Archives: Speakers

Having worked in the fashion industry around the world for 15 years, Gemma Colao first discovered the power of CBD whilst living in California. Working as a designer in the fast-paced and stress inducing fashion industry, the long days, late nights and crazy deadlines started to take their toll on Gemma. Anxiety was becoming the norm and as such her sleep started to suffer until one of her friends suggested she try CBD to help with anxiety and sleep. Having never really been into cannabis having found it doesn’t really agree with her, Gema was hesitant at first. However, after researching it and hearing from other friends and colleagues about how it had helped them, she decided to give it a go. Within just a few days of trying CBD she felt my anxiety levels improve. The dread she felt on her morning commute disappeared, deadlines became more manageable and she was able to focus more at work and ultimately, feel more present. At the same time, her husband, James, set up one of California’s first legal cannabis dispensaries, so CBD was part of their professional lives as well as their personal. In 2016, Gemma and James had their first child, Leo, and decided to move back to the UK to be closer to family. Gemma was excited to see that CBD products were now legal in the UK and decided to transform her passion for CBD into products that everyone can enjoy, so she created OTO. Together with a group of friends that includes world leading scientists, entrepreneurs and anthropologists, they set out to create the world’s finest CBD experiences. They  have now created a unique range of effective products that enhance daily rituals to help you find your space. Each oil is designed to complement the natural rhythm of your day with three pillars: focus, amplify and balance.

Sigrid Bachert has a broad experience in consumer goods & media/entertainment industry with extensive experience across strategic brand management, sales and marketing mix. Having worked across a range of product industries and major brands including premium beverages, premium consumer electronics, national TV-Channel, premium household goods, she has a solid commercial background. Highly knowledgeable with international experience within European and American companies.

Successful Business Development professional with vast experience in innovation, brand and franchise management, key accounts, intrapreneuring, strategic plans, corporate submissions, M&A and sustainability.

With more than 20 years experience in the refreshment sector and ex general secretary of Europe Pepsico, Iñigo Madariaga is now driving the growth behind green cola in Spain, the greener beverage alternative. Experienced in the beverage industry, Madariaga believes in the success of a product that offers solutions to consumer concerns, without compromising on flavour.

An expert in sustainability and packaging, in combination with a strong international industry law background, Joaquim Quoden has dedicated his work to the field of producer responsibility especially with regard to packaging since November 1992. With a senior role in the following organisations; EPR, EXPRA, DSD, Green Dot, PRO EUROPE, Joaquim is knowledgeable in sustainability regulations and packaging advancements.

Pierre Blanchemaison is a digital marketeer with valuable knowledge of the opportunities offered by the digital world. Head of Digital at Nestlé Waters HQ, leading the digital transformation strategy. Currently leading eBusiness (ie digital marketing and eCommerce) and working with 52 Nestle brands across 41 countries through web strategy, brand building taking a data-centric approach, as well as leading in areas such as SEO, content and social media management, analytics and digital innovation. Pierre has great expertise in paid media, owned media and analytics.

Hayley Lewis serves as the Senior Vice President of Operations, where she oversees the functional areas of Nonclinical, R&D, Analytical Development and QC, Operations and Engineering, Manufacturing, and Regulatory Affairs, and continues to be responsible for overseeing all regulatory interactions with the FDA and other government agencies. Hayley joined the company as the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality in October 2015. Prior to joining Zosano, Hayley spent over 11 years in Regulatory Affairs at Depomed, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, where she was involved in the approval of 3 commercial products. Over the course of her career, she has enabled 9 investigational products to be studied in humans, 6 of which have advanced to completion of Phase 3 trials. Hayley’s pharmaceutical development experience, spanning over 20 years, covers solid oral dosage forms, and combination products such as systemic and local inhalation products, a single entity combination injectable, and transdermal systems. Ms. Lewis received a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Greenwich in England, and has attained several management diplomas from Kellogg School of Management, as well as Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

Nick Damiano is a serial entrepreneur with broad experience in medical devices and digital health. He has 15 years of experience as a healthcare entrepreneur, innovator, and leader. He is currently Co-Founder & CEO of Zenflow, which is developing a novel office-based therapy to relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a urologic condition that impacts quality of life over 500 million men globally. The company has raised over $60 million in funding and conducted successful clinical trials in five countries. Zenflow is backed by leading venture firms including Invus and F-Prime and was one of the first medical device companies funded by Y Combinator, the world’s leading startup accelerator.

Prior to Zenflow, Nick was an Innovation Fellow at Stanford University. Before Biodesign, he co-founded Avail MedSystems (f.k.a. Nurep), a company developing telemedicine solutions for medical device procedures that has raised over $100 million in venture funding. In this role, Nick led the successful technical development effort to bring the company’s product to market and also played key roles in strategy, sales, and fundraising. Prior to Avail, he worked in engineering roles for several small medical device companies, including developing critical algorithms for the world’s first leadless cardiac pacing system at EBR Systems.

Outside of Zenflow, Nick plays an active role in mentoring and advising medtech and healthcare entrepreneurs and startups. He has served as an advisor in various capacities at StartX, Y Combinator Startup School, Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign, and the Rosenman Institute. He is also a Venture Partner at Pioneer Fund, a venture fund led by Y Combinator alumni.

Nick grew up on the east coast and earned his M.S. and B.S. with Distinction in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University.

Norm Gitis has earned Ph.D. in Engineering, has authored over 150 scientific papers, three books and over two dozen patents, chaired and organized over three dozen international scientific conferences.

Norm founded and ran two profitable test-instrumentation companies, Center for Tribology, Inc. in Mountain View (1994-2000) and CETR in Campbell (2000-2011). He was twice named by the Business Journal the CEO of Top 20 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Northern California.

He is a managing partner of Lymo Ventures, Board chair of two medtech startups, Board observer of two other medtech startups. His investment portfolio includes two dozen med-tech and a half-dozen biotech startup companies. Norm serves on screening committees of Life Science Angels and Band of Angels, both in Silicon Valley.