Dr. Anna Mackay is on the board of directors for Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord Canada.
Dr. Anna MacKay earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 1985 and a master’s degree in veterinary science from the University of Montreal in 1995, specializing in Pathology and Microbiology. After seven years in small animal practice, she transitioned to the public sector, working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), specializing in food safety and animal health. She served as Regional Veterinary Officer (RVO) and project manager for the National Animal Health Strategy (NAHS) framework at CFIA.
In 2015, she joined the agency's main headquarters in Ottawa as the National Manager and Project Director, where she developed and implemented a digital solution to automate risk calculation for the Establishment-based Risk Assessment (ERA) models in food and hatchery sectors. These models are designed to identify and target CFIA inspection activities at higher-risk establishments. Additionally, she initiated the development and implementation of ERA for the feed mills and renderers sectors. Until her retirement from CFIA's Science Branch in March 2024, she served as the National Manager and Project Director for the development and automation of the Work Tasking Logic Model (WTLM), an optimization tool for CFIA inspectors.
Anna joined the Veterinarians without Borders North America (VWBNA) board in 2017, contributing to fundraising efforts and serving on the Northern Program Advisory Group.
She is also actively committed in various veterinary organizations and community initiatives, such as the Association vétérinaire Québécoise de médecine de refuge (AVQMR) and the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program in her neighborhood since 2012.
Anna's background in food inspection, animal health and One Health initiatives drives her interest in the interconnected health of humans, animals, and the environment.
#VETSVolunteerVoices brings you inspiring stories from the field, showcasing the impactful work of our dedicated VETS program volunteers. Meet Dr. Riley Bauman (DVM), an Animal Health Advisor who spent two months in Kenya (April–June 2025), working alongside smallholder dairy farmers and Meru Dairy staff to promote animal health, gender equity, and sustainable livelihoods.
This article explores the persistent threat of anthrax and the critical need for community-led surveillance in preventing zoonotic outbreaks. It highlights how VWB’s One Health approach—through the COHERS program, CAHW training, and gender-responsive outreach—strengthens local capacity to detect and manage neglected diseases, protecting both human and animal health in vulnerable communities.
#VETSVolunteerVoices aims to bring you stories of our passionate VETS program volunteers from the field. This blog was written by Guy Audet, a Business Development Advisor who supported our VETS program partner, WIPVaC-Apex, in Ghana from March to May 2025.
