Looking back at my career at the CFIA

By Dr. Primal Silva

This blog post was originally published to Cultivating Science on science.gc.ca.

As I write this, it is hard to believe that my time at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is coming to an end! Looking back on my career at the Agency in several different roles, I can honestly say that it has been both a privilege and a pleasure.

Two words come to mind: gratitude and fulfillment. Gratitude for the opportunities I have been afforded throughout my career, and for the hard work and dedication of the people I worked closely with, both at the CFIA and in a number of other partner organizations. Fulfilment in the many accomplishments that we have achieved together over the years as well as in the impact we have as Canada's largest science-based regulatory agency.

My studies at various universities and my career path provided me diverse learning opportunities and an environment in which to grow. Following my Ph.D. at the University of Sydney, Australia, post-doctoral studies at McMaster University and the Ontario Veterinary College, and working as an Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph, I joined the federal public service in 1993. Early in my career, I was a Veterinary Biologics Evaluator with the CFIA Programs Branch for 7 years. Following that, I took on the position of the CFIA's Chief of Science and Technology for 5 years before taking on the role of Science Director and then Acting Director General for food research at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). In 2009, I returned to the CFIA as Executive Director of the Animal Health Science Directorate, and since 2014, I have had the privilege to serve as the CFIA's Chief Science Operating Officer.

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