ECS Botanics claimed the Best Place to Work and Cultivator or Manufacturer of the Year awards at the inaugural Cannabis Industry Awards 2023, with the company's CEO Nan-Maree Schoerie also taking home the Business Leader of the Year title.
Astrid Dispensary earned recognition in both the Dispensary or Pharmacy and Company of the Year categories, while Little Green Pharma collected two honours — R&D Project of the Year for the QUEST Initiative undertaken with the University of Sydney, and Best Patient-Focused Initiative for the company's compassionate access scheme.
New Zealand's Puro was a standout trans-Tasman performer, winning both the Environmental, Social and Governance award and the Industry Collaboration award, the latter shared with Helius Therapeutics.
The individual award recipients included Dr James Stewart, who was named Prescribing Healthcare Practitioner of the Year, Phoebe Macleod, who received the Best Industry Newcomer award, and Lucy Haslam, who won Patient Advocate of the Year.
Among the other companies recognised were Vitura Health for CanView, Medcan for Cann I Help, and ANTG for Product Launch of the Year. Biortica Agrimed was named Start-Up Company of the Year.
A panel of 36 senior industry figures independently judged the awards, which were presented to a capacity crowd at Melbourne's Showtime Events Centre.
Sponsors included Tasmanian Botanics, Bod Science, Pharmalytics, Standard Botanic, Oz Medicann Group and CMI Safe Company, with additional support from MCIA, AMCA and ETAA.
On the subject of Schoerie's win, the judges commented: "Leaders' tasks can change every minute, but the attitude and manner in which they are executed demonstrate the values they hold.
"Nan-Maree represents an extremely compassionate, caring and determined leader who ensures that business is not just what it says on the balance sheet."
The full list of award winners:
Clinic or Telehealth Service of the Year
WINNER: Cann I Help
Dispensary or Pharmacy of the Year
WINNER: Astrid Dispensary
Best Patient-Focused Initiative
WINNER: Little Green Pharma’s Compassionate Access Scheme
Patient Advocate of the Year
WINNER: Lucy Haslam, United in Compassion/Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association
Environmental, Social and Governance Award
WINNER: Puro New Zealand
Product Launch of the Year
WINNER: Australian Natural Therapeutics Group
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Helius Therapeutics
Hemp Product of the Year
WINNER: Hemp Oz Kombucha
R&D Project of the Year
WINNER: Little Green Pharma with The University of Sydney – The QUEST Initiative
Cultivator/Manufacturer of the Year
WINNER: ECS Botanics
Best Industry Newcomer
WINNER: Phoebe Macleod, Heyday Medical
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Olivia Lackmann, Dr Shu Medical Services
Prescribing Healthcare Practitioner of the Year
WINNER: Dr James Stewart, Herbal Health Clinics
Best Place to Work
WINNER: ECS Botanics
Award for Innovation
WINNER: CanView
Award for Industry Advancement
WINNER: Fiona Patten
Award for Industry Collaboration
WINNER: Puro New Zealand and Helius Therapeutics
Best Education/Engagement Initiative
WINNER: Medihuanna
Medical Science Liaison Team of the Year
WINNER: Althea
Start-up Company of the Year
WINNER: Biortica Agrimed
Company of the Year
WINNER: Astrid Dispensary
Business Leader of the Year
WINNER: Nan-Maree Schoerie, ECS Botanics
