Cosmo is a drug development entrepreneur dedicated to unlocking the medical potential of psychoactive substances in order to help patients in need. Cosmo has worked closely with the Beckley Foundation for over 10 years and, in 2016, he co-founded Beckley Research & Innovations to develop ethical business models focused on scientific research into medical cannabis and psychedelics. Cosmo subsequently served as Co-Founder and Managing Director of Beckley Canopy Therapeutics, a cannabis-based drug development company, and Spectrum Biomedical UK, a medical cannabis distribution company. In 2019, both of these companies were acquired by Canopy Growth Corporation, the world’s largest medical cannabis company.

Amanda is the Founder and Executive Director of the Beckley Foundation, and is widely recognised as one of the driving forces behind the current psychedelic research renaissance. By establishing key research collaborations with some of the world’s most prestigious universities, including Imperial College London, UCL, Johns Hopkins, and Maastricht University, Amanda has propelled the field forward over the last 20 years. In the process, she has contributed to seminal pre-clinical and clinical research into the mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic benefits of psychoactive substances. Featured on the Guardian’s list of the Bravest Men and Women in the History of Science, Amanda has personally co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed scientific publications on psychoactive substances, many with ground-breaking results, such as the world’s first LSD brain imaging study and the first clinical trial into psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment resistant depression.

Marc Wayne is a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in starting and operating new ventures. In 2012 Marc co-founded Bedrocan Canada Inc (Bedrocan), one of the first federally licensed producers of medical cannabis in Canada and took the company public in 2014. In 2015, Marc successfully merged Bedrocan with Tweed Marijuana Inc. a key transaction that lead to the formation of Canopy Growth Corporation, now the largest cannabis company globally, where Marc served as Managing Director until December 2016. Subsequently, Marc became Founding President and CEO of Canopy Health Innovations, and Canopy Animal Health, and served as Co-Managing Director of Beckley Canopy Therapeutics – three innovative cannabis research organizations that achieved successful exits. Considered a pioneer in the medical cannabis space, Marc was also instrumental in developing the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids. (CCIC). Since its inception in 2007, the CCIC continues to be a global innovator in education and research on medical uses of cannabis.

With nearly two decades of experience in the pharmaceuticals industry, Adam previously served as Chief Financial Officer for five years at GW Pharmaceuticals, the UK-based drug development company focused on using cannabinoid therapeutics for treating a range of diseases. During this time he oversaw the company’s initial public offering on Nasdaq, and was involved in subsequent fundraisings totalling over $1.4 billion. Adam went on to serve as UK Managing Director from 2017 until December 2020, where he held joint responsibility for leading GW Pharmaceuticals’ Research and Development programmes. Since 2018 he has also served as Audit Committee Chairman for clinical-stage biopharma NuCana Plc, in addition to multiple senior financial roles across both public and private companies during his 30-year career. Adam is a chartered accountant and holds a BSc in Biology from the University of Bristol.

Christian started his career as an Investment Banking Analyst at Goldman Sachs in London. Following a start-up journey as a co-founder, he entered the venture space and has been supporting entrepreneurs since 2013. Beside his commercial career, Christian has spent a considerable time in the philanthropic sector - supporting a range of social and environmental initiatives and currently serves as a board member of the Af Jochnick Foundation. His main personal focus is in the fields transformative therapies for mental health and regenerative agricultural ecosystems. Christian received an MSc from the London School of Economics (LSE), and participated as a Visiting Research Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Legatum Center.

Experienced CFO with a demonstrated history of working in public markets and private equity. Skilled in Fundraising, IPOs, Turnarounds, Business Planning, Mergers & Acquisitions and with a sector focus on eCommerce, Technology and Biomedical. Strong entrepreneurial background and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Florian Brand is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of atai Life Sciences, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company on a mission to heal mental health conditions. Florian co-founded atai in 2018 as a response to the significant unmet need and lack of innovation in the mental health treatment landscape. Florian is a serial entrepreneur and former board member of Compass Pathways. Since founding atai, he has been recognized by Fortune, Endpoints and Business Insider as a leader in biotech and healthcare. He is a proud member of the Founders Pledge, a global community of mission-aligned entrepreneurs dedicated to doing good.