Janine Mitchell is the Executive Director at Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord.
Janine Mitchell joined Veterinarians Without Borders North America as Executive Director in August 2025, bringing more than two decades of experience in global health, One Health, and health systems strengthening in over 30 countries. She has lived and worked extensively across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, leading programs in disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, and disaster response.
Before joining VWB/VSF, Janine held senior positions with DAI, Mott MacDonald, and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), where she managed complex multi-country portfolios and collaborated with governments, academic institutions, and major global donors such as USAID, UK-FCDO, and the Hewlett Foundation. Her career reflects a consistent focus on building resilient, locally led systems that address the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment.
Janine is also an Extraordinary Lecturer at the University of Pretoria’s School of Health Systems and Public Health in South Africa and supported the development of the Africa Evidence Network (AEN) to strengthen regional communities of practice in evidence-informed policymaking. She holds a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the University of Pretoria and is a passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusive development that centers the voices and leadership of local communities.
Join the VWB community for a virtual look at the stories, people, partnerships and progress that shaped our work this year — and hear what’s ahead for Veterinarians Without Borders as we continue working for healthier animals, people and communities around the world.
In this edition of Ask an Expert, we spoke with Hannah (Tsai-Ping) Liao, whose MSc research at the University of Guelph examined what decades of Community Animal Health Worker (CAHW) programs can teach us about building sustainable, community-led animal health systems in northern Canada.
In recognition of World Humanitarian Day, this blog explores what humanitarian work looks like beyond the immediate emergency. Through the perspectives of two of VWB's local partners in Ukraine, it examines how restoring livelihoods, preserving compassion, and strengthening community resilience are all essential to long-term recovery.
