iHempWA Committee
Executive Committee Members
Position available
Your Bio
David Chick
An eclectic career history spanning decades and crossing genres has developed his ability to see the big picture, isolate challenges, envision solutions, share ideas, motivate and manage people.
Inspired by the global view to act locally; empowered with knowledge of the hemp plant’s potential to assist humanity heal themselves and their earth and; committed to give of his energy to create a positive effect for people and planet today and tomorrow.
Dionne Auguste
Dee holds a Diploma in management and leadership and is also a qualified HR professional who has worked at an executive level providing strategic advice to various organisations in relation to their talent and people management and complex HR/IR matters.
Dee has more than 10 years experience within the WA Resources industry and 15 years in the UK within sales, education and health. Most recently Dee worked with a not for profit for two years at an executive level where she was responsible for the strategy, management and operations of business services which included finance, technology, HR, safety and admin.
Through her career Dee has won several awards in recognition to her leadership and service delivery with an award for “International Female Leader” under belt from Pink Petro. Dee has volunteered as a mentor for women in oil and gas and has successfully run her own mentoring programs to support women in their career development.
Dee now runs her own business as a dog groomer, and also provides energy & sound healing sessions to help people destress from their busy lifestyles. With a passion for hemp and its benefits she is a strong asset to have as part of the team to support our strategic growth.
Sharlene Mavor
Sharlene is a Medical Scientist in Diagnostic Pathology (BAppSc in Medical Laboratory Science (Majors - Immunology, Microbiology and Biotechnology) and Co-Founder and Managing Director of registered education Australian charity/NFO, Medical Cannabis Research Australia (MCRA). She has spent the last 5 years researching the available scientific literature on how Medical Cannabis may treat different symptoms and disorders.
She’s travelled to the US, UK, Canada, Israel, Colombia, and Chile to learn firsthand from the leading researchers and clinicians in this new field of cannabinoid science. She has been able to share this knowledge by running seminars and webinars for medical professionals and patients, with her team, under the banner of MCRA. This charity has over the last 5 years become a leading resource in Australia for education around medicinal cannabis, as well as for advice for patients (14K Facebook followers). She is committed to advocating and lobbying for the use and easier access to medical cannabis for patients in Australia, as well as promoting and contributing to more trialled research, to provide clinicians, both in Australia and in the rest of the world, the evidence they require to pursue this treatment for their patients.
She is an associate member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians and a founding member of the Australian Chapter of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. She is also an MC for the Speakers Room at Hemp, Health & Innovation Expos around Australia.
Sharlene is involved in 2 clinical research projects, the first being a clinical trial using Cannabidiol (CBD) for methamphetamine addiction, to be run in Perth, WA. She is an Associate Researcher for this trial. The 2nd is an observational study to observe how 3 different formulations of pharmaceutical cannabis oil medicines affect different self-reported parameters in participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain. This will be Australia-wide. She has written and will be running this study in conjunction with GP, Dr Matty Moore.
Sharlene is currently pursuing her dream of building a hempcrete house in Wilyabrup, WA, after meeting and being inspired by Gary Rogers from Hemp Homes Australia. It has been a long process in design, approvals and the build itself, but the house, destined for luxury short-term accommodation, is close to completion. She hopes to offer this house up as a showcase of how beautiful, sustainable, eco-friendly, and frankly, superior to other methods of building hempcrete can be.
Lastly, but not least, Sharlene is a founder, major shareholder and head of research and development, for a new hemp food and beverage company, Omega Assets. This entity owns and runs Valley Social, a brewery which produces hemp-infused beers (the Herbee range), and also sells hemp infused spirits (vodka and gin) in the Swan Valley, WA. Other exciting hemp beverages and food offerings are in development – watch this space!
Non-Executive Committee Members
Georgina Wilkinson
Georgina has been involved in the Australian Hemp Industry since 2001. She is the owner of the Margaret River Hemp Company, and with her husband Gary Rogers run a successful building company, Hemp Homes Australia. She is also the Vice President of the Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance.
Hon Sophia Moermond
I am a member of the Legislative Council in the Western Australian Parliament since March 2021, and now also an honorary board member to iHempWA.
I feel so honoured to be given this position and will aim to be a voice in parliament to support our burgeoning Western Australian Hemp industry.
I have a background as an RN, a Naturopath, and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. As such I understand that we need to live in harmony with our environment and follow nature. One plant which can help us achieve that is Hemp, which can be used for many things, from housing to clothing to food and medicine.
Keiva Youens
Hello, My name is Keiva. Born and raised in Fremantle, Perth, I bring a decade of experience in the culinary arts, where I’ve refined my skills in the fast-paced world of hospitality. From creating gourmet dishes to managing bustling kitchens, my career has been a rewarding culinary adventure. Recently, my passion for food has evolved into a love for gardening and sustainable living.
As the President of the Baldivis Community Garden, I’ve played a key role in fostering a thriving green space while promoting environmental awareness and sustainable practices. I’m deeply committed to community engagement and cultivating a greener, more sustainable future.
In addition to my work in the community garden, I’m an avid advocate for hemp, a remarkable plant with vast potential. As a champion of Hemp in Horticulture, Agriculture, and Construction, I’m passionate about its environmental and health benefits. From enhancing soil quality to providing fire-resistant materials, hemp is a versatile, sustainable resource with untapped possibilities.
Through my entrepreneurial venture, *MyZen Microgreens*, I cultivate fresh, nutrient-dense microgreens using Hemp Growing Mats. This initiative allows me to combine my love for sustainable farming with my desire to provide the community with healthy, locally grown produce.
With a diverse background in hospitality, community development, and hemp advocacy, I’m excited to continue making a positive impact and explore new opportunities that contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant future.
