Dr. Harpreet Kockhhar
Former CVO for Canada, 2014-2017
Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar, Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, holds a Ph.D. in Animal Biotechnology from the University of Guelph, and both a Master and Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Punjab Agricultural University. From 2014 to 2017, he served as Canada’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), where he led responses to critical animal health emergencies, including tuberculosis in Alberta, avian influenza outbreaks, and the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea response.
A key achievement during his tenure was coordinating a Letter of Understanding on Avian Influenza information sharing with the U.S. and Mexico, reflecting his commitment to international collaboration. Dr. Kochhar also emphasized the importance of transparent, constructive national discussions on animal health policy with federal, provincial, and territorial participation. Representing Canada at the World Organization for Animal Health, he underscored Canada's role as a respected leader and significant contributor on the global stage.