About
News and Media
CCAC’s New Director of Assessment and Certification
The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Elham Guirguis as Director of Assessment and Certification.
Dr. Guirguis brings extensive experience in veterinary science, emergency response coordination, and international liaison roles. Prior to joining the CCAC, she served as planning chief and import-export specialist for the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), overseeing responses to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and acting as international liaison for African Swine Fever. She also held the position of senior advisor for the chief veterinary officer (CVO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) delegate of Canada at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), where she played a key role in providing support for all activities under the mandate of the CVO/WOAH delegate.
Her international experience includes serving as CFIA's primary foreign-based veterinary counselor at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, where she was responsible for regulatory and market access issues in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Mongolia. Her contributions earned her accolades for outstanding performance and exceptional achievements in food safety and market access negotiations for Canadian products, and a recognition certificate for negotiation. Most recently, she received the CFIA President’s National Award for Team Collaboration.
Dr. Guirguis holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Université de Montréal (2002), a master’s in animal microbiology from Cairo University (1989), and a Project Management Certificate from McGill University (2011). Her strong scientific background, combined with her problem-solving, analytical, and strategic leadership skills, make her an asset in areas such as change management, problem-solving, and effective communication.
The CCAC looks forward to Dr. Guirguis’s leadership in guiding the Assessment and Certification team. With her experience and dedication, she will play a pivotal role in advancing the CCAC’s strategic objectives and supporting program participation across Canada.