Executive Management

Payton is the Co-founder, Chair & Chief Executive Officer of Numinus, a company that empowers people to heal and be well through the development and delivery of innovative mental health care and access to safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies. He has a deep understanding of the psychedelic industry from its infancy, driven by life-saving personal experiences with multiple therapy modalities. Additionally, Payton has deep business leadership experience, particularly in the finance sector, and is a recognized innovator and visionary in mental health care. At Numinus, he guides teams leading strategy, innovation, research and clinic network expansion, and supports the marketing and capital markets functions. He is responsible for raising more than $70 million for Numinus in the past year, and is quotely widely in media such as CTV, Forbes and the New York Times. In addition, he brings more than 15 years working in finance, investment and retail banking with some of Canada’s leading independent investment firms, including Jordan Capital Markets, Canaccord Financial and Mackie Research Capital. In these and other roles, he has raised more than $100 million for a variety of small cap companies.

Former/first Executive Director, BCLDB Cannabis Division. Successfully launched recreational cannabis operations in BC. Twenty years’ operations management, strategic planning, and execution with national and multinational corporations including Hudson’s Bay, Saks Fifth Avenue, and UPS. Seasoned, high-impact operations, product development, and marketing executive with a track record of driving performance excellence and profitable revenue growth.

Dr. Wood has published greater than 650 peer-reviewed scientific articles and made major contributions to the establishment of innovative policy and therapeutic programs. Early in his career, Dr. Wood’s research contributed to revision of international guidelines for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection among persons who use drugs. Subsequently led efforts that have contributed to the legalization of adult cannabis use in Canada, the establishment of supervised injecting as a standard of care nationally, as well as clinical therapeutic guidelines for a range of substance use disorders. Dr. Wood developed one of North America’s largest addiction medicine eduction programs and has been a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and Professor of Medicine, and was founding Executive Director of the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use. As Numinus’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Wood is responsible for planning clinical research, protocol development and clinical strategy within the organization.

Experienced financial operator growing technology companies for the past five years, most recently as Managing Director of Invoke Digital. Prior to that, spent 15 years building international financial operations with companies listed on the TSX, NYSE, London AIM, and Lima Stock Exchange, the highlight of which was being on the founding team of Rio Alto Mining, a gold company that in three years went from exploration stage to generating net income of $100 million and operating cash flow of $98 million in its first year of commercial production.

Julie is an experienced marketing, communications and creative executive specialized in the luxury retail and hospitality industries, with 15+ years’ experience spanning major US and global markets. She has led national and international brand launches, and development of global integrated omnichannel strategies. Julie has held leadership roles at companies including Ace Hotels, Graduate Hotels, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sotheby’s and Christie’s.

Dr. Christie MD is a clinical instructor with the UBC Department of Medicine and has a focused practice in chronic pain management. She is also a Registered Counsellor emphasizing Relational Somatic Therapy for trauma resolution, and a certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction teacher (UCSD). She is trained to deliver both MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD (MAPS USA) and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. She teaches for the California Institute of Integral Studies Certificate Program in Psychedelic Therapy and Research, the Integrative Psychiatry Institute Certificate Program in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy, and the ONCA Foundation Psychedelic Therapy program. She is a Principal Investigator and study therapist for a current Canadian MAPS PBC-sponsored 20-participant open-label clinical trial investigating MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Devon is the Medical and Therapeutic Services Director with Numinus Wellness Inc., and is a recognized speaker and expert on the potential for incorporating psychedelic assisted therapies in an improved health care model for the future.

Dr. Joe Flanders is a licensed psychologist, with an active practice in psychotherapy and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. He holds certifications as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy teacher and teacher-trainer. He is trained to deliver Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and currently in training to deliver MDMA for PTSD (MAPS USA).

Joe has been on a life-long journey in the pursuit of the most effective approaches for cultivating well-being – his own and that of his clients. In the last decade of that journey, Joe has been acting as the Founder and Director of Mindspace, a centre for well-being with several locations and over 35 mental health professionals in Montreal.

Extensive experience as a key strategist for research roadmaps, core initiatives and the development of research requirements and management of research projects and the development of IP. Worked as a hub between academia, industry, and governing directorates to ensure research and development objectives meet regulatory compliance at all phases of pipelines from inception to commercialization.

Regulatory expert and policy advisor for restrictive high growth industries. Managed several compliance projects as well as developed requirements for LIMS, GLP, GACP, GMP as well as methods development, vendor qualification, ISO standards and training. Developed several good practices policies and quality management systems and implemented mass change control and overall, all reduction in deviations.

Contributed and consulted on several governing policies, standards, and monographs internationally and contributed to industry by taking on special projects as well as volunteers for several non for-profit organizations and focuses on bridging the gap between science and industry.

As VP of Experience Design & Innovation, Pam is pioneering Numinus’ experience design & innovation shop – creating an exceptional and transformative journey for our clients. Pam is an award winning leader in mental health innovation and has been recognized in her profession of practice. She has 15+ years of extensive healthcare and innovation leadership. Pam works at the intersection of human-centred design and social and health care with a range of clients with a demonstrated history of working with governments, international agencies and nonprofits. Pam most recently served as Chief Innovation Officer at the Institute for Advancement in Mental Health.

Jason is a humble, passionate, and experienced Operations leader with proven success across Retail, Food and Beverage, and Healthcare industries. He has worked with acclaimed brands such as Apple, Starbucks, and Gap. Most recently, Jason built the proprietary operational platform that led to unprecedented clinic growth at Dawson Dental. As VP of National Clinic Operations, Jason is integral in driving Numinus’ clinic expansion plans along with cultivating an unmatched experience for our clients.