Academy of Medical Sciences and a member of the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy.

Prof. Nutt has edited the Journal of Psychopharmacology for over twenty five years, has published over 500 original research papers, and acts as the psychiatry drugs advisor to the British National Formulary.

PLEA are delighted to welcome Professor David Nutt to our Advisory Board.

Lauren
O’Sullivan

Lauren is a senior consultant lawyer for Ignition Law, a forward thinking law firm focused on helping start ups and SMEs. Lauren has 8 years experience as a UK qualified lawyer and trained with a large global law firm.

Having pivoted from City life, she can now typically be found between her home in North Lincolnshire or in the tropics of Bali where she loves to focus on creative endeavours, her wellbeing and personal development - as well as being a dedicated lawyer.

Lauren prides herself on doing law differently, running her very own podcast, aptly named Legally Different.

Lauren has a huge interest in the cannabis legal landscape and, more generally, anything connected with holistic modalities and remedies that can assist our health and wellbeing.

Lauren has assisted us for some time in a general counsel capacity and we are pleased to now officially welcome her to PLEA’s advisory board, together with the wider network of Ignition Law.

Dr Leon
Barron

A GP based in London, UK, Dr Leon Barron’s interests within General Practice include mental health and managing complex symptoms that often combine physical, psychological and social components.

A holistic approach to his clinical practice has led to an interest in medical cannabis as an alternative therapy for patients who have not found conventional therapies to be effective.

Dr Barron is Founder of The Primary Care Cannabis Network which provides an independent, educational platform for GPs. He is also an executive committee member of The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society.

A visiting tutor for undergraduate medicine at University College London, Dr Barron also continues to undertake regular NHS and out of hours work.

PLEA are pleased to welcome Dr Barron to our Advisory Board.

Sarah
Sinclair

A respected cannabis journalist Sarah Sinclair is managing editor of Cannabis Health, the UK’s leading title covering medical cannabis, having overseen the digital platform and print publication’s progression since its launch.

An NCTJ trained journalist, with experience reporting in the regional press, Sarah now leads a small, independent team of journalists across three titles, who aim to increase understanding and hold those in power to account, in order to improve access for UK patients.

As an individual living with chronic illness herself, Sarah recognises the importance of not only giving patients a voice, but putting them front and centre in the growing conversation around medical cannabis. She is passionate about destigmatising cannabis in the mainstream media and educating journalists on how to report on and communicate cannabis content responsibly.

PLEA is thrilled to have Sarah as a member of our Advisory Board.

Dr Tara
Mastracci

A lead vascular surgeon at one of the main London teaching hospitals, Dr Tara Mastracci believes healthcare is a fundamental human right, and that equal access to care should be a goal of all health care providers.

Having completed general and vascular surgery training at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, she moved on to a fellowship in complex aortic repair at the Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr Mastracci’s first consultant position followed on in Cleveland, where she also held a position as assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University for seven years.

A clinical epidemiologist by training, she focuses most of her research in clinical outcomes related to disease of the aorta.

As a Founder and Medical Director at Seed Change, Dr Mastracci is passionate about helping patients in the UK benefit from the therapeutic effects of cannabis by advocating an evidence-based approach to its study and therapeutic use.

PLEA are delighted to have Dr Mastracci as a representative on our Advisory Board.