Irda Zahra

Irda Zahra

Junior Consultant

Academic Qualifications
  • Master of Public Health (MPH), Infection Prevention and Control Specialization, Queen’s University
  • Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Waterloo
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Irda joined IPAC Consulting after completing her Master of Public Health at Queen’s University. Her path to infection prevention began with a passion for microbiology during her undergraduate studies at the University of Waterloo, where she became fascinated by the relationship between microorganisms and human health. Recognizing the opportunity to apply that scientific knowledge to preventing disease and improving healthcare quality, she pursued a Master of Public Health with a focus on infection prevention and control.

Before joining the team, Irda completed a practicum with Public Health Ontario’s Outbreak Response and Support Team, where she reviewed infection prevention and control lapses from across Ontario to identify trends, contributing factors, and opportunities for improvement. Today, she works with a wide range of healthcare organizations, helping clients strengthen their programs through audits, education, policy development, and practical recommendations that fit the realities of day-to-day practice.

Irda is passionate about continuous learning and believes the best improvements come from collaboration, curiosity, and making complex guidance practical and easy to apply.

Notable Past Projects

  • Supported infection prevention and control lapse investigations and trend analyses with Public Health Ontario.
  • Developed an evaluation framework for a nonprofit organization implementing a digital clinical decision-support tool for sexually transmitted bloodborne infections in rural and remote communities.
  • Developed a biosensor for the rapid detection of microorganisms causing juice spoilage.

Areas of Expertise

  • Infection Prevention and Control
  • Clinical Audits and Risk Assessments
  • Policy and Procedure Development
  • Staff Education
  • Healthcare Quality Improvement
  • Public Health Research and Program Evaluation
One of my favourite parts of working at IPAC Consulting is the variety. Every client is different, which means every project is an opportunity to learn something new, build meaningful relationships, and help create safer environments through practical, collaborative solutions.