Te tima o Rua
Our Team

Our diverse team strives for operational excellence focused on our company’s crucial deliverables.

Paul Naske

  • BSc, PG Dip Business

    Paul has held a range of leadership positions in business strategy and development, including roles as General Manager of Corson Grain and as a Business Unit Manager at Fletcher Building. Paul has been overseeing Rua’s topline business operations since the beginning of 2019 and has been critical in the design and efficient execution of Rua’s global strategy. His knowledge of the commercial environment ensures Rua’s alignment with the business needs of our global clients. Paul joined Rua in February 2019.

John Sanders

  • BBS in Finance, Dip Bus Studies in Marketing

    John has spent over 20 years in the Pharmaceutical, Over-The-Counter & Medicinal Cannabis industries in a range of senior sales, marketing and commercial roles. This has included roles in NZ, Europe and now Australia for Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Bayer, Wyeth, Roche & Cannasouth. John joined Rua in 2023.

Dr Jessika Nowak

  • Ph.D. Food Microbiology

    Jessika studied pharmacy at the University of Tübingen in Germany and practised at a community pharmacy before completing her PhD in Food Microbiology at Massey University in NZ.

    Jessika comes to Rua from Leaderbrand, New Zealand’s premium fresh produce grower and supplier, where she managed R&D projects and developed new quality systems.

Pete Sollitt

  • Ngāti Porou

    Certificate in Sustainable Land-based Practices

    The stalwart of our cultivation team, Pete brings decades of plant knowledge and expertise to our R&D and breeding programmes.

Emma McIldowie

  • MSc Forensic Chemistry

    Emma holds a Masters of Science (MSc) in Forensic Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland as well as a Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Medicinal Chemistry University of Auckland. Emma came to Rua from ESR where she was part of the Forensic Drug Chemistry Team.

Dr Susan Martindale

  • PhD

    Susan’s regulatory career began in the 1980s as New Zealand’s only GMP auditor. She has held various regulatory, advisory and management positions within the Ministry of Health, including chairing the Ministerial advisory committee responsible for medicines classification. Susan was involved in the negotiations which led to the signing of the Mutual Recognition Agreement with the EU and the work programme to harmonise with Australia.

Porou Tawhiwhirangi

  • Ngāti Porou

    Certificate in Sustainable Land-based Practices

    Porou, is one of several East Coast growers considered the driving-force behind the region’s developing hemp and medicinal cannabis industries. A highly-skilled grower, Porou is a widely respected trainer and mentor dedicated to creating a legitimate and sustainable pathway to employment in the medicinal cannabis industry.