Charmaine Brett is the Executive Director of Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord.
Charmaine Brett joined VWB/VSF in June, 2021 as Executive Director. Charmaine brings more than twenty years of expertise and experience in international humanitarian relief and development to her new role as Executive Director, after having lived for more than 10 years in Africa, Asia, Haiti, and the Middle East. During this time, she has worked with leading humanitarian organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, Medical Emergency Relief International, and Habitat for Humanity, developing sustainable programming and responding to numerous natural and man-made emergencies.
Prior to accepting the role of Executive Director, Charmaine spent approximately seven years as Program Officer for the Disaster Relief and Recovery domain at the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. Immediately prior to joining the Philanthropies, Charmaine worked as Head of Programs with Action Against Hunger, where she was responsible for the strategic program leadership and overall management in Pakistan, Cambodia, and Nigeria. She also holds an honour's degree in international development studies from Trent University in Canada, and she has worked as an educator in South Korea and Taiwan.
This blog shares firsthand accounts from VWB’s earthquake response in Myanmar, highlighting how local partners are delivering urgent care to people and animals alike, and demonstrating the impact of a locally led, One Health approach in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.
This article explores the critical importance of integrating animal welfare into disaster preparedness, drawing on current research, offering practical strategies, and highlighting how VWB’s One Health initiatives build resilience by strengthening animal health systems and safeguarding livelihoods before and after disasters strike.
This article explores how VWB’s goat farming and cheese-making initiative in Ukraine supported rural families in rebuilding livelihoods during conflict—highlighting sustainable agriculture, community-led training, and a replicable model for economic resilience.
