Ika Washington, MSc.
Principal/Founder, DiversityTalk
Ika Washington is a medical cannabis patient and health policy specialist whose work bridges lived experience with professional expertise. She is the Founder of DiversityTalk, a consultancy advancing health and social development across Canada, the UK, and the Caribbean, and Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainable Health and Social Impact (ISHSI). Currently pursuing her PhD in Health Policy & Equity, Ika brings an interdisciplinary approach that connects health systems, governance, and community realities. Her projects span cannabis policy, clinical trial diversity, and anti-racism in healthcare, with partnerships ranging from governments to grassroots organizations. As both a patient and researcher, she advocates for evidence-informed, culturally grounded cannabis regulation. Her voice is sought after for centring patients and communities in global conversations on health, harm reduction, and equity.