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.
Join Veterinarians Without Borders for our virtual 20th Anniversary celebration — 20 Years of Impact: A Celebration of Our Volunteers & VWB in Action. Reflect on two decades of One Health impact and connect with the people shaping a healthier world for animals, people, and the planet.
This field report from Laos shares insights from VWB’s Senior Program Officer, Megan Sylka, highlighting how the VETS program, in partnership with CARE Laos, is empowering women, improving animal health, and helping farming communities build climate resilience through sustainable agriculture and One Health practices.
This field report from Rwanda highlights how VWB’s COHERS program is tackling the pork tapeworm Taenia solium through a One Health approach — uniting local One Health Teams, Community Hygiene Clubs, and behaviour-change initiatives to strengthen sanitation, improve animal health, and build momentum at the community level.
