Joanita Jong Senior Veterinary Office/WOAH Delegate Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry
Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Airlangga University, Indonesia, has more than two decades of professional experience in animal health, veterinary public health, and veterinary governance in Timor-Leste. She began her career in clinical practice before joining the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, where she served as a Veterinary Officer from 2005 to 2014. During this period, she contributed to animal health services throughout the country, including disease surveillance, vaccination programs, and the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases. From 2014 to 2015, she served as Head of the Department of Public Health and Animal Welfare, leading national efforts in animal health surveillance, biosecurity, hygiene in slaughterhouses, and cross-sectoral coordination on zoonotic diseases. Since 2015 to mid 2026, Joanita has held leadership positions within the National Veterinary Service as National Director, providing strategic leadership on veterinary policy, animal disease control, and international collaboration. Her leadership roles have included serving as Acting Director-General of Livestock and Veterinary Services in 2017, Permanent Delegate to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and Coordinator of the Disaster Risk Management Task Force. She was also involved in the COVID-19 Crisis Centre, particularly in the agriculture sector, and served as a member of the Technical Working Group on Timor-Leste’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and ASEAN. Her areas of expertise include epidemiology, zoonotic diseases, biosecurity, animal welfare, and veterinary public health. She has participated in intensive international training programs and conferences across Asia, Europe, and the Pacific, collaborating with national and international organizations. In addition to her leadership roles, Joanita has actively contributed to scientific research, with publications in international journals focusing on animal health systems, antimicrobial resistance, and the management of livestock diseases in Timor-Leste.