Ivan Zenar is the Deputy Director, International Development and Humanitarian Program at Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord.
Ivan joined Veterinarians Without Borders in May of 2024 as the Deputy Director of International Development and Humanitarian Program.
Ivan has over 20 years of experience in humanitarian and development programming, managing projects and operations in Cambodia, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Libya, and in Canada. His experiences have taken him to conflict areas, post conflict, and supporting communities with long term development across (just about) all sectors. Ivan began his career in Cambodia as an intern and never looked back.
Ivan settled in Ottawa with his wife Diana, where they made their home and family.
#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.
