CHRIS BRAEUEL

Executive Director

Chris Braeuel is an international development practitioner and leader with over 17 years experience in multilateral negotiations and global project management in both the public and non-profit sectors. Prior to being Executive Director for Veterinarians without Borders / Vétérinaires sans frontières Canada he served as Country Director for Cuso International in Nigeria and as a Project Manager in Tanzania. In 2010, he was First Secretary for Development with the Canadian Embassy in Kabul where he led and managed Canada’s support to Afghanistan’s education sector. Chris has also represented Canada in the United Nations as the National Focal Point, Chief Adviser and Bureau Vice-President to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and earlier as Senior Adviser and Negotiator to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol.

Monique Charron

Senior Program Manager
Monique has worked in International Development for more than 14 years, starting at the Canadian Red Cross on the Delegate Program, then working with the Canadian Co-operative Association where she managed co-operative and credit union projects mostly in Africa (Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda, Malawi and Sierra Leone) but also in Mongolia. Later she worked with the Canadian Labour Congress overseeing the management of the International Labour Development Program in cooperation with eight affiliate Canadian labour organizations. Monique also has a passion for dogs and has been involved in dog training and behaviour modification in association with a training facility located in Ottawa.

lucie béchamp

Finance Manager
Lucie Béchamp is a graduate of Bishop's University in Business Administration. Lucie started her career in international development with World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and has worked on a variety of development projects in Africa and Asia, where she has gained much experience working with local partners and staff. She enjoys the challenges of international development but enjoys learning about new cultures and tasting new foods. And is truly happy to be part of Veterinarians Without Borders.

kristen rodrigues

Volunteer Cooperation Program Manager
Kristen holds a Masters of Development Practice specializing in sustainable development and has been working in field of international development since 2008. She has a strong commitment to improving livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations through volunteering, having worked as a volunteer for Uniterra, SWB and other local non-profits. In addition, she has worked for the Canadian International Development Agency, the Guyana Red Cross and the World University Service of Canada across Malawi, Ghana, Guyana and Canada. Most recently, Kristen returned from four years in Tanzania where she worked on improving food security of small-scale farmers as well as women’s economic empowerment. Besides her passion for sustainable development, Kristen enjoys travel, the great outdoors and assimilating into new cultures.

Hiu Tung (Heather) Ho

Program Officer
Heather is a graduate of the International Development and Globalization program with a Minor in Asian Studies from the University of Ottawa. In addition to her work experience with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), she spent half of her university career overseas doing international exchanges, internships, and field research with probiotic shrimp farms and Burmese refugees in Southeast and East Asia. It was there that her interest in engaging with local NGOs, non-profits, and social enterprises grew. Besides international development, Heather loves learning languages, adapting to local cultures different from her own, and directly engaging with people. During her free time, you may find her on a piano bench, near an acoustic guitar, or on a rock climbing wall.

Thomas Weigel, MA

Project Manager Mini-Livestock/Business and Economics Officer
Thomas Weigel works on projects for improving livelihoods and food security in Laos. He is Project Manager for VWB’s mini-livestock projects, including cricket production and processing for smallholder farmers and applied research on mini-livestock and community nutrition. Thomas also develops business models and financing mechanisms for VWB’s projects to ensure their long-term sustainability beyond the project duration.  He holds post-graduate degrees in International Development and Management of Development Projects, a degree in Social Work, and has recently completed a post-graduate course on Food and Nutrition Security for Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia. He has been an official speaker at AIDF’s Asia Food Security Summit (2014), for VWB’s Small-scale Farming of Edible Insects projects and Potential Contributions to Food and Nutrition Security in Southeast Asia.  In addition to Laos, his international experience includes work in Thailand, Indonesia, India, Romania and Germany. 

Thomas is passionate about sustainable rural and agricultural development, and improving rural peoples’ livelihoods. He grows his own chilies and tomatoes and intends to raise chickens soon.  Happiest living in rural areas, he enjoys mingling with local people, discovering their cultures, and listening to their stories. When it comes to food, Thomas is renowned for trying anything, the spicier and more exotic the better.