Developing an Animal Health Science Agenda
for the National Animal Health Strategy (NAHS)

Backgrounder

February 15th, 2008

Prepared by TDV Global Inc.

4.0 Next Steps

The intention of this draft Animal Health Science Agenda is to propose a strategic direction for animal health science, which includes a Vision, Goals, Objectives and Actions. Recommendations or preferences for Goals and Objectives will be more likely supported if widespread national consensus can be achieved. To develop this national consensus, an iterative engagement process for communities in Canadian animal health science is proposed for 2008.

4.1 Regional Workshops

To develop consensus around Goals and Objectives and to develop regional Action Plans focused on key Animal Health Science sectors and issues (e.g., farmed animals, zoonoses, etc), a series of regional workshops for Canadian animal health science are planned for 2008.

This engagement process will commence with facilitated Regional Workshops involving 10 regional participants at each of the five Veterinary Colleges during February and March 2008. The aim of the Working Group is to continue to use the Strategic Foresight process to develop an Animal Health Science Agenda for Canada that will support the National Animal Health Strategy by developing Vision, Goals, Objectives and Actions in collaboration Animal Health Science partners.

Workshop participants will be expected to:

• prepare for each workshop by reading assigned background materials and drafts (e.g., workshop reports, draft strategic direction, etc) prepared by the Working Group (material will be available at www.healthyanimals.ca);
• actively participate in the workshops by contributing to innovation, cooperation and consensus across communities;
• help explain or “roll out” the tentative conclusions reached and any other workshop results to all leaders of stakeholder groups and as many other stakeholders as are or can be interested; and
• collect feedback from their stakeholder group for Working Group consideration in supporting nation-wide strategic planning of future animal health science.

4.2 Workshop Agenda

Workshops will be coordinated by the Deans of the Veterinary Colleges with assistance from CFIA Area Laboratory Network Directors. Local facilities will be used and the workshops are expected to be one-day events, with breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks provided for participants. The workshop agenda would entail the following:

• Presentation of a proposed future animal health science strategic direction, which includes a Vision, Strategic Goals, and draft Strategic Objectives;
• Roundtable discussion on each draft Strategic Objective to determine what are the implications for each region or community; and,
• For communities that do not support specific draft Strategic Objectives and or Actions, identification of alternatives for consideration.

Subsequent workshops will be conducted from May to September 2008 to build national consensus on a modified strategic plan that reflects the feedback gathered from the regional workshops.