Vanessa Foran provides more than 20 years’ experience as an NGO leader working with patient groups such as the Canadian Diabetes Association Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario and Parkinson Canada. She also led a Canadian health coalition – Neurological Health Charities Canada, participated in numerous advocacy initiatives working with the Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness, the Canadian Caregiver Coalition, Best-Medicines Coalition and Chaired the Health Charities Coalition of Canada’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee. Her eldest daughter has lived with asthma from a very young age, providing Vanessa with direct experience and a passion to improve the lives of Canadians affected by this chronic disease.

Zhen has over 10 years of experience working in the non-profit sector. She has a strong belief in the positive impact that charities make on children, youth, families and community members across Canada. She joined Asthma Canada as she wanted to empower individuals affected by asthma, provide them with the opportunity to engage in meaningful programs and access resources that would improve their overall health and well-being.

Mehnaz has a background in non-profit communications, with eclectic experience in arts based organizations as well as social enterprises. As someone who has lived with asthma since she was a child, she brings a passion to help improve the lives of Canadians with asthma and raise awareness about this chronic disease.

Kristi MacKenzie is the Director of the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant (HNHB) Regional Cancer Program (RCP) based with the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre (JHCC) and Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS). She has her Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, and Masters of Health Administration from the University of British Columbia. She also completed the Certified Health Executive Program with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Throughout her career, Kristi has been recognized for her abilities to engage with partners and oversee the implementation of regional health systems strategies. She is a health promotion advocate with a passion to enhance community health and equitable access to care.

Karen’s vast knowledge allows her to work with clients on most topics pertaining to their finances, including tax minimization, real estate, tax planning, charitable-gift planning, corporate and partnership restructurings, effective use of family trusts and planning relating to estates, succession and insurance. Both of Karen’s children struggled with asthma and she volunteers with Asthma Canada because she supports its initiatives to help families understand and control this disease.

John is past Chair of the Board, a position he held from 2016-2020. John is also an integral part of “Team Asthma”. He is a senior lawyer in Toronto, and has – with the exception of when he lived in NY teaching law – been a resident of Toronto. He has a Bachelors Degree (Honours) as well as his J.D./LL.B from the University of Western Ontario, and is currently completing a Masters of Law at the University of London (England). John is very passionate about his role on the Board because like millions of other Canadians, he also has asthma—which was diagnosed later in life.

Dag Enhorning is the President of Siltech Corporation, a manufacturer of specialty silicones. Prior to joining Siltech, Dag worked as a CPA in the Calgary office of Ernst & Young, specializing in US and Canadian personal tax. Dag lives in Toronto with his two children and enjoys golf, biking and family vacations. Dag’s interest in Asthma Canada stems from his father’s extensive research to help premature babies that are afflicted with Respiratory Distress Syndrome survive and his subsequent research to find a cure for Asthma.