Appointee Biographies

CATHERINE FILEJSKI

Dr. Filejski is a licensed veterinarian and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI). Prior to joining CAHI, she served as the Public Health Veterinarian for Ontario's Ministry of Health for 11 years, during which time she was responsible for zoonotic disease policy and programs for the province, including rabies prevention and control. Following the discontinuation of federal rabies specimen collection programs in 2014, she led the creation and implementation of Ontario's provincial rabies specimen collection infrastructure. Her community involvement also included serving from 2016 to 2025 as one of three Canadian directors appointed to the International Steering Committee of Rabies in the Americas (RITA) Inc., which oversees the premier annual international conference on rabies, bringing together researchers, health professionals, international, national and local managers of rabies programs, wildlife biologists and laboratory personnel.

CHRISTINE FEHLNER-GARDINER

Christine Fehlner-Gardiner is the head of the CFIA Centre of Expertise for Rabies for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and a former Research Technician and Research Scientist for CFIA. Her community involvement includes serving as Christian Education Coordinator for the North Gower United Church.

CLAIRE JARDINE

Dr. Claire Jardine obtained an MSc in Ecology from the University of British Columbia and DVM and PhD from the University of Saskatchewan. She is currently an associate professor in the department of Pathobiology and the regional director of the Ontario/Nunavut node of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. Her research programs are focused on understanding the ecology of zoonotic pathogens in wildlife populations, in urban, natural and rural areas. She is currently involved in studies investigating antimicrobial resistance, Salmonella, Borelia burgorferi and Leptospira in wild mammal populations.