Carol Ortega is a highly accomplished cannabis & psychedelics activist, investor, consultant and CFO who has played a significant role in shaping the emerging legal cannabis & psychedelics industry in various jurisdictions among the Americas. With decades of experience in finance and venture capital around the world, Carol has successfully advised more than 50 companies of all sizes helping to mobilize more than USD$250MM through her CFO/M&A consultancy and investment networking platforms. With more than a dozen successful exits, Carol’s consultancy has been trusted by several accredited investors, funds and leading financial institutions regarding due diligence, risks, tax management and resources placement in diversified portfolios.

Carol has served on the Colombian government’s cannabis policy making committee which has the ongoing challenge to improve the existing regulation and was instrumental in Colombia’s efforts in developing legal medicinal cannabis and sustainable peace. Also, Carol has co-wrote the accounting and financial standards for Colombia, a legislation that converged the country regulations (US-GAAP) with international standards (IFRSs). Carol has been an active regulator member in Colombia and U.S. countries where Carol´s input has been instrumental in law writing and regulations affairs for both the financial industry and legal cannabis. 

At the academy level, Carol Ortega is a highly esteemed accounting professor with a passion for research and a deep understanding of US-GAAP and International accounting standards (IFRSs). With a career spanning several decades, Carol has made significant contributions to the field of accounting through her lectures, academic conference presentations and scientific papers.