Rua Bioscience Careers Booklet 2023

Career Pathways Rua Bioscience 2023

Welcome to our careers booklet, helping rangatahi find pathways with Rua Bioscience.

This isn’t your usual colour by numbers guide to getting a career. Instead, we’ve asked our team to explain their path to Rua. They’re all very different, so we hope you’ll find something in here to inspire you.

There are two messages we hope you’ll take away from this booklet.

One

There are many paths to finding your dream job.

But thinking deeply about your passions and interests is always the first step.

Two

You can do pretty incredible things right here in Te Tairawhiti.

Our Pathways 1. The Rua Story 4.

Panapa Ehau and Manu Caddie

2. Cultivation 8.

Talmage Herbert

3. Research and Development 10. Dr. Jessika Nowak 12. Dr. Dawn Smith

4. Quality

14. Emma McIldowie

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The Rua Story...

How to build a $100m company in Ruatorea (in five years).

Rua Bioscience was born out of a dream to improve the wellbeing of whanau and the whenua by providing sustainable, safe, well-paid employment to the people of Te Tairawhiti, particularly Ruatorea.

Our story began in 2015, when Hikurangi Takiwa Trust was looking at ways to contribute to local wellbeing. The hapu was focused on education, Te Reo me ona Tikanga and conservation projects, but economic development was the elephant in the room. What was needed was a way to create more opportunities for whanau to earn a good income and to create jobs that attract whanau home to live on the whenua and close to their marae.

After a series of hui, five locals including Panapa Ehau agreed to form a charitable company, Hikurangi Enterprises Limited (HEL).

The company was established as a social enterprise - to create employment and to reinvest profits back into businesses, social and environmental projects on the East Coast.

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With a focus on high-value, environmentally sustainable opportunities, HEL set about researching Kanuka and Kina.

In 2017, the decision was made to focus on medicinal cannabis and from 2018 the rubber really hit the road.

HEL created a partnership with New Zealand Nutraceuticals Ltd (NZNL), a company coowned by Manu Caddie. The new partnership was called Hikurangi Bioactives Limited Partnership (HBLP).

CAREER PATHWAYS

Pictured - Manu Caddie and Panapa Ehau (Co-founders)

With additional Government funding, research was undertaken and progress made towards commercial opportunities including hemp, which HEL got a license to cultivate in 2016.

HBLP established the Hikurangi Cannabis Company, which pioneered the NZ cannabis industry becoming the first company to receive a medicinal cannabis cultivation licence under its research and breeding programme.

In May 2018, Waiapu Investments Limited was set up to allow East Coast whanau to invest and raised $1.4m in five days. Such was the fascination with the kaupapa and this new industry that, when the offer was opened up to the rest of the country, demand broke the crowdfunding platform - the company raising $600,000 in six minutes. This incredible support attracted two institutional investors who invested another $7m.

By 2020, when Rua was ready to become the first company founded by a Maori community listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange, the company was valued at $50m. At IPO, Rua raised another $20m taking the value to $70m. On the day of listing, the share price increased and for a time the company was valued at over $100m!

With dedication and determination, Rua Bioscience has gone from a dream to reality.

And, while the environment within which we operate is ever-evolving, our mission remains constant – to maximise the potential of the emerging medicinal cannabis industry to enhance health, heal our lands and restore prosperity to the indigenous communities of which we are a part.

Though the company is still in its infancy, we have proven that, with a clear vision, strategic partnerships and working with the best people for the job, anything is possible, no matter where we come from.

By 2019, the company was valued at $13m and made the bold move to rebrand to Rua Bioscience. Rua completed a full research harvest, raised an additional $4m in capital and steadily developed its facilities in both Ruatorea and Turanga / Gisborne.

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Nga uara Our values Since our earliest days, Rua has held true to our four key values. These values define who we are and underpin everything we do as a successful, sustainable and trusted partner.

Ponotanga We respect diversity. We have integrity in all relationships.

Oranga We work for healthy whanau and healthy whenua. We prioritise the wellbeing of our customers, staff, family and the wider industry.

Mauitanga We do “business as unusual”. We celebrate learning and curiosity, innovation and courage. We have hope for the future.

Whakawhanaungatanga We collaborate for success.

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Cultivation Talmage Herbert – Ngati Porou, Te Rarawa Head Cultivator Kaitipu Matua Whakapapa brought me home to Ruatorea from Hamilton. My grandparents are Ted and Sophie Bear and they contributed greatly to this community, that’s something I aspire to do too; they were great gardeners and that’s a trait I’ve inherited from them. I was raised in the Mormon faith in a place called Temple View in Hamilton and I spent most my early life there.

My brother and I moved here a couple of years ago to learn about where our mother grew up, where we whakapapa to, and to learn more about this industry. My wife Emma decided to move here alongside me and we haven’t looked back, we love it here.

What I do I started at Rua as a grower technician and gradually moved up to manage the site. I am now the head cultivator, responsible for the Mangaoporo genetics centre of excellence, I manage the staff and the site to ensure we are doing all we can to achieve our goals.

I also lead the commercial export of our genetics.

Education I went to Church College of New Zealand in Temple View but I spent my senior year at Melville College when Church College closed.

I didn’t enjoy my time at school, which was quite strict and regimental, until my final year when I did a lot of socialising. My grades were good but I achieved better results through personally selected education, when I found things that I was really interested in and passionate about. Cannabis was one of those things. At school I studied biology and physics; I recommend doing the science subjects for this kind of job and wish I did more when I was at school.

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Later I did the Hemp course (Certificate in Sustainable Land-based Practices (Level4) and completed a Certificate in Business (Level 4).

Why did you choose to work at Rua? I already had a keen interest in Cannabis. So, when I heard about what Manu and Panapa were doing here in Ruatorea and then found out about the hemp course, I decided to take the leap and move home. I believe this kaupapa is everything it says and more. There is so much to gain for the individuals who work here, the wider whanau, the community and our whenua. It’s great to be working for an organisation committed to working sustainably.

CAREER PATHWAYS

Advice to Rangatahi " Be a try-hard. People mock try-hards, but be that tryhard because they become the movers and shakers of the world. I also encourage you to take risks. There are rewards in being brave and taking calculated risks. "

Daily Mahi at Rua • Management, development, and implementation of successful growing operations • Processing new genetics and developing and fostering new relationships with potential companies and partners interested in our genetics • Manage the cultivation facility and the staff on site • Manage environmental factors and recorded data alongside the grow team • Maintain and adhere to the industry standards and procedures set by regulatory agencies • Ensure the maintenance of accurate daily activity records and operation logs • Contribute to a fun, team oriented work environment in an innovative and pioneering industry

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Research and Development Dr. Jessika Nowak Technical Director Apiha Kairangahau Matua

I am Jessika Nowak. I am a mad animal and nature lover. My partner and I live on a beef and sheep farm and together we own a multitude of animals. I was born in Rheinfelden, but raised in Pfullendorf in the south of Germany, I moved to New Zealand in 2014. I love horse-riding on the beach and in the arena - my big passion is dressage.

What I do I am the Technical Director at Rua, where I oversee our research and development projects and provide technical support for all areas of our business.

Education I went to school in my hometown in Germany during which time I discovered my passion for science. But rather than focusing on one scientific discipline I opted to study pharmacy which combines chemistry, biology, physics and technology.

After graduation, I worked as a pharmacist in a large city pharmacy but after a year I felt the urge to explore the world. So, I left for New Zealand (just because it was summer there and winter in Canada!) to work and travel. I worked in packhouses, picked blueberries and helped with farm work.

After my time travelling and working all over the place, I was ready to get back into the lab again. I made one of my dreams come true – I started my PhD studies in Austria, where I developed new drug delivery systems.

But I missed New Zealand a lot, so I quit and moved to Auckland in 2014 to study for my PhD in Food Microbiology.

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I successfully completed my PhD in 2017 and was the first person in our family to hold a PhD. After three years in Auckland, my partner wanted to return to the East Coast, so that’s what we did.

I was very lucky to find a job in the food industry working in quality assurance just one day after I submitted my PhD thesis.

I learned a lot about New Zealand’s food industry and the associated regulations but after two years, I was ready to enter the pharmaceutical industry again.

Why did you choose to work at Rua? I particularly enjoy working with complex herbal products, so I was stoked to find a job at Rua where I am able to work with medicinal cannabis to develop new medicines.

Science is my passion. At Rua, I can utilise all my scientific skills to help a great cause – developing a medicine to help treat people while contributing to socioeconomic development on the East Coast.

CAREER PATHWAYS

Advice to Rangatahi " Work hard and take any opportunity that is offered to you to learn."

Daily Mahi at Rua • Identify development opportunities for novel IP relating to phytocannabinoids, platforms and systems and finished products • Work with the commercial team to determine the best candidates for efficacious new products and clear routes to commercialisation • Ensure IP from R&D is protected and not infringing others' IP • Ensure a culture of quality across the R&D activities and adherence to global standards and validation methods • Provide technical support related to new products, clinical trials and market release

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Product Development Dr. Dawn Smith Product Development Manager Kaiwhakahaere Whanake Hua I am Dawn Smith. I moved to Aotearoa in 2010 from the USA. I was born and raised in Alabama and have a strong accent to prove it! I have an awesome Kiwi bloke and two wonderful grown-up stepdaughters, one in New Zealand and one currently in Australia.

I love to ride bicycles. I am a beginning learner of Te Reo Maori.

What I do I am the product development manager.

I take product concepts and ideas, and develop the processes that are used to make real medicines. It’s hard to describe what I do day-to-day because every day is different.

I enjoy working in a team and doing my part to achieve with others something greater than I can do alone.

Education I had a really good experience at school.

My parents didn’t go to university, but they were highly motivated that my brother and I should. In that way, doing well was an expectation. I had to study quite a lot to do well in school, it didn’t come that easy.

But, I actually liked studying so much that I did it for quite a long time; I even got a PhD. My dad wasn’t too convinced about getting a PhD; he said I was going off to “learn more and more about less and less”. However, studying taught me to learn quickly and gave me confidence.

My PhD is in Polymer Science, so chemistry, physics and math were my most important subjects in school.

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Both during and after study, I worked on materials applied to medicine or medical devices - first on controlled release systems for pharmaceuticals, later on new materials for contact lenses. I moved to New Zealand in 2010 to work for Scion in Rotorua where I applied my knowledge of materials to packaging and bioproducts.

My experience with pharmaceuticals, medical devices, packaging and new products enables me to tackle the development of new products in the medicinal cannabis area.

I enjoy learning new things and combining them together to form ideas and opinions that can feed into group decisions.

Why did you choose to work at Rua? Rua has a great kaupapa. The team is energetic and focused. The East Coast is amazing!

I love that Rua is helping people gain access to the power of biological, plant-derived actives for health and healing. I am also proud that Rua is creating a strong and prosperous future for generations to come by building a sustainable and healthy business.

CAREER PATHWAYS

Advice to Rangatahi " For rangatahi that enjoy learning and like the idea of making products that people can use to improve their lives, put in the work and study hard. For all rangatahi, you can do anything if you put in the work! "

Daily Mahi at Rua • Assist breeding efforts with analytical testing and sensory assessment • Planning and management of the development of innovative cannabinoid-based products with the focus on human medicine • Identify candidate products, evaluate technical feasibility and prepare business cases for product development projects • Integrate commercial vision, strategies, forecasts, plans, objectives into product development projects • Support and manage analytical method and formulation development • Implement regulatory requirements • Support development of raw material, final product and packaging specifications • Prepare product dossiers and support Regulatory Affairs in the registration and approval process • Evaluate and optimise current products and product formulations 13

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Quality Emma McIldowie Quality Manager Kaiwhakahaere Kounga I am Emma McIldowie, 33 years young, proud wife to George and proud Mum to Hugo. I was born and raised in Tamaki Makaurau and now call Totangi Station in Ngatapa, Gisborne home.

What I do As the Quality Manager at Rua, I am responsible for implementing and managing Quality Assurance (QA) activities across the organisation. In my role I ensure that Rua medicinal products are fit for their intended use, comply with relevant regulations, and do not place patients at risk due to inadequate safety or quality.

Education I attended the same all-girls school in Auckland for junior, intermediate and senior schooling. Even though I questioned my parents’ rationale for sending me to a samesex school, where there was a requirement to wear a tartan uniform, I was quick to realise it was the right school for me. Early on I developed an eagerness to learn; I was always reading, keenly inquisitive and, much to the frustration of others, I was always asking “why?”.

In my final year at school, I completed biology, chemistry, physics, statistics and geography as my core subjects before deciding to further my study of the sciences at university level. I completed a Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Medicinal Chemistry at University of Auckland before completing a Masters of Science (MSc) in Forensic Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland.

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On completion of my MSc I was offered a role as a forensic scientist at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).

I was a member of the Forensic Drug Chemistry Team, responsible for the analysis of controlled substances (street drugs) seized by the NZ Police and NZ Customs.

In addition to doing routine casework at ESR, I led two research projects on the analysis of cannabis and cannabis-based products, providing the perfect transition into my current role at Rua. Being a forensic or analytical chemist is every bit as exciting and varied as the TV shows imply, though not as glamorous. However, it is the intellectual challenge and deep sense of professional fulfilment that comes with the role that drives me and keeps me coming back for more!

Why did you choose to work at Rua? If you had to describe Rua in one word it would be “people”. Every person at Rua is valued and forms an integral part of making our collective goals become a reality. It’s the Rua whanau.

CAREER PATHWAYS

Advice to Rangatahi " Do something you love and the rest will follow."

Daily Mahi at Rua • Ensure the safety and quality of medicinal products manufactured and/or distributed by Rua • Ensure all medicinal products are approved by the appropriate regulatory authority and/or checked in compliance with the market/ jurisdiction regulations • Ensure the necessary licences and authorities to operate are held in all markets/jurisdictions • Investigating, evaluating, reporting and evaluating nonconformances or factors which may affect product quality • Monitoring the Pharmaceutical Quality System (PQS) and advocating for continual improvement • Developing, reviewing and authorising quality-related documentation • Ensuring quality issues are escalated to the appropriate levels of senior management in a timely manner 15

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Find out more Ko te tumanako i rekareka katoa koe ki nga korero o roto o tenei pukapuka, a, i whakahikohiko hoki enei korero i ou hiahia, ou wawata mo nga ra kei mua i a koe, me te ara ka whaia e koe. He maha nga ara mahi o roto o Rua Bioscience, o waho hoki, i te ao whanui o te ao rongoa. Kei a koe te tikanga, mahau to ara e whakarite.

We hope you have enjoyed the profiles within this careers guide, and have found something interesting to inspire you in your future career options. There are many pathway opportunities within Rua Bioscience, and the wider pharmaceuticals industry.

Kei ta matou wharangi ipurangi te roanga ake o enei korero, tena whakapa atu ki www.ruabio.com

This information will be made available on our website so please visit the careers section at www.ruabio.com

Your future lies within your hands.

Every effort has been made to provide information that is current and accurate. Nevertheless, inadvertent errors in information may occur. The information contained in this booklet has been obtained from a variety of sources and is subject to change at any time without notice. Rua Bioscience gives no assurance or warranty that information in this booklet is current and accurate, and takes no responsibility for matters arising from changed circumstances or other information or material which may affect the currency or accuracy of information on this booklet.

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