Country: Uganda, Kenya
Position: Animal Health Worker, Dairy Specialist, Field Veterinarian
International Partner: MERU Dairy Co-operative, SNV
Placement Dates: May 2009, February 2017, August 2017
Dr. Laura-Anne Kutryk is a veteran of three VWB/VSF-related volunteer placements. The first, in 2009 when she was a student, was through the Global Vets Program working with the Goat Pass-On Project in Uganda. She did a three-week placement in Kenya in February 2017 where she worked with dairy co-op members to improve the health of their cattle. Her most recent placement saw her return to Uganda for a 4 month assignment designed to improve herd health and management for dairy farmers.
Laura is a graduate of the Western Canada College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon and has completed an advanced program for Dairy Veterinarians at Cornell University. She has practiced in Stettler, Cold Lake, and Bonnyville, Alberta.
#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.
In Meru County, Kenya, Community One Health Champion Ann Kagwira is improving her farm’s productivity and herd health through ongoing collaboration with VETS volunteers and Meru Dairy — demonstrating how long-term support and continuous learning can drive lasting change for farmers and their communities.
As VWB’s Executive Director, Charmaine Brett, prepares to step down in September, she reflects on four years of transformative global work, celebrating milestones in animal care, community resilience, and One Health initiatives. With its bold 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, VWB remains committed to advancing its mission and recruiting new leadership to build on this momentum.
