Mr. Stevens has served as Chief Executive Officer of Optimi Health since October 2024, and as a Director and Co-Founder since 2020. With almost two decades of experience in sourcing, manufacturing, and global distribution, he built vertically integrated businesses by managing every stage of the supply chain, gaining a practical understanding of efficiency, quality, and reliable access.
At Optimi, Mr. Stevens applies this experience to pharmaceutical manufacturing with a focus on patients. Under his leadership, the Company is producing GMP-certified MDMA and natural psilocybin and making them available through regulated treatment programs. His goal is to ensure that people living with PTSD, depression, and other mental health conditions can access safe and affordable medicines through pathways that already exist, beginning with Australia’s Authorized Prescriber Scheme.
Mr. Safarik has served as Chief Financial Officer and Director of Optimi Health since 2020. He brings more than 16 years of experience in accounting, project finance, business development, and quality assurance. A Chartered Professional Accountant, he began his career supporting businesses with financial reporting, compliance, and risk management across diverse sectors.
At Optimi, Mr. Safarik is responsible for financial strategy, capital allocation, and disciplined cost management. His approach is centered on building a sustainable foundation that allows the Company to expand patient access responsibly, ensuring long-term impact for both shareholders and the patients who rely on Optimi’s medicines.
Mr. Safarik has served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Optimi Health since 2020. With nearly two decades of senior management experience across fisheries, agriculture, and regulated industries, he has led operations at scale, including serving as Director of Marine Operations at Ocean Fisheries Ltd. prior to its sale to the Jim Pattison Group. He later co-founded a federally licensed cannabis production company, gaining direct experience in regulatory compliance and controlled manufacturing.
At Optimi, Mr. Safarik oversees production and operations with a focus on efficiency, quality, and scale. His priority is ensuring that the Company’s GMP-certified psychedelics are manufactured to the highest standards and reliably supplied to patients through regulated treatment frameworks.
Dr. Chase is a distinguished Research & Development chemist and seasoned business professional with an impressive academic and industrial track record spanning over 25 years. His extensive experience includes pioneering the development and commercialization of innovative products and processes for both multinational corporations and startup ventures. He holds a BSc from the University of Victoria and a PhD from the University of Calgary, and a solid foundation in catalysis, synthesis, and analytical chemistry. With over 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications and numerous awarded and pending patents, he brings a wealth of research expertise and a strong history of commercial success to the Optimi Health team.
Karina Lahnakoski is a seasoned quality and regulatory executive with more than 20 years of experience across pharmaceuticals, cannabis, and life sciences, specializing in GACP/GMP compliance, product commercialization, and global regulatory approvals. She previously served as Partner in Deloitte’s Risk Advisory practice, advising on governance and compliance in regulated sectors, and as Vice President of Quality & Regulatory at Cannabis Compliance Inc. (CCI), where she built one of Canada’s leading cannabis quality platforms prior to its acquisition by Deloitte. Earlier, she was Director of Quality at Dalton Pharma Services, managing QA/QC for CDMO operations serving both early-stage and commercial products. With a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and an MBA, as well as certifications as a PMP and ICD-certified director, she brings a proven ability to deliver audit-ready operations, safeguard compliance, and support global market entry at Optimi Health.