Ivan Ross Vrana
Ivan Ross is the Managing Partner at Diplomat Consulting and is widely recognized as an industry expert in the field of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. His experience in this sector dates back to his time with Health Canada when he helped develop the Government of Canada’s position regarding the use, production, distribution and regulation of cannabis for medical purposes. Since that time he has worked at H+K Strategies where he supported clients in investor relations, communications, regulatory review, strategic partnerships, identification and outreach related to market opportunities in other countries such as the United States, Europe and Australia and government affairs work at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. In the spring of 2019, Ivan Ross joined Eve & Co. (a small licensed holder) and led the company’s EU-GMP certification, government relations and business development efforts. In late 2021 he joined the Global Cannabis Partnership as its Executive Director. Ivan Ross worked for Health Canada for more than 18 years in strategic policy, health products and food, and healthy environments and consumer safety. His work focused on pharmaceutical and cannabis policy at both the federal and provincial levels. During a two-year sabbatical, Ivan Ross worked for Innovative Medicines Canada as the director of government affairs, providing strategic insight and analysis. Ivan Ross is bilingual, a trained facilitator and holds a Masters in Public Administration from Carleton University and a bachelor of arts (honours) in history from the University of Ottawa. In 2007, Ivan Ross developed a course for graduate students in public policy/administration to teach them how to successfully develop and communicate complex public policy proposals with confidence. This course keeps him lecturing regularly at both Carleton and Concordia Universities and Algonquin College.
