George Habib
President & CEO
ghabib@lunghealth.ca
416-864-9911 ext. 237
George Habib joined the Lung Health Foundation in October 2007 as President & CEO, bringing to the job more than twenty-eight years of leadership experience gained at local, regional, national and international levels in the not-for-profit and corporate sectors.
During his tenure, George has increased the profile of the Lung Health Foundation and built strong relationships, partnerships and alliances with corporations, Government, non-governmental organizations, and medical and health professional societies to support our work in helping Canadians breathe.
His leadership in advocacy has resulted in the passage of new legislation such as amendments to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act to further reduce the use of tobacco, and Ryan’s Law which will ensure that students with asthma have ready access to their life-saving medications..
Through his leadership, the Lung Health Foundation has moved out of a period of uncertainty to one of financial stability while making strategic investments in research and programs and services, and elevating the issue of breathing.
George lives in Mississauga with his wife Sharon, and is the proud father of three children.
Peter Glazier
Executive Vice President
pglazier@lunghealth.ca
416-864-9911 ext. 251
A seasoned marketing and public affairs professional with over 20 years of leadership experience working in government and the not-for-profit sector, Peter is responsible for the overall fundraising, communications, policy, and government relations activities of the Lung Health Foundation.
In his time with the organization, Peter has held a series of progressive roles covering all aspects of its work, enabling him to make a broad and lasting impact. Highlights include: the launch of the annual Breathe! research gala; the Breathing as One Research Campaign; a private-public partnership on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); and the introduction of the Breathing Policy Forum, which brings together thought leaders from across Canada to develop actionable solutions to some of today’s most pressing healthcare issues.
Peter is the past-Chair of Better Care Faster, a private-public healthcare coalition that focused on innovation and improving patient care; a past member of BioCanRx’s Cancer Stakeholder Alliance, and the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement – Institute of Health Economics’ Expert Advisory Committee on COPD; and a current member of the National Steering Group for Asthma Zero, and a national stakeholder coalition aimed at driving greater access to advanced molecular testing.
Most recently, Peter successfully led the organizational rebrand and the development of the Lung Health Foundation’s next 5-year strategic plan – Lung Health Starts Now!
Suresh Naraine
Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Secretary
snaraine@lunghealth.ca
416-864-9911 ext. 263
Suresh’s experience prior to joining the Lung Health Foundation includes a diverse number of fields. He spent a number of years working in the engineering field and then in Sales and Marketing with Esso Corporation in the Caribbean followed by years in retail with Budget Car and Truck Rentals and Holt Renfrew. He joined Epstein Enterprises as an accountant in 2001 and then moved to the Lung Health Foundation in 2008 as Manager of Finance and Accounting. In 2013 he assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer, a position he currently holds.
Suresh is married to his wife, Indeera, of 31 years and they have two very successful daughters, Sushima, recently married to Raju Assi & Renuka Naraine.
Christina Sperling
Senior Director, Programs and Services
csperling@lunghealth.ca
416-864-9911 Ext. 297
Christina joined the Lung Health Foundation in the summer of 2018, having come from many years of leadership experience in the hospital setting. Christina is a Registered Respiratory Therapist who started her career as a clinician at St. Michael’s Hospital after obtaining her Bachelor of Kinesiology from McMaster University and her Diploma in Respiratory Therapy from the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences in Toronto.
Christina held a variety leadership positions during her eleven year career at St. Michael’s Hospital before venturing into the Pediatric world at The Hospital for Sick Children, in December 2011 as the Senior Manager for the Respiratory Therapy Department. During her time at Sick Kids, Christina completed her Lean 6 Sigma: Yellow Belt and Green Belt Certifications, and obtained her Masters of Science in Community Health from the at the University of Toronto.
Christina served as a past Chair and member of the Council on Accreditation for Respiratory Therapy Education (CoARTE), an accreditation program that ensures respiratory therapy programs from across Canada meets the profession’s national competency standards for entry-level respiratory therapists. Christina has also been an active member with the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario for ten years, serving as a council member since 2011, and currently providing leadership as the Chair as the of the Discipline & Fitness to Practice Committee and the President of council.
At the Lung Health Foundation, Christina oversees lung health services, including patient and caregiver supports and programs, and asthma and COPD programs and education for healthcare professionals. Christina also provides leadership for our two professional societies that are committed to promoting the respiratory health of Ontarians through research, education and practice; the Ontario Thoracic Society and the Ontario Respiratory Care Society.