CPFF Board of Directors
Mark Ashcroft, Board chair, ONtario
Mark understands the challenges of living with pulmonary fibrosis. It took three years after the onset of symptoms for Mark to finally receive a diagnosis of IPF. He was already familiar with pulmonary fibrosis, having lost a brother to the disease in 1997, at the age of 41. Mark has received a double lung transplant.
A resident of Oshawa, Ontario, Mark has spent most of his career in paramedic and fire services. He recently retired as a professor in the pre-fire program at Seneca College and served during more than 31 years at Toronto Fire Services (1987 to 2018) as the acting district chief and a training officer.
Mark understands the challenges of living with pulmonary fibrosis. It took three years after the onset of symptoms for Mark to finally receive a diagnosis of IPF. He was already familiar with pulmonary fibrosis, having lost a brother to the disease in 1997, at the age of 41. Mark has received a double lung transplant.
A resident of Oshawa, Ontario, Mark has spent most of his career in paramedic and fire services. He recently retired as a professor in the pre-fire program at Seneca College and served during more than 31 years at Toronto Fire Services (1987 to 2018) as the acting district chief and a training officer.
He also worked as a primary care paramedic for Durham Region Paramedic Services, for six years full time (1981 to 1987) and 17 years part time, after joining Toronto Fire Services.
Mark currently serves on the Board of the Oshawa Senior Community Centres 55+ and the Oshawa Public Library. He also served for nine years on the Lakeridge Health Corporation Board of Trustees and for two years on the Durham Access to Care Board of Directors. During his time at Lakeridge, a large, multi-campus hospital, with a $750 million budget, Mark was involved in strategic planning and governance.
Mark joined the CPFF Board in August 2021.
Liz Beemer, Ontario
“I am honoured to contribute my governance and healthcare leadership experience to help CPFF expand its impact for Canadians living with pulmonary fibrosis. This cause is deeply personal to me, and my family, and I am committed to amplifying the voices of patients and families across Canada.”
“I am honoured to contribute my governance and healthcare leadership experience to help CPFF expand its impact for Canadians living with pulmonary fibrosis. This cause is deeply personal to me, and my family, and I am committed to amplifying the voices of patients and families across Canada.”
Elizabeth (Liz) Beemer, of Mississauga, Ontario, is a senior executive board leader with more than three decades of success driving strategic growth, portfolio management, brand building, and organizational transformation across the health and consumer sectors. Most recently Liz served as a Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Health Canada at Bayer Inc., where she led a decade of sustained growth and profitability, advanced digital transformation initiatives, guided major portfolio integrations, and built high performing teams and culture.
Liz brings extensive governance expertise having served as Chair of the Board with Consumer Health Products of Canada (CHCP) and as Vice Chair and Health Committee Chair with Food Health and Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP), supporting strategy, financial stewardship, and advocacy priorities. She also served on the Trillium Health Partners Volunteer Board.
Liz holds an MBA and BBA from Schulich School of Business (York University) and an ICD.D (Institute of Corporate Directors, Director) designation (Rotman.) On a personal note, pulmonary fibrosis has profoundly affected her family having lost her mother, uncle, and cousin to the disease. Liz joined the CPFF board in 2026.
Christine Beyaert, Ontario
Christine’s passion for making a difference in the lives of those affected by rare conditions has been a driving force in both her personal and professional life.
She looks forward to sharing her extensive knowledge in digital transformation, strategic marketing, advocacy, and communications, to help CPFF effectively raise awareness, engage key stakeholders, and amplify its message to reach a broader audience.
Christine’s passion for making a difference in the lives of those affected by rare conditions has been a driving force in both her personal and professional life.
She looks forward to sharing her extensive knowledge in digital transformation, strategic marketing, advocacy, and communications, to help CPFF effectively raise awareness, engage key stakeholders, and amplify its message to reach a broader audience.
Christine has used her skills, primarily within the healthcare industry, including with patient organizations and a number of pharmaceutical companies, to transform business operations, enhance stakeholder engagement and create a seamless customer experience. She has also successfully lobbied governments to secure access to treatments, as well as developing and implementing patient navigation programs and resources for patients and their families. She is passionate about advancing health equity and leveraging digital tools to improve patient and healthcare professional engagement.
Christine holds an undergraduate degree from Carleton University in history and political science, as well as a post-graduate diploma in public relations from Humber College and a certificate in digital media from OCAD University. She has also completed university coursework in genetics, business strategy and programming.
Christine joined the Board in 2025.
Darren clarke, alberta
Darren’s family has been deeply impacted by pulmonary fibrosis (PF). His family has a genetic form of PF and have lost seven family members, including his father, along with two family members currently living with PF. Darren joined CPFF to continue his efforts to raise awareness of PF and provide support for those living with the disease.
Darren is a designated appraiser and focuses on agricultural appraisal projects within Western Canada.
Darren’s family has been deeply impacted by pulmonary fibrosis (PF). His family has a genetic form of PF and have lost seven family members, including his father, along with two family members currently living with PF. Darren joined CPFF to continue his efforts to raise awareness of PF and provide support for those living with the disease.
Darren is a designated appraiser and focuses on agricultural appraisal projects within Western Canada.
His main focus is the valuation of surface rights compensation for oil and gas projects, powerlines, wind farms and solar farms. He has also completed assignments for land conservation groups, provincial and federal governments along with first nations land claims. He is based in Calgary, Alberta.
Darren joined the Board in 2024.
Todd Georgieff, Quebec
Todd Georgieff is a biotechnology and pharmaceutical leader with extensive experience in drug development, clinical operations, and digital innovation. He has led complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives focused on transforming clinical research through digital protocols, trial automation, patient engagement, and innovative study design.
Todd has held senior leadership roles at Roche and Genentech, including work in industry collaborations and public-private partnerships. He has built and led global clinical operations teams across multiple disease areas and overseen the execution of hundreds of clinical trials.
Todd Georgieff is a biotechnology and pharmaceutical leader with extensive experience in drug development, clinical operations, and digital innovation. He has led complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives focused on transforming clinical research through digital protocols, trial automation, patient engagement, and innovative study design.
Todd has held senior leadership roles at Roche and Genentech, including work in industry collaborations and public-private partnerships. He has built and led global clinical operations teams across multiple disease areas and overseen the execution of hundreds of clinical trials.
Todd Georgieff, a resident of Montreal, Quebec, is a collaborative, strategic leader and excellent communicator with almost 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical drug development in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia. He is currently an industry collaborations lead at Roche and Genentech.
Todd holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from the University of Toronto and an MBA from York University.
On a personal note, Todd’s father-in-law passed away in February 2019 after a nine-year battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Todd joined the CPFF Board in 2019.
Tom Hunter, Ontario
“It is so rewarding to be a part of CPFF. I lost my father to PF in 2016 and this is my way to honour his memory and help others affected by this disease.”
Tom Hunter is the Chief Executive Officer at Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation. Tom leads the collective efforts of staff and works with tenants and community partners to shape the strategy and future of Toronto Seniors Housing.
“It is so rewarding to be a part of CPFF. I lost my father to PF in 2016 and this is my way to honour his memory and help others affected by this disease.”
Tom Hunter is the Chief Executive Officer at Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation. Tom leads the collective efforts of staff and works with tenants and community partners to shape the strategy and future of Toronto Seniors Housing.
He oversees the implementation of strategies to ensure senior tenants can remain in their homes with dignity and in comfort. Other previous roles include Chief Executive Officer at City Housing Hamilton, and work in health care, seniors’ services, and long-term care.
Tom currently serves on the Board of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association. He holds a Bachelor of Science from McGill University and a Master of Health Science from the University of Toronto.
Tom joined the CPFF Board in 2019.
Waldo Maticorena, Treasurer, Alberta
Fluent in English and Spanish, Waldo is an accounting professional and entrepreneur, who is currently the Chief Financial Officer of an Alberta firm with operations in Canada and the United States. Currently enrolled as a CPA candidate in Alberta, he has held the professional designation in Peru and Columbia for a decade.
He earned his first accounting degree and an MBA at universities in Peru and California. He has worked for global firms, overseeing financial activities in their operations in Columbia, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. He has also worked for a large consulting firm in Canada for four years.
Fluent in English and Spanish, Waldo is an accounting professional and entrepreneur, who is currently the Chief Financial Officer of an Alberta firm with operations in Canada and the United States. Currently enrolled as a CPA candidate in Alberta, he has held the professional designation in Peru and Columbia for a decade.
He earned his first accounting degree and an MBA at universities in Peru and California. He has worked for global firms, overseeing financial activities in their operations in Columbia, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. He has also worked for a large consulting firm in Canada for four years.
Waldo has a personal connection to CPFF’s mission. His mother passed away from ILD (interstitial lung disease) in January of 2022. This has given him a profound understanding of the impact of pulmonary diseases on patients and their families. This personal connection fuels his passion for supporting initiatives that aim to improve the lives of those affected by pulmonary fibrosis and related conditions.
Impressed by the Foundation’s dedication to research, patient support, and advocacy, Waldo is enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to these efforts. He is eager to share his financial expertise and personal commitment to the cause.
Waldo joined the Board in 2025.
Kirk Morrison, Alberta
Kirk has come to know IPF through the experiences of his mother, Barbara Morrison of Niagara-on-the-Lake, who passed away from the disease in early 2020.
Kirk is a professional engineer with 40 years of experience in the energy & resources, environmental and infrastructure industries. He has Bachelors and Masters degrees in civil engineering from the Universities of Waterloo and British Columbia respectively, and is a graduate of the Directors Education Program from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Kirk has come to know IPF through the experiences of his mother, Barbara Morrison of Niagara-on-the-Lake, who passed away from the disease in early 2020.
Kirk is a professional engineer with 40 years of experience in the energy & resources, environmental and infrastructure industries. He has Bachelors and Masters degrees in civil engineering from the Universities of Waterloo and British Columbia respectively, and is a graduate of the Directors Education Program from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Kirk has served as a Director for both for-profit and non-profit organizations including Cimarron Engineering Ltd., the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association Foundation, and Silvera for Seniors.
Kirk resides in Calgary. He and his wife Michelle have two adult sons, Robert who lives in Kamloops, and Andrew, who resides in Calgary.
Andrew Peel, Ontario
“I am pleased to support CPFF’s mission by bringing governance, risk, and transaction expertise to help strengthen the Foundation’s capacity and long-term impact for patients and families. As someone who has lost a family member to pulmonary fibrosis, this a meaningful and deeply personal cause for me.”
“I am pleased to support CPFF’s mission by bringing governance, risk, and transaction expertise to help strengthen the Foundation’s capacity and long-term impact for patients and families. As someone who has lost a family member to pulmonary fibrosis, this a meaningful and deeply personal cause for me.”
Andrew Peel of Toronto, Ontario, is a senior legal executive with deep expertise in corporate law, governance, complex transactions, and regulatory risk. He is Managing Director, Legal at OMERS Private Equity, where he has led legal strategy and execution for more than 100 major transactions across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. His experience spans mergers and acquisitions structuring, management compensation plans, regulatory and competition matters, employment law, and board-level advisory on compliance, cybersecurity preparedness, and restructuring.
Andrew has chaired OMERS’ Competition and Foreign Direct Investment Committee since 2020 overseeing enterprise-wide compliance monitoring and risk governance. He also serves on industry committees, including the Cambridge Forum Canadian Private Equity Legal Leaders Steering Committee and the Canadian Pension Fund Assistant General Counsel Committee.
Andrew holds an ICD.D (Institute of Corporate Directors, Director) designation (Rotman), an LLB (Dalhousie University) and a B.A. Hons (Western University) and was called to the bar in Ontario in 2003. He has contributed to leading legal publications and has been recognized as part of The Legal 500 GC Powerlist (Top Canadian Legal Teams.)
In the community, Andrew has served for many years on the Advisory Board of Toronto Lords Basketball, supporting youth development in downtown Toronto. Andrew joined the CPFF Board in 2026.
Andy Schimmel, British Columbia
Andy was diagnosed with IPF in February 2023, enrolled in a clinical trial in June 2024, and learned significantly more about people’s PF journeys and about CPFF after attending a pulmonary fibrosis seminar in October 2024.
He has tremendous empathy for fellow sufferers and is particularly motivated to become involved with assisting researchers and physicians in raising awareness about the disease and attracting funds for research.
Andy was diagnosed with IPF in February 2023, enrolled in a clinical trial in June 2024, and learned significantly more about people’s PF journeys and about CPFF after attending a pulmonary fibrosis seminar in October 2024.
He has tremendous empathy for fellow suffers and is particularly motivated to become involved with assisting researchers and physicians in raising awareness about the disease and attracting funds for research.
Andy has had a long career in commercial real estate in both the private and public sectors and retired four years ago, but maintains an active network of professional colleagues. He has also been involved with several not-for-profit organizations, including: the Calgary Olympics, the United Way of the Lower Mainland, and the Festival of Lights at Whistler, among many others.
Both his work and volunteer experiences have shaped his expertise in organizational effectiveness, advocacy, fundraising, and public speaking. Andy has learned firsthand about the value of sharing the patient experience as a person living with IPF, as a close friend to someone impacted by IPF, as well as other friends of friends.
Andy joined the Board in 2025.
Murray Walz, Ontario
Murray is a prime example of how to self-advocate as a pulmonary fibrosis patient. Since his diagnosis with IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) in 2019, he has become an advocate for others as well.
At the outset of his PF journey, he had to find his own specialist, since his family physician knew nothing about the disease. He got in touch with Dr. Martin Kolb, director of the division of respirology and research director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health in Hamilton, Ontario. Dr. Kolb was also conducting a clinical trial for nerandomilast, a not-yet-approved medication showing promise in treating IPF.
Murray is a prime example of how to self-advocate as a pulmonary fibrosis patient. Since his diagnosis with IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) in 2019, he has become an advocate for others as well.
At the outset of his PF journey, he had to find his own specialist, since his family physician knew nothing about the disease. He got in touch with Dr. Martin Kolb, director of the division of respirology and research director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health in Hamilton, Ontario. Dr. Kolb was also conducting a clinical trial for Fibroneer, a not-yet-approved medication showing promise in treating IPF.
Murray became Dr. Kolb’s patient and was enrolled in the Fibroneer clinical trial. He became a patient advisor to the Firestone clinic, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton and the Greater Hamilton Health Network. He also did a U.S. podcast on IPF. Murray also became a member of the College of Lived Experience of Clinical Trials Ontario. Its goal is to make clinical trials in Ontario easier to access and to increase the number of clinical trials conducted in Ontario.
Murray has had a long career in the food processing industry: running plants, participating in trade missions, ensuring health and safety in operations, working with Boards and addressing community concerns, and still advises the industry as a consultant.
Murray joined the Board in 2025.
Ex officio, Sharon Lee, Chief Executive Officer
Sharon Lee is a purpose-driven Chief Executive Officer and Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), with a Master of Arts in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She specializes in nonprofit leadership, major fundraising and donor relations.
As CEO of the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (CPFF), Sharon has led the organization’s transformation from a private family foundation into a national public charity. Under her leadership, CPFF has expanded programs, increased revenue, and strengthened advocacy efforts to better support patients and families across Canada.
Sharon Lee is a purpose-driven Chief Executive Officer and Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), with a Master of Arts in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She specializes in nonprofit leadership, major fundraising and donor relations.
As CEO of the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (CPFF), Sharon has led the organization’s transformation from a private family foundation into a national public charity. Under her leadership, CPFF has expanded programs, increased revenue, and strengthened advocacy efforts to better support patients and families across Canada.
Beyond CPFF, Sharon serves as President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Toronto West and sits on the Boards of Eva’s Initiatives and the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy. She also contributes to global efforts advancing health equity, patient engagement, and nonprofit excellence.
As CPFF’s principal spokesperson, Sharon represents the foundation in all professional and public capacities and remains deeply committed to advancing Founder Robert Davidson’s vision and dedication to Canadians affected by pulmonary fibrosis.
